Planning Manager, Project Controls

Come Build Your Career at Aecon!

Aecon delivers some of the most complex and impactful infrastructure projects — from transformative transportation networks to critical energy, industrial and nuclear programs. The projects we build connect communities and power future generations. With deep roots in North America and a strong footprint internationally, Aecon brings global expertise and proudly serves public and private sector clients through its Construction and Concessions segment.

Safety Always is not only our #1 core value – it is the standard that anchors our culture. We believe the most ambitious projects deserve the most committed people. At Aecon, you won’t just build your career — you’ll help build what matters to enable future generations to thrive.

At Aecon, you can count on:

• Safety Always. Our number one core value. The safety of our people, projects, partners, and stakeholders is our priority focus – today and always.
• Integrity. We lead by example, with humility and courage.
• Accountability. We’re passionate about delivering on our commitments.
• Inclusion. We provide opportunities where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to contribute fully.

We deliver infrastructure with purpose, and our people are at the heart of everything we do. Aecon employees are incredibly proud to build some of the most impactful infrastructure of this generation – we call it Aecon Proud.

At Aecon we:

• Ensure you and your family receive the services and benefits needed to support your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
• Are intentional when it comes to investing in your development. We help you build your career and advance your skills through our Aecon University, tuition reimbursement, and Leadership Programs.
• Are committed to creating work environments focused on mutual respect, teamwork, collaboration, and new ideas, through meaningful initiatives, training, partnerships with Veteran groups, our Aecon Women in Trades and diversity programs, as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), to ensure we are building with top talent and harnessing our collective strengths within every aspect of our culture.
• Operate responsibly by managing risk, safety, and environmental considerations across all our projects and surrounding communities.

Our success is built on the passion, expertise, and dedication of our people. Together, we embrace strong execution, innovation, and continuous improvement — values that come to life through the unique talents and collaborative spirit of every team member. If you’re inspired to make a difference through future-building projects, join our best-in-class team.

What is the Opportunity?

CanAtom, a joint venture between AtkinsRéalis and Aecon, is delivering the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station Refurbishment Project under a collaborative contract with Ontario Power Generation. The joint venture is underway to complete the retube, feeder, and boiler replacement (RFBR) of Units 5–8. Building on the successful delivery of the Darlington Refurbishment Project, the CanAtom team brings proven experience in safely executing complex nuclear projects on time and on budget to support Ontario’s clean energy future.

Reporting to the Project Controls Manager, the Planning Manager is responsible for leading the development, integration, governance, maintenance, and analysis of the project schedule for a large and complex nuclear refurbishment project. The role provides leadership to the planning and scheduling team, ensures schedule information is accurate and aligned with the project execution strategy, supports earned value and reporting processes, and enables timely management decisions through critical path analysis, schedule risk insight, recovery planning, and clear stakeholder communication.

What You'll Do Here:

Planning Leadership and Schedule Governance

• Lead the project planning and scheduling function and establish clear expectations for schedule development, update cycles, progress measurement, forecasting, and reporting.
• Develop and maintain the project schedule management approach, planning procedures, coding structure, calendars, progress rules, and baseline control requirements in alignment with the Project Controls plan and contract requirements.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and technical direction to planners and schedulers, including review of schedule quality, logic integrity, coding compliance, and reporting consistency.
• Promote a strong safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement culture within the planning team and across project interfaces.

Integrated Master Schedule Development and Maintenance

• Lead development, integration, and maintenance of the Level 1 to Level 4 Integrated Master Schedule, with appropriate alignment to the WBS, CBS, work packages, milestones, procurement deliverables, and execution strategy.
• Ensure schedule logic, constraints, calendars, milestones, resource loading, and progress rules are fit for purpose and support critical path, earned value, and forecast analysis.
• Coordinate schedule inputs from engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, project management, commercial, quality, safety, licensing, and client stakeholders.
• Maintain schedule baseline integrity and ensure approved changes are reflected through the project change management process.

Schedule Monitoring, Forecasting and Performance Analysis

• Lead regular schedule update cycles, progress validation, variance analysis, and forecast reviews to identify deviations from plan and emerging risks to key milestones.
• Perform and oversee critical path analysis, float analysis, trend analysis, schedule quality checks, and schedule risk reviews to support timely project decision-making.
• Develop recovery plans, mitigation options, and management recommendations when schedule risks, delays, or productivity constraints are identified.
• Support earned value management by aligning schedule status, physical progress, resource planning, performance indices, and schedule variance narratives.

Reporting, Dashboards and Stakeholder Communication

• Prepare and review schedule reports, milestone trackers, look-aheads, dashboards, and executive-level summaries for project leadership, JV partners, and client reporting requirements.
• Translate detailed schedule information into clear management narratives highlighting critical path movement, milestone performance, forecast changes, risks, opportunities, and required decisions.
• Facilitate schedule review meetings, planning workshops, readiness reviews, and interface sessions with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure timely and accurate planning inputs into monthly project reports, PMT reports, Steering Committee materials, and other project governance forums as required.

Interface, Change and Claims Support

• Support change management by assessing schedule impacts related to project change notices, trends, scope adjustments, execution strategy changes, and client dispositions.
• Maintain schedule traceability for approved changes, pending impacts, forecast revisions, and key assumptions supporting baseline and forecast integrity.
• Provide planning support for delay analysis, time impact assessments, productivity reviews, claims support, and commercial discussions as required.
• Coordinate with cost controls, finance, and reporting teams to support integrated cost and schedule analysis, cash flow alignment, and resource planning.

Compliance, Documentation and Continuous Improvement

• Ensure planning activities comply with applicable client requirements, project procedures, nuclear quality expectations, contract conditions, and company governance requirements.
• Maintain auditable planning records, schedule basis documentation, assumptions, change logs, review records, and approval evidence.
• Develop, standardize, and improve planning tools, templates, schedule reports, dashboards, and data quality checks to meet evolving project needs.
• Perform other planning, scheduling, or project controls duties as assigned by the Project Controls Manager, Functional Manager, Project Manager, or Program Leadership.

What You Bring to the Team:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, Business, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• 10-15 years of progressive planning, scheduling, or project controls experience on large, complex infrastructure, energy, or industrial projects, with preference for nuclear refurbishment or major outage environments.
• Five or more years of leadership experience managing planners, schedulers, or project controls personnel in a multi-discipline project environment.
• Professional certification such as PMP, PMI-SP, AACE PSP, EVP, or related project controls certification is considered an asset.
• Expert knowledge of Primavera P6, Critical Path Method scheduling, resource loading, schedule coding, baseline management, progress measurement, and forecast analysis.
• Strong understanding of earned value management, schedule performance indicators, resource planning, look-ahead planning, schedule risk analysis, and integrated cost/schedule reporting.
• Working knowledge of SAP, Power BI, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, Visio, SharePoint, and other project management or reporting platforms used to support project controls deliverables.
• Knowledge of nuclear project governance, quality assurance expectations, regulatory awareness, safety culture, and site access requirements is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead highly complex planning teams and influence multidisciplinary stakeholders in a JV, client-facing, or matrixed project environment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-support skills with the ability to identify schedule risks and propose practical mitigation or recovery plans.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare concise executive summaries, variance narratives, and stakeholder presentations.
• Results-oriented, detail-focused, and able to manage multiple priorities, reporting cycles, and stakeholder expectations under tight timelines.
• Commitment to teamwork, mentoring, knowledge transfer, and developing planning capability across the project controls organization.

At CanAtom, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment process upon request.

Reason for Vacancy: New

The expected pay range for this role is $138,000 - $189,000 per year.

Individual pay is determined based on several factors, including work location, education, experience, unique skills and job conditions. Other considerations may include certifications, specialized training, and the complexity or scope of the role.

Aecon fosters belonging within and across our organization. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considering all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws.