Lead Project Controls Engineer in Stafford

Do you thrive on turning complex project schedules into clear, actionable plans that keep major infrastructure projects on track? GE Vernova is looking for an experienced Lead Project Planner – Alternating Current Substations to join our Grid Solutions team in Stafford. You will take ownership of planning and scheduling for complex electrical substation and transmission projects, helping project teams anticipate constraints, manage interfaces and deliver against their contractual commitments.

As Lead Project Planner – AC Substations, you will take full responsibility for the planning output of your assigned project or projects, working closely with the Project Manager and wider project team. You will develop and maintain integrated Primavera P6 schedules covering engineering, procurement, manufacturing, construction and commissioning. You will challenge progress, identify risks and constraints, develop mitigation plans and provide clear schedule insight to customers and internal stakeholders. This is a highly collaborative role requiring strong technical understanding, analytical capability and the confidence to influence teams across multiple functions.

How You Will Make a Difference

• Develop and secure approval of integrated project baseline schedules that reflect contractual milestones, technical sequencing, resource requirements and key interfaces.
• Maintain and regularly update project schedules and resource forecasts throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure activity durations, dependencies, prerequisites and schedule logic are understood and agreed by task and resource owners.
• Lead progress reviews, challenge forecasts and work with project teams to develop mitigation, recovery and catch-up plans.
• Identify blockers, critical-path risks and emerging schedule trends, escalating issues before they affect key milestones.
• Analyse schedule performance using measures such as critical-path analysis, schedule variance, S-curves, on-time delivery, productivity, resource loading and Say/Do ratios.
• Develop “what-if” scenarios and alternative execution strategies to optimise project delivery, durations and resource use.
• Prepare clear internal and customer schedule reports and present project status, trends, forecasts and recommendations during project and management reviews.
• Communicate directly with customers, suppliers, consortium partners and other third parties on scheduling matters.
• Maintain project schedule interfaces and ensure external dependencies and delivery commitments are accurately reflected.
• Work with Risk Managers and Cost Controllers to align schedule, risk, cost phasing and financial forecasts.
• Assess the schedule implications of changes and variation orders and support delay analysis, extension-of-time claims and dispute-related activities where required.

Skills for Success

• Strong hands-on experience using Primavera P6 to build, maintain and analyse complex integrated project schedules.
• Experience planning EPC, turnkey, infrastructure, transmission or similarly complex engineering projects.
• Experience supporting electrical substation projects or a closely related transmission environment.
• Understanding of project sequencing across engineering, procurement, manufacturing, construction and commissioning.
• Knowledge of critical-path methodology, schedule logic, progress measurement, forecasting and resource loading.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate complex schedule information into clear conclusions and recommendations.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the confidence to challenge assumptions and influence stakeholders.
• A proactive, solution-focused approach, with the ability to anticipate constraints and drive agreed actions.
• The ability to work autonomously, take ownership and provide accurate and reliable planning information.
• A collaborative, resilient and customer-focused approach.

Qualifications and Preferred Experience

• A degree in engineering, project management or a related discipline, or equivalent knowledge and experience gained through a relevant career, would be beneficial.
• Experience in any of the following would be advantageous: AC electrical substations or transmission projects, HVDC converter station projects, large, complex or international project environments, NEC3, NEC4 or FIDIC contracts, quantitative schedule risk analysis, cost and schedule integration, delay analysis, forensic planning or extension-of-time claims.

Special Role Requirements

Some travel to project sites, customer locations and other GE Vernova offices may be required from time to time.

This is a permanent position based in our Stafford office, with a hybrid working model providing flexibility to work from both the office and home, subject to business and project requirements.

We believe strong careers are built through meaningful experiences, supportive relationships and continuous development. We are committed to providing the tools, opportunities and support you need to shape a career that reflects your personal and professional goals, while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

We are passionate about creating an inclusive working environment where the ideas and contributions of a diverse workforce are valued. As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, GE Vernova is committed to providing equal opportunities for colleagues and applicants alike.