Lead Scheduler in London

About VIRTUS

VIRTUS Data Centres is the UK’s fastest-growing data centre provider. We own, design, build, and operate some of the most energy-efficient, flexible, and secure data centres in Europe. In 2023, we announced our expansion into continental Europe, starting with Berlin and Milan, with plans to grow further across the region. At VIRTUS, we aim to be a positive force in the fourth industrial revolution—delivering innovative solutions while staying firmly rooted in our core values: Clarity & Quality, Accountability, Customer Commitment, Purposeful Innovation, and Capability & Growth.

Job Summary

The Lead Scheduler will play a critical role in supporting the successful planning, scheduling, and delivery of VIRTUS Data Centre construction projects across the region. This role is responsible for driving schedule excellence, consistency, and predictability across multiple live developments, ensuring robust schedule controls are embedded from design through construction, commissioning, and handover.

Working closely with internal project teams, General Contractors (GCs), consultants, and delivery partners, the Lead Scheduler will oversee schedule governance, schedule integrity, risk management, reporting, and production control to improve delivery certainty and support the successful build of mission‑critical data centre facilities. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in complex construction scheduling, ideally within data centres, mission‑critical, high‑tech, or large‑scale infrastructure environments, with the ability to drive consistency, influence stakeholders, and enhance schedule performance across multiple projects.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Schedule Development & Management
  • Lead the development and maintenance of integrated delivery schedules across regional data centre construction projects.
  • Validate baseline schedules with project teams, General Contractors, and consultants to ensure accuracy, milestone alignment, and critical path integrity.
  • Perform schedule analytics, health check and probability analysis.
  • Ensure alignment across design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and IST activities.
• Schedule Governance & Controls
  • Establish consistent scheduling standards, reporting, and schedule governance across projects in line with VIRTUS scheduling requirements.
  • Identify schedule deviations early and develop mitigation or recovery strategies with project delivery teams.
  • Support project change control and ensure contractor schedules align with VIRTUS delivery requirements.
• Schedule Risk & Forecasting
  • Establish and monitor Schedule Quantitative Risk Assessments (SQRA) to evaluate schedule risk and potential delays, impacts and mitigations.
  • Utilise the DCMA – 14-point assessment standard to evaluate metrics such as missing logic, hard constraints, high float, resource loading/earned value management and SPI.
  • Develop recovery plans and scenario analysis to support informed project decisions and forecasting.
  • Support scenario planning (Monte Carlo) analysis to generate probability outcomes for intended schedule completion dates.
• Reporting & Analytics
  • Monitor schedule performance, key milestones, and critical path activities on a monthly basis, identifying risks and deviations.
  • Produce clear schedule reporting dashboards, schedule performance metrics for program‑wide assessment.
  • Integrate schedule, cost, and risk data to improve project visibility and decision-making.
• Systems & Digital Tools
  • Champion the use of scheduling and construction tools including Primavera P6 (preferred), MS Project, Procore, Buildots, Visilean, and Power BI.
  • Drive consistency, automation, and continuous improvement in scheduling processes and reporting.
• Production Control & Stakeholder Management
  • Support structured planning and production control methodologies across projects.
  • Collaborate with Design teams, Procurement, Project Managers, Construction partners, and Commissioning teams to drive schedule alignment and predictable delivery performance and outcomes.
  • Facilitate planning sessions and challenge schedule assumptions to improve outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering (CSA, mechanical, electrical), project management, or equivalent experience.

Experience

• Significant experience in construction scheduling, programme management, or project controls, ideally within data centres, mission‑critical facilities, hyperscale, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, high‑tech, or complex infrastructure environments.
• Proven experience managing complex schedules across multiple large‑scale construction projects.
• Strong understanding of the relationship between CSA, MEP, and commissioning activities through the 5 stages of construction to IST within complex build environments.
• Experience working within an owner‑operator, developer, general contractor, or consultancy environment.
• Strong knowledge of scheduling methodologies, schedule controls, change management, and schedule risk analysis.
• Experience with Primavera P6 and MS Project is essential; exposure to Power BI, Buildots, Procore, Visilean, or similar platforms desirable.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability with a structured and pragmatic approach.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and challenge constructively.
• Ability to communicate complex schedule issues clearly to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• High attention to detail with a focus on schedule accuracy and integrity.
• Collaborative approach with the ability to build strong working relationships across teams and contractors.
• Passion for continuous improvement, delivery excellence, and innovation in construction scheduling.

Additional Information

In line with VIRTUS’ Vetting Policy, the successful applicant must be willing to undergo a BS7858 screening process.

Equal Opportunity Statement

VIRTUS is an equal‑opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to fight for equality, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.