Principal Technical Planner / Master Scheduler

Kepler is on a Mission to bring the internet to space. Incorporated in 2015, Kepler’s guiding star is to enable the space economy through the creation of a communication network in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) that will provide connectivity services to other space missions, be they on orbit in LEO, MEO, GEO, or beyond. With an expanding base of early customers and our first 21 satellites in orbit, Kepler is continuing to grow and expand its most important asset – the Team! Based out of our HQ in Toronto and with an office in the UK and a newly formed office in the US we are building towards a truly global company delivering a product for the whole world.

As a Kepler Technical Planner, you will own the IMS library for executing programs as well as lead the development of schedules pertaining to new business development and strategic opportunities. You will work closely with the Program Management Office to maintain executing schedules and measure key performance indicators, with Finance to link the IMS to overall EAC goals, and with Business Development & Strategy to generate and compare proposal schedules and associated risk. Ultimately you are motivated by the desire to ensure accuracy and excellence in planning and execution and nurture a healthy culture within our engineering teams from concept through delivery.

As a Principal Technical Planner, you will oversee regular communications with the various engineering teams for schedule goals, margin measurement, and impacts of resource allocation and roadblocks on both project and program milestones. You will also be assigned to key proposal teams and compare execution schedules against the proposed efforts, crafting schedules within customer requirements and communicating back to the capture team any considerations and risks. You will be responsible for maintaining the company schedule-related key performance indicators, as well as working cross-functionally on indicators for overall program performance. You will be responsible for reducing compliance risks and assisting in any audit preparations related to schedules.

Responsibilities:

• Provide for the integration of the company's planning, scheduling, budgeting, work authorization, and cost accumulation processes with each other, and as appropriate, program work breakdown structures and program organizational structures. 
• Provide for integration of program work breakdown structures and program organizational structures in a manner that permits cost and schedule performance measurement by elements of either or both structures, as needed. 
• Promote change control, prevent revisions except for authorized changes, and incorporate authorized changes in a timely manner. 
• Utilizing historical data and industry experience, assist in the development of basis of estimates (BOEs), estimates to complete (ETCs), estimates at complete (EACs), and variance analysis.
• Participate in risk and opportunity analysis and incorporate R&O activities in schedules as appropriate. 
• Maintain and own an integrated master schedule for the Kepler initiatives.
• Consolidate key feedback from internal stakeholders on planning data, lead times, interdependencies, and throughput.
• Collaborate closely with proposal teams to develop schedule presentations and proposal materials.
• Perform what-if analyses on proposed efforts and assess impact to existing execution.
• Assist in the maturation of PMO tools to best accommodate effective planning, reporting, and execution.
• Drive, promote, and develop positive communication with Engineering and Production teams to improve on execution to plan.

Requirements:

• Bachelor degree (or equivalent) 
• 8 or more years experience in project management, planning, and scheduling in engineering environments 
• Deep experience with MS Office suite, including MS Project.
• Proven people skills; must have the ability to work with others, and hold various team members accountable to commitments.
• Expert communication skills; must be able to use various methods for effectively communicating schedule to different audiences.
• Exceptional organizational skills.