Planning Lead — Sector 1 North & South

Set the planning standard for a nationally significant rail technology program.

Location: Brisbane CBD (140 Creek St)

Work model: Hybrid — min. 3 days/week on site

Engagement: Full time contract.

Start: September 2026

Term: 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Aug 2029 + 2 x 12-month options

Leave: 4 weeks p.a. + public holidays

Sector: Rail / Major Infrastructure

Rate: Competitive — negotiable

Work rights: Australian working rights required

Reference: STEPS-ETCS-04

About the program

STEPS Labour & Recruitment is recruiting on behalf of the IPM Engineering group for a major digital rail signalling upgrade program being delivered across the South East Queensland passenger rail network. The program is modernising train control to improve network safety, reliability and capacity, and is one of the most significant rail technology deployments currently under way in Australia.

The program's Project Management Office is already established and operating as the central coordination function for governance, planning, risk, change, reporting, financial management and information management. We are appointing four senior specialists to operate, mature and continuously improve that function, embedded within the client's project office in the Brisbane CBD. A hybrid arrangement is available, with a minimum of three days per week on site.

The role

Own the Integrated Master Schedule for a landmark digital rail signalling program.

Reporting to the PMO Lead, you will lead the planning and scheduling function across both sectors and be accountable for the integrity of the Integrated Master Schedule. You will set the planning standards the program runs to, integrate schedules from every contractor and workstream, and provide the forecasting, performance analysis and recovery planning that underpins executive decision-making.

What you'll be doing





- Lead and manage the program planning and scheduling team.
- Establish and maintain planning and schedule management frameworks, standards and procedures.
- Own and maintain the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS).
- Integrate contractor, supplier, testing, commissioning and stakeholder schedules.
- Validate schedule logic, dependencies, interfaces and critical path integrity across all workstreams.
- Lead schedule forecasting, performance analysis and trend reporting.
- Establish and maintain schedule baseline governance processes.
- Assess schedule impacts arising from approved program changes.
- Lead schedule assurance reviews, health assessments and compliance activities.
- Coordinate schedule risk assessment and contingency analysis with the Risk Lead.
- Develop recovery strategies, alternative delivery scenarios and re-planning initiatives.
- Provide executive-level schedule reporting, insight and recommendations to governance forums.
- Support business case updates, funding submissions and re-baselining activities.
- Ensure schedule information is fully integrated with cost, risk and change management.

What you'll bring

Essential

- Extensive experience leading planning and scheduling functions on major infrastructure or rail programs.
- Advanced Primavera P6 proficiency.
- Demonstrated experience managing large integrated program schedules across multiple delivery partners.
- Strong understanding of testing, commissioning,



operational readiness and rail delivery activities.
- Experience leading planning teams and providing schedule advice at executive level.
- Strong grounding in program controls principles and schedule governance frameworks.

Highly regarded
- Experience on digital signalling, train control or rail systems programs (ETCS, ERTMS or CBTC).
- Schedule risk analysis and quantitative schedule risk modelling.
- Experience with formal schedule assurance or gateway review regimes.
- Prior engagement with Queensland Government or Queensland Rail delivery frameworks.

What's on offer

- A long-term engagement — initial term to August 2029, with two further 12-month options.
- A hybrid working arrangement: a minimum of three days per week in the client's Brisbane CBD project office, with the balance worked remotely.
- Full-time role, with four weeks' annual leave.
- A genuinely significant program: digital train control deployment at national scale.
- Embedded in the client's team, working directly with program leadership rather than at arm's length.
- Competitive contract rates, negotiable based on experience.
- The backing of the IPM Engineering group, with continuity of work across our wider portfolio.

How to apply Apply through the Linkedin Apply now button, or send your CV and a short covering note to [email protected] quoting the reference above.

Applicants must hold unrestricted Australian working rights. The successful candidate will be required to complete a criminal history check and any client inductions or clearances required for the program. STEPS Labour & Recruitment is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, veterans and people with disability.

📌 Planning Lead — Sector 1 North & South (Brisbane)
🏢 Project Management Professional Services Australia
📍 Brisbane