Lead Planner Jobs
Lead Planner jobs are open across construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and government contracting, from project coordinator to senior program lead, with specializations in production scheduling, supply chain planning, and facilities management. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 80+ Lead Planner jobs
Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions:
- Expert individual contributor in a professional role. Performance has a long-term effect on the company's success.
- Leads the planning of large, complex, and unique New Stores, Expansions, and Remodels.
- Leads the quality control process for all planning project types, ensuring planning best practices are being implemented consistently across all project types and studios.
- Develops and manages new processes and tools to bring greater clarity to the delivery of project work across internal design, external consultants, and cross department (Shelf Edge, Design, Construction, Procurement, Technology) coordination.
- Leads the evaluation process for multiple planning scenarios, selects appropriate layout options based on the business need, and provides direction for all departments and HE-B formats
- Leads rapid iteration of new design concepts by leading project-level, cross-functional teams with limited definition and direction.
- Presents work and leads planning discussions during internal feedback meetings, merchant meetings, design forums, and facilitates feedback from multiple stakeholders on complex planning projects.
- Receives direction in the form of broad outcomes and is expected to define project objectives and own results. Recognized master who works on novel challenges, translating complex business and technical needs into objectives, plans, specifications, resources, short-term (1-3 years) strategic objectives, and long-term goals. Majority of time is spent developing and implementing new products, processes, standards, and/or operational plans.
- Coaches, directs, oversees, and/or reviews the work of lower-level professionals.
- Strategic advisor to senior leadership, consulting on solutions and strategic implementation of new initiatives with far-reaching impacts. Creates formal networks across the organization.
The responsibilities and essential functions outlined above describe the general nature and level of work assigned to this position. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Duties and responsibilities may be modified at any time based on business needs. Employees may be required to perform other job-related tasks as requested by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodations.
Work Experience:
- 10+ years of relevant retail planning experience required
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
- Expert knowledge of all department template space planning to optimize all aspects of a planning assignment, including but not limited to, sales/ROI goals, drivers of efficient operations, ADA compliance, aisle spacing & customer areas, fixtures & equipment required to operate a department/store, special needs for partner operations & standard operating procedures, and management of department/store equipment.
- Expert knowledge of the planning process. Provides mentorship in conceptual planning, hand sketching, bubble diagrams, programming, tagging, bill of materials, store planning deliverables, Design Development hand -off documents, and bulletin/change management processes.
- Ability to manage innovation planning deliverables for all phases to completion with no supervision by others. Tracks project status, risks, and schedule changes through project management software. Surfaces workload risks and works with the Manager to prioritize projects and internal/external resources. Assists in the development of new management templates to be integrated into project management software.
- Power user of REVIT, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, and the MS Office suite of products.
- Advanced verbal / written / graphic / process / PowerPoint presentation communication skills
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in architecture or interior design
Physical Demands & Working Conditions:
- Function in a fast-paced, retail, office environment
- Travel by car or plane with overnight stays
- Sit for extended periods
- Work extended hours
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Partner encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Last revised: 11/01/2017
Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions:
- Expert individual contributor in a professional role. Performance has a long-term effect on the company's success.
- Leads the planning of large, complex, and unique New Stores, Expansions, and Remodels.
- Leads the quality control process for all planning project types, ensuring planning best practices are being implemented consistently across all project types and studios.
- Develops and manages new processes and tools to bring greater clarity to the delivery of project work across internal design, external consultants, and cross department (Shelf Edge, Design, Construction, Procurement, Technology) coordination.
- Leads the evaluation process for multiple planning scenarios, selects appropriate layout options based on the business need, and provides direction for all departments and HE-B formats
- Leads rapid iteration of new design concepts by leading project-level, cross-functional teams with limited definition and direction.
- Presents work and leads planning discussions during internal feedback meetings, merchant meetings, design forums, and facilitates feedback from multiple stakeholders on complex planning projects.
- Receives direction in the form of broad outcomes and is expected to define project objectives and own results. Recognized master who works on novel challenges, translating complex business and technical needs into objectives, plans, specifications, resources, short-term (1-3 years) strategic objectives, and long-term goals. Majority of time is spent developing and implementing new products, processes, standards, and/or operational plans.
- Coaches, directs, oversees, and/or reviews the work of lower-level professionals.
- Strategic advisor to senior leadership, consulting on solutions and strategic implementation of new initiatives with far-reaching impacts. Creates formal networks across the organization.
The responsibilities and essential functions outlined above describe the general nature and level of work assigned to this position. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Duties and responsibilities may be modified at any time based on business needs. Employees may be required to perform other job-related tasks as requested by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodations.
Work Experience:
- 10+ years of relevant retail planning experience required
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
- Expert knowledge of all department template space planning to optimize all aspects of a planning assignment, including but not limited to, sales/ROI goals, drivers of efficient operations, ADA compliance, aisle spacing & customer areas, fixtures & equipment required to operate a department/store, special needs for partner operations & standard operating procedures, and management of department/store equipment.
- Expert knowledge of the planning process. Provides mentorship in conceptual planning, hand sketching, bubble diagrams, programming, tagging, bill of materials, store planning deliverables, Design Development hand -off documents, and bulletin/change management processes.
- Ability to manage innovation planning deliverables for all phases to completion with no supervision by others. Tracks project status, risks, and schedule changes through project management software. Surfaces workload risks and works with the Manager to prioritize projects and internal/external resources. Assists in the development of new management templates to be integrated into project management software.
- Power user of REVIT, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, and the MS Office suite of products.
- Advanced verbal / written / graphic / process / PowerPoint presentation communication skills
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in architecture or interior design
Physical Demands & Working Conditions:
- Function in a fast-paced, retail, office environment
- Travel by car or plane with overnight stays
- Sit for extended periods
- Work extended hours
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Partner encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Last revised: 11/01/2017
See All 80 Lead Planner Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Lead Planner JobsLead Planner Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage
- Technology & Software
- Construction & Real Estate
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in lead planner jobs.
- 5+ years of project scheduling or production planning experience in a relevant industry
- Proficiency in Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project for developing and maintaining master schedules
- PMP, PMI-SP, or equivalent project management certification preferred or required
- Experience developing work breakdown structures, critical path analysis, and earned value reporting
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, supply chain, or a related field
- Strong communication skills for coordinating schedule updates across cross-functional teams
Tips for Your Lead Planner Job Search
Tailor your resume to planning metrics
Lead planner roles reward quantifiable results, so list schedule adherence rates, cost variance reductions, and resource utilization improvements you owned directly. Generic project management bullets won't stand out against candidates who show planning outcomes in concrete terms.
Highlight your scheduling software proficiency
Employers filter hard on tools, so name every platform you've used, Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Oracle Fusion, Smartsheet, in a dedicated skills section. Burying software names inside job descriptions means applicant tracking systems often miss them entirely.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists lead planner openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Get your PMP or PMI-SP credential first
Many lead planner postings list a Project Management Professional or Scheduling Professional certification as a minimum requirement, not a nice-to-have. If you're missing one, enrolling before you apply puts you past the first filter most hiring managers use.
Prepare a portfolio of project baselines
Bring a redacted sample of a baseline schedule you built, with the WBS structure, critical path, and any rebaseline documentation. Interviewers for lead planner roles frequently ask candidates to walk through real schedule logic, not just describe it in the abstract.
Negotiate scope before accepting the title
Lead planner roles vary enormously in authority, some own the master schedule while others support a senior planner with limited autonomy. Before accepting an offer, clarify which systems you'll own, who you'll report to, and whether the role includes direct reports or subcontractor oversight.
Lead Planner Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most lead planners?
Sargent & Lundy, Apex Engineering, and The AmeriFlex are hiring the most lead planners right now, with openings concentrated in Texas, California, and Virginia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Industries with the most active hiring include construction, defense contracting, and industrial manufacturing.
How many lead planner jobs are remote?
About 60% of lead planner openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though the share varies significantly by industry. Roles focused on supply chain planning and program scheduling tend to offer the most remote flexibility, while site-based construction and facilities planning roles are almost always on-site.
How do you become a lead planner?
Start by building hands-on scheduling experience as a project coordinator or planner, working in Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project on real project baselines. Earn a PMP or PMI Scheduling Professional credential to clear employer filters. Progress by owning increasingly complex schedules, managing subcontractor timelines, and demonstrating you can lead a planning function rather than just support one.
Can you get hired as a lead planner without direct lead experience?
Yes, especially if you've owned a full project schedule end-to-end as a planner or coordinator, even without the lead title. Emphasize critical path ownership, any mentorship of junior planners, and situations where you drove schedule recovery decisions. Construction and manufacturing firms often promote strong planners into lead roles based on demonstrated scheduling depth rather than years in a named lead position.
What does the lead planner interview process look like?
Most lead planner interviews include an initial screening focused on tool proficiency and scheduling methodology, followed by a technical round where you walk through a past schedule you built, explain your critical path logic, and discuss how you handled delays or rebaselining. Final rounds typically involve meeting project managers or operations leadership and may include a take-home scheduling exercise or a whiteboard session on work breakdown structure design.
Where can I find and apply to lead planner jobs?
You can find and apply to lead planner jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your experience and industry background, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 80 Lead Planner Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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