The Associate Lead Project Operations is accountable for the integrated planning, project controls, budget governance, and operational coordination of all school building projects. This role owns the project schedule framework, budget baselines, earned value performance monitoring, and risk management for the portfolio. Working closely with the Budget Controller and Quantity & Cost Surveyor, the Associate Lead Project Operations ensures that all projects are planned rigorously, executed predictably, and financially tracked with precision providing the Head of Projects with reliable performance intelligence to drive decisions.

Integrated Project Planning & Scheduling

- Develop and maintain Level 1 (portfolio), Level 2 (project), and Level 3 (activity-level) CPM schedules for all school building projects using MS Project or Primavera P6.
- Establish baseline schedules at project award incorporating design development, statutory approval, procurement lead times, construction sequence, and commissioning phases.
- Prepare resource-loaded and cost-loaded schedules for resource planning and cash flow projection.
- Issue 4-week Look-Ahead Plans in coordination with the Associate Lead Project Constructions to guide site execution priorities.
- Conduct critical path analysis at project milestones and after scope or delay events to assess schedule impact and recovery options.
- Develop phased construction schedules for brownfield and revamp projects that minimize disruption to school operations during academic sessions.

Project Controls & Performance Monitoring

- Implement Earned Value Management (EVM) for all projects: compute SPI (Schedule Performance Index), CPI (Cost Performance Index), EAC (Estimate at Completion), and VAC (Variance at Completion) monthly.
- Prepare the Monthly Project Controls Report for the Lead D&E; covering schedule variance, cost variance, and forecast-to-complete for each project.




- Identify schedule and cost risks early issue Early Warning Notices (EWN) to the relevant Associate Lead and Head of Projects.
- Manage the project Risk Register: identify current risks, update probability/impact assessments, and track mitigation actions to closure.
- Facilitate monthly Project Review Meetings: prepare the agenda, collate inputs from all Associate Leads, and present integrated portfolio performance data.

Operational Coordination Across Verticals

- Coordinate the weekly cross-functional project operations meeting between Constructions, Procurement & Contracts, Billing, and Designs ensuring schedule-critical activities are aligned.
- Track design drawing release schedules against the construction programme and escalate delays to the Associate Lead Designs.
- Monitor procurement delivery schedules for critical materials (structural steel, cement, MEP equipment, furniture, fixtures) against site start dates.
- Coordinate statutory approval timelines building plan sanction, fire NOC, structural design approval — and flag delays affecting the construction start schedule.
- Maintain the project-level document register: sanctioned drawings, approved specifications, client instructions, and authority approvals.

Budget Governance & Financial Oversight

- Establish the Project Budget Baseline at award in coordination with the Budget Controller: cost breakdown structure (CBS), contingency provisions, and escalation provisions.
- Review and endorse monthly Cost-at-Completion (CaC) forecasts prepared by the Budget Controller before submission to the Lead D&E;
- Manage scope change budget: assess financial impact of client-instructed changes, obtain budget approvals, and update the baseline.
- Monitor project-level working capital: billing versus Funds availability tracking, subcontractor payment obligations, and cost-to-complete forecasting.
- Approve internal resource allocation requests, hired equipment decisions, and temporary works cost commitments for construction activities.

📌 Project Planning Lead (Mumbai)
🏢 Ampersand Group
📍 Mumbai