Defense Project Scheduler Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

We are seeking an experienced Master Planner Scheduler to serve as a critical member of our Program Management Office (PMO), ensuring the successful planning, coordination, and execution of complex Department of Defense (DoD) and national security programs. This role is ideal for a highly analytical professional who thrives on transforming program requirements into actionable schedules, integrating multiple project timelines, and providing leadership with accurate, timely insights for decision-making.

** This position is contingent upon contract award ** 

• Develop, maintain, and manage Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) for complex federal and DoD programs.
• Establish and maintain program schedules, milestones, dependencies, and critical paths across multiple projects and functional teams.
• Analyze schedule performance and identify impacts, constraints, risks, and recovery opportunities.
• Provide schedule status reports, dashboard metrics, and executive-level briefings to leadership and government stakeholders.
• Support program planning activities including resource forecasting, workload planning, schedule optimization, and milestone tracking.
• Collaborate proactively with Program Managers, technical teams, subcontractors, and customers to collect, validate, and report schedule data.
• Conduct schedule risk assessments and recommend corrective actions to maintain program objectives.
• Facilitate recurring schedule reviews, planning sessions, and PMO meetings.
• Develop and maintain schedule management processes, standards, and best practices.
• Ensure alignment between contractual requirements, program deliverables, and project schedules.
• Monitor and report schedule variances, earned value metrics, and program performance indicators when applicable.
• Provide schedule insights to support strategic decision-making and portfolio management efforts.
• Assist leadership in identifying resource conflicts, dependencies, and program execution risks across multiple projects.
• Maintain audit-ready schedule documentation and records.
• Other duties as assigned

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in: Engineering, Information Systems, Information Technology or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of Project Management or Security Management experience.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent program/project management experience.
• Expert-level proficiency with: Microsoft Project, Microsoft Project Server and Microsoft Project Professional.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing integrated project schedules for complex programs.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate with technical staff, program leadership, executives, and government customers.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across multiple teams and organizational levels.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively engage project managers and stakeholders to gather, validate, and report schedule-critical information.
• Active Secret clearance with ability to obtain Top Secret
• Successfully pass background and drug screening

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting Department of Defense or Intelligence Community programs.
• Experience supporting Program Management Offices (PMOs).
• Experience developing and maintaining Integrated Master Plans (IMP) and Integrated Master Schedules (IMS).
• Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM) principles and reporting.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of project scheduling methodologies and PMO best practices.
• Knowledge of DoD program management processes and contract deliverables.
• Knowledge of Integrated Master Scheduling (IMS) development and maintenance.
• Knowledge of schedule risk assessment and mitigation practices.
• Knowledge of project lifecycle management and performance measurement techniques.
• Skill in schedule analysis, forecasting, and performance reporting.
• Skill in critical path analysis and schedule optimization.
• Skill in stakeholder engagement and executive reporting.
• Skill in identifying schedule risks and developing mitigation strategies.