Project Scheduler

Title: Pharmaceutical Scheduler – Oracle Primavera P6Locations: Chicago, ILDuration: Direct Hire / Full-time permanent Relocation: Candidates must be willing to relocate to Illinois. Relocation assistance is available; the specific package will be discussed during the interview process.Position OverviewOur Client is seeking an experienced Pharmaceutical Scheduler with extensive Oracle Primavera P6 experience to support pharmaceutical manufacturing and production scheduling operations.This position requires a seasoned scheduling professional with a strong understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, batch production environments, and regulatory requirements, including FDA regulations and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).The ideal candidate will bring hands-on expertise in developing, maintaining, analyzing, and optimizing complex production schedules using Oracle Primavera P6, while coordinating with cross-functional stakeholders across Manufacturing, Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC), Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Warehouse operations.The successful candidate will play a critical role in aligning production activities, material availability, equipment capacity, workforce resources, and quality requirements to ensure efficient manufacturing operations and timely product delivery.Candidates must have extensive, hands-on Oracle Primavera P6 scheduling experience and a background in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Candidates currently based in Illinois or willing to relocate to the Chicago, IL area are strongly encouraged to apply.Key Responsibilities:1. Pharmaceutical Production Planning & SchedulingDevelop, maintain, and communicate detailed daily, weekly, and monthly pharmaceutical production schedules.Utilize Oracle Primavera P6 to build, manage, update, and monitor integrated production schedules and manufacturing timelines.Plan and sequence manufacturing activities based on customer demand, sales forecasts, inventory levels, production capacity, and delivery commitments.Schedule manufacturing batches, packaging operations, testing activities, and finished-product release milestones.Establish and maintain schedule logic, activity relationships, dependencies, critical paths, and key milestones.Optimize production sequencing to maximize equipment utilization, workforce productivity, and operational efficiency.Prioritize production orders based on business requirements, material availability, and customer delivery commitments.2. Material & Inventory CoordinationCollaborate with Procurement, Supply Chain, and Warehouse teams to ensure timely availability of raw materials, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), excipients, and packaging materials.Monitor inventory levels and identify potential material shortages that could affect manufacturing schedules.Track material requirements and ensure materials are available before scheduled production activities.Coordinate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve material delays and supply chain constraints.Incorporate material availability and procurement lead times into production schedules.3. Cross-Functional Stakeholder CoordinationWork closely with Manufacturing, QA, QC, Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Warehouse, and Regulatory teams.Coordinate production schedules around equipment availability, preventive maintenance, cleaning cycles, and quality requirements.Partner with QA/QC teams to align raw material testing, in-process inspections, finished-product testing, and batch release timelines.Communicate schedule changes, production delays, resource constraints, and operational challenges to relevant stakeholders.Facilitate regular scheduling reviews and progress meetings to maintain alignment across functional teams.4. GMP & Regulatory ComplianceEnsure production schedules align with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), applicable FDA regulations, and internal quality standards.Account for approved manufacturing procedures, batch documentation, quality inspections, and product release requirements when developing schedules.Maintain accurate production planning records, scheduling documentation, and operational reports.Coordinate with Quality teams to ensure required testing, validation, and approval activities are incorporated into production timelines.Support internal and external audits by providing accurate scheduling and production-related documentation.5. Capacity Planning & Resource OptimizationAnalyze manufacturing capacity, equipment utilization, workforce availability, and production constraints.Identify scheduling bottlenecks and recommend improvements to enhance production throughput.Balance workloads across manufacturing lines, equipment, and production facilities.Incorporate planned maintenance, equipment cleaning, and changeover activities into production schedules.Optimize production sequencing to minimize downtime, reduce changeover durations, and improve overall operational efficiency.Evaluate resource constraints and develop alternative scheduling scenarios to mitigate potential delays.6. Schedule Monitoring, Performance Analysis & ReportingMonitor actual production progress against established schedules and baseline plans.Track schedule performance, identify variances, and analyze the root causes of production delays.Develop recovery schedules and recommend corrective actions to address schedule deviations.Track key performance indicators (KPIs), including:Schedule adherence and on-time production completion.Batch cycle times and production throughput.Equipment utilization and resource efficiency.Production delays and schedule variances.Material and inventory availability.Manufacturing capacity and operational constraints.Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly scheduling and production status reports.Communicate schedule performance, risks, critical-path activities, and recovery plans to management and stakeholders.7. ERP, Planning & Scheduling SystemsLeverage Oracle Primavera P6 as a primary scheduling tool for developing, maintaining, and analyzing detailed production schedules.Utilize ERP/MRP platforms such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics to manage production orders, inventory, and material requirements.Generate production and scheduling reports using Microsoft Excel and other reporting tools.Maintain accurate scheduling data, activity progress, production order status, and resource information.Ensure consistency between scheduling systems and manufacturing/ERP planning data.Required Qualifications & ExperienceBachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.8+ years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, production planning, scheduling, or related manufacturing operations.Extensive hands-on experience with Oracle Primavera P6, including schedule development, maintenance, updates, critical-path analysis, dependencies, and progress monitoring.Strong understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, including batch manufacturing, packaging, testing, and product release.Working knowledge of FDA regulations, GMP standards, and pharmaceutical quality requirements.Experience coordinating with cross-functional teams, including Manufacturing, QA, QC, Engineering, Procurement, and Supply Chain.Knowledge of ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics.Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with production reporting and scheduling analysis.Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.Demonstrated ability to identify scheduling risks, resolve production constraints, and drive schedule adherence.Preferred QualificationsExperience supporting large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing operations or complex manufacturing programs.Experience integrating Primavera P6 schedules with ERP/MRP systems.Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM), Critical Path Method (CPM), schedule risk analysis, and performance measurement.Experience with capacity planning, resource loading, schedule forecasting, and recovery planning.Familiarity with pharmaceutical batch documentation, validation, quality control, and batch release processes.Key Technical SkillsOracle Primavera P6 – Advanced / Extensive Hands-on ExperiencePharmaceutical Manufacturing & Production SchedulingGMP & FDA Regulatory ComplianceBatch Manufacturing & Production PlanningCritical Path Method (CPM) SchedulingSchedule Development, Maintenance & AnalysisCapacity Planning & Resource OptimizationSupply Chain & Inventory CoordinationSAP / Oracle ERP / MRP SystemsMicrosoft Excel & Production ReportingSchedule Risk Assessment & Recovery PlanningLocation & RelocationThis position is based in Chicago, Illinois.Candidates currently residing in Illinois are encouraged to apply.Candidates located outside Illinois must be willing to relocate to the Chicago area.Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.The specific relocation package and associated details will be communicated by the client during the interview stages.Ideal Candidate ProfileThe ideal candidate is a highly experienced pharmaceutical scheduling professional who combines deep knowledge of pharmaceutical manufacturing operations with advanced Oracle Primavera P6 scheduling capabilities.This individual should be capable of developing and managing complex, integrated schedules, identifying critical-path constraints, coordinating manufacturing resources, monitoring production performance, and ensuring that manufacturing milestones are achieved in compliance with GMP and FDA requirements.Candidates with extensive Oracle Primavera P6 experience, pharmaceutical manufacturing scheduling expertise, and a willingness to relocate to Illinois will be the strongest fit for this opportunity.