Career
Scheduling & Delay Consultant
Consultants & Advisory
Called in specifically to answer one question in a dispute, what actually caused the delay, and whose fault was it, using schedule data rather than opinion.
What is a Scheduling & Delay Consultant?
A Scheduling & Delay Consultant provides specialized schedule analysis for construction disputes, determining the cause, responsibility, and quantified impact of project delays. It overlaps with the broader Construction Claims Consultant role but focuses specifically on schedule and delay analysis rather than cost or defect claims generally, often the most technically demanding piece of a claim, since it requires reconstructing what actually happened on a project's critical path from potentially incomplete records.
What they do
- Analyze project schedules using recognized delay analysis methods (e.g. time impact analysis, as-planned vs. as-built)
- Determine which party's actions or inactions actually caused a schedule delay
- Quantify the time and cost impact of delays for use in claims or litigation
- Prepare detailed schedule analysis reports and exhibits
- Serve as an expert witness on delay-specific questions when a case goes to litigation
- Advise clients on schedule risk and delay mitigation before disputes arise
A typical day
- 8:00 AMReconstruct a project's as-built schedule from daily reports and correspondence
- 9:30 AMRun a time impact analysis isolating the effect of a specific delay event
- 11:30 AMDraft findings for a delay claim report
- 1:30 PMCall with retaining counsel to discuss how the analysis supports the case
- 3:30 PMReview a colleague's schedule analysis methodology for a separate case
Skills
Critical path method (CPM) scheduling and delay analysis methodsReconstructing project timelines from incomplete recordsTechnical writing for expert reportsClear communication of technical findings to attorneys and juriesObjectivity and independence
Software
Scheduling software (e.g. Primavera P6)
Education
- Required:
- A bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, or a related field, plus significant scheduling experience; no separate "delay consultant" certification or license exists
- Preferred:
- Several years as a Scheduler on complex projects before moving into consulting
- Helpful:
- PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP) or AACE International's Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP) credential; a Professional Engineer (PE) license if testimony will be offered specifically as an engineering opinion
- Not necessary:
- A law degree; this role provides technical schedule expertise, not legal representation
Career progression
- 1.Scheduler
- 2.Senior Scheduler or Claims Analyst
- 3.Scheduling & Delay Consultant
- 4.Senior Consultant or Expert Witness (Construction Litigation)
Who hires for this role
Consulting FirmsLaw Firms (construction litigation practices)Owners and General Contractors (directly, for major disputes)