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

Software

Pay expectations

Reviewed May 2025. Pay reflects the national wage distribution for this occupation, not a promise for any one job: entry level is the lower part of that range, 5 years in sits around the national median, and 10 years in is the upper part, since pay isn't actually tracked by years on the job. Real pay varies a lot by state, metro area, union status, and employer — scale these up or down for your market. These figures are base pay only: overtime, shift differentials, and per-project bonuses are standard across most construction trades and routinely push real earnings above what's shown here.

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. 1.Scheduler
2. 2.Senior Scheduler or Claims Analyst
3. 3.Scheduling & Delay Consultant
4. 4.Senior Consultant or Expert Witness (Construction Litigation)

Who hires for this role