A Neural Network (NN) scheduler and techniques to implement features of different possible NN schedulers are disclosed. In a first example, an NN scheduler that accepts NN models in an interoperable format and performs optimizations on this interoperable format as part of converting it to a run-time format is provided. In a second example, an NN scheduler analyzes operations and annotations associated with those operations to determine scheduling options based on hardware availability, data availability, hardware efficiency, processor affinity, etc. In a third example, an NN scheduler that may be integrated with a feed-back loop to recognize actual run-time attributes may be used to “learn” and adapt to change its future scheduling behavior. Each of these examples may be integrated individually, or together, to provide an NN scheduler that optimizes and adapts processing functions for an NN model either prior to processing or for just-in-time determination of operation scheduling.