diff --git a/cron/scheduler.py b/cron/scheduler.py
index cb4d84c..ee28fec 100644
--- a/cron/scheduler.py
+++ b/cron/scheduler.py
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ from .executor import execute_job
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-SYNC_INTERVAL = 300  # 5 minutes
+SYNC_INTERVAL = 300  # 5 minutes — full job reconciliation
+PENDING_CHECK_INTERVAL = 15  # 15 seconds — fast check for manual triggers
 
 
 class CronScheduler:
@@ -26,10 +27,18 @@ class CronScheduler:
         self._running = False
 
     async def start(self):
-        """Start the scheduler background loop."""
+        """Start the scheduler background loops."""
         self._running = True
         logger.info("Cron scheduler starting")
         await asyncio.sleep(15)  # wait for bot to stabilize
+        # Run full sync + fast pending check in parallel
+        await asyncio.gather(
+            self._full_sync_loop(),
+            self._pending_check_loop(),
+        )
+
+    async def _full_sync_loop(self):
+        """Full job reconciliation every 5 minutes."""
         while self._running:
             try:
                 await self._sync_jobs()
@@ -37,6 +46,31 @@ class CronScheduler:
                 logger.warning("Cron job sync failed", exc_info=True)
             await asyncio.sleep(SYNC_INTERVAL)
 
+    async def _pending_check_loop(self):
+        """Fast poll for manual triggers every 15 seconds."""
+        while self._running:
+            try:
+                await self._check_pending()
+            except Exception:
+                logger.debug("Pending check failed", exc_info=True)
+            await asyncio.sleep(PENDING_CHECK_INTERVAL)
+
+    async def _check_pending(self):
+        """Quick check for jobs with lastStatus='pending' and run them."""
+        async with httpx.AsyncClient(timeout=10.0) as client:
+            resp = await client.get(
+                f"{self.portal_url}/api/cron/jobs/active",
+                headers={"x-api-key": self.api_key},
+            )
+            if resp.status_code != 200:
+                return
+            data = resp.json()
+
+        for job in data.get("jobs", []):
+            if job.get("lastStatus") == "pending":
+                logger.info("Pending trigger: %s", job["name"])
+                asyncio.create_task(self._run_once(job))
+
     async def stop(self):
         self._running = False
         for task in self._tasks.values():
@@ -80,12 +114,6 @@ class CronScheduler:
             logger.info("Scheduled cron job: %s (%s @ %s %s)",
                          job["name"], job["schedule"], job.get("scheduleAt", ""), job["timezone"])
 
-        # Check for manual triggers (lastStatus == "pending")
-        for job_id, job in remote_jobs.items():
-            if job.get("lastStatus") == "pending":
-                logger.info("Manual trigger detected for %s", job["name"])
-                asyncio.create_task(self._run_once(job))
-
     async def _job_loop(self, job: dict):
         """Run a job on its schedule forever."""
         try: