Planning Manager
Job Description
Our newest opportunity is for a talented Planning Manager to join our award-winning team based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The successful candidate will lead all planning, scheduling, progress monitoring, delay analysis, and reporting activities throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring alignment with project objectives, timelines, and stakeholder expectations.
To be successful in this dynamic opportunity, we envision that your career journey to date will include 15 years' work experience partnered with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management.
Experience required:
* Minimum 15 years of overall experience in project planning and controls.
* Minimum 5 years of recent experience in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
* Proven experience working with PMC/Consultancy organizations in the same role.
* Strong background in retail, mall, building, EPC, and Design & Build projects.
* Experience managing planning activities for large-scale multi-package developments is essential.
Skills & Competencies:
* Strong proficiency in project planning and scheduling software (Primavera P6 preferred).
* Strong understanding of: Project Controls, Cost Control, Earned Value Management (EVM), Delay Analysis & Claims, Risk Management
* Excellent reporting and presentation capabilities.
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
* Ability to manage multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced project environment.
* Excellent communication and coordination skills.
Professional Certifications (Advantageous):
* PMI-SP (PMI Scheduling Professional)
* AACE-PSP (Planning & Scheduling Professional)
* AACE-CCP (Certified Cost Professional)
Responsibilities Duties:
Lead the master planning and programme control function
Develop, maintain, and control the baseline schedule in coordination with Client, Consultants, and Contractors.
Review and critically assess contractor programmes, including sequencing, methodologies, procurement, resource loading, and recovery strategies.
Ensure full integration of design, procurement, approvals, construction, testing & commissioning, and handover activities.
Drive critical path analysis, identify programme risks, and implement mitigation and recovery actions.
Monitor progress, update schedules, and ensure accurate reflection of site performance and productivity trends.
Assess programme impacts of variations, design changes, delays, and disruptions, and advise on mitigation strategies.
Implement Earned Value Management (EVM) to measure performance and forecast completion outcomes.
Lead preparation of dashboards, KPIs, S-curves, and executive-level reporting on project performance.
Coordinate closely with commercial teams to align programme performance with cost and financial forecasting.
Conduct regular progress reviews with contractors and consultants, ensuring programme compliance and accountability.
Perform structured delay analysis (TIA, Window Analysis) and support EOT claims and dispute resolution.
Maintain robust programme records to support contractual and claims requirements.
Identify schedule risks, integrate them into risk registers, and develop mitigation and contingency plans.
Provide early warning on potential delays and recommend corrective actions to senior management.
Deliver weekly and monthly progress reporting and executive presentations on programme status and forecast.
Lead stakeholder planning meetings to ensure alignment on progress, risks, and recovery actions.
Integrate authority approvals and statutory requirements into the overall project programme.
Ensure full compliance with contractual obligations, PMC standards, and client requirements.
Support audits, reviews, and governance processes related to planning and project controls.