Planning Manager

Job Overview

We are searching for a seasoned Planning Manager to spearhead project scheduling, controls, and progress monitoring for a prestigious site supervision consultancy project located in Riyadh. This role demands ensuring adherence to approved timelines, contractual milestones, and client goals through active collaboration with clients, project leadership, engineers, contractors, and multi-disciplinary teams. The successful candidate will monitor risks, identify delays, and facilitate smooth project progress from mobilization through handover.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee the comprehensive planning, scheduling, and project control functions throughout the project's lifecycle.
• Evaluate and authorize contractor baseline plans, schedule updates, and recovery strategies.
• Create and continuously update a master schedule that integrates all phases including design, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover.
• Track project progress relative to official schedules and contract milestones.
• Perform critical path method analysis to uncover scheduling risks and bottlenecks.
• Validate contractor-reported progress against actual site accomplishments.
• Assess and recommend contractor mitigation and catch-up plans in case of delays.
• Prepare comprehensive progress reports on a weekly, monthly, and executive level, focusing on performance, risk factors, and estimated completion.
• Facilitate schedule reviews and planning discussions involving all relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure alignment of schedules with engineering, construction, commercial, and supervision teams.
• Monitor procurement timelines, material deliveries, and necessary approvals from authorities.
• Review contractor deployment of manpower and equipment to meet project demands.
• Analyze productivity levels and track key construction performance indicators.
• Maintain dashboards, progress tracking systems, and project control tools.
• Assist commercial departments with evaluation of Extension of Time claims and delay-related analyses.
• Perform forensic schedule analyses and advise on contract scheduling matters.
• Identify project risks and opportunities and contribute to risk register updates.
• Guarantee compliance with all project controls procedures, reporting standards, and client contractual requirements.
• Oversee testing, commissioning, and handover stages to ensure timely project delivery.
• Advise project leadership strategically on optimizing scheduling and enhancing delivery processes.
• Guide and manage the planning engineers and project control personnel.

Candidate Profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a closely related field.
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or Project Management preferred.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, PMI-SP, AACE, or PSP desirable.
• At least 15 years of experience in planning, scheduling, and project controls.
• Minimum 8 years as a Planning Manager on major building or construction projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in large building developments, convention centers, hotels, resorts, mixed-use or similar mega-projects.
• Strong background in Site Supervision Consultancy, PMC, or Engineering Consultancy environments.
• Advanced knowledge of Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, and project control reporting tools.
• Deep understanding of Critical Path Method (CPM), Earned Value Management (EVM), and forecasting techniques.
• Proven experience with delay analyses, claim assessments, and Extension of Time evaluations.
• Good familiarity with FIDIC contracts and construction contract management.
• Strong analytical reasoning, reporting skills, and problem-solving aptitude.
• Experience working on projects in Saudi Arabia or the Gulf Cooperation Council area is preferred.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to analyze technical, commercial, and contractual data to inform decisions.
• Fluent English required; Arabic skills advantageous.

Rewards & Benefits

• Tax exemption on salary.
• Life insurance benefits.
• Medical insurance coverage.
• Annual leave entitlement.
• Company gratuity scheme available.
• Performance discretionary bonuses.
• Annual airfare contribution.
• Housing and transportation allowances provided.
• Employee wellbeing program offering 24/7 specialist support in finance, legal issues, personal health, fitness and nutrition.

Additional Information

This position reports to senior project leadership within a world-renowned engineering and nuclear organization dedicated to transforming infrastructure and energy systems globally. The role is onsite in the Riyadh region, entailing direct collaboration with clients and stakeholders to ensure project delivery excellence.