Planning Manager – Utility-Scale Solar / Power Projects

About the Role

Terracotta Outsourcing is a prominent UAE-based outsourcing firm specializing in recruitment, manpower solutions, visa outsourcing, EOR/PEO services, business setups, PRO services, and corporate solutions. We are recruiting an experienced Planning Manager for an important utility-scale Solar PV Independent Power Project (IPP) in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This senior-level position involves directing the overall project planning, scheduling, and schedule governance across a comprehensive renewable energy development.

The incumbent will maintain oversight of the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) encompassing engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and grid interface coordination, ensuring compliance with EPC contracts and core project milestones. The ideal applicant will possess deep experience managing large EPC/IPP power or renewable projects, especially in utility-scale solar PV, power generation, substations, and grid connection.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and control the Integrated Master Schedule spanning engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and related project milestones and interfaces.
• Verify that schedules accurately represent contractual, technical, commercial, and execution demands.
• Implement planning control systems, reporting mechanisms, progress-tracking frameworks, and scheduling standards.
• Track progress against approved baselines and proactively detect schedule deviations.
• Conduct critical-path analyses, schedule risk assessments, scenario planning, and what-if evaluations.
• Formulate and propose mitigation, acceleration, or recovery plans when delays occur.
• Serve as the main planning liaison with EPC Contractor Planning Managers; evaluate, challenge, and validate their schedules, progress reports, forecasts, and recovery schemes.
• Coordinate efforts among multiple EPC and subcontractor planning teams to ensure consistency and integration across engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning.
• Challenge assumptions by contractors and provide leadership with clear scheduling insights and risk evaluations.
• Manage planning interfaces across solar PV facilities, substations, transmission/grid connections, and commissioning timelines.
• Synchronize procurement and logistics schedules for critical items such as PV modules, inverters, transformers, and electrical systems with site construction activities.
• Ensure sequencing of civil, mechanical, electrical, testing, and commissioning tasks is properly integrated.
• Coordinate essential interface dates and grid-related milestones with all relevant stakeholders.
• Align schedule management with cost, risk, procurement, and overall project controls.
• Identify major scheduling risks and communicate strategic recommendations to senior project management.
• Support delay analyses, variations, claims, and Extension of Time (EOT) evaluations, including Time Impact Assessments.
• Maintain comprehensive schedule documentation to safeguard contractual interests.
• Integrate health, safety, and environmental milestones and safe work practices into project scheduling.
• Prepare and present clear reports on schedule performance, critical paths, milestone status, risks, and recommended recovery actions to senior management.
• Effectively communicate complex scheduling information to executive and non-technical stakeholders.
• Coordinate schedule matters with Owner's Engineers, EPC contractors, subcontractors, grid partners, lenders, and auditors.
• Influence multiple contractors and stakeholders to ensure project delivery goals remain on track.
• Lead and mentor the planning team, enhancing planning skills and fostering ownership across engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning divisions.
• Establish uniform planning standards and enforce strong schedule ownership throughout the project lifecycle.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Project Management, or related field.
• At least 12 years' expertise in project planning and controls.
• Minimum of 5 years in senior or managerial planning roles within large EPC/IPP power or renewable energy projects.
• Extensive hands-on knowledge of Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project planning software.
• Comprehensive understanding of the entire EPC lifecycle including engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover.
• Strong familiarity with construction sequencing across civil, mechanical, electrical, and commissioning disciplines.
• Proven track record managing complex planning interfaces for power plants, solar PV installations, substations, and grid connections.
• Competence in critical-path, schedule risk, scenario modeling, and recovery planning methods.
• Contractual expertise including delay analysis, Time Impact Assessments, EOTs, claims, and variation evaluations.
• Experience rigorously reviewing EPC contractor schedules, not just internal project schedules.
• Ability to effectively present scheduling insights and risks to senior leadership and external project parties.
• Excellent stakeholder communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, or a related area.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) and/or Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP) certifications.
• Experience from Owner/Developer, Owner's Engineer, Project Management Consultancy (PMC), or major EPC environments.
• Previous exposure to projects in UAE or GCC regions related to power, renewable energy, or infrastructure.
• Direct involvement with utility-scale Solar PV IPP projects.
• Experience navigating complex project ecosystems involving developers, EPC contractors, utilities, lenders, regulators, and auditors.