Planning Manager

Location: UAE | Major Civil Infrastructure Project | Main Contractor

Lead the planning function on a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project

This is an opportunity for an experienced Planning Manager to take a leading role on a major civil infrastructure development in the UAE. Working for the main contractor, you will lead the planning function across a multi-billion-dollar project, shaping the programme and providing the insight needed to drive delivery at scale.

The attraction is both the size of the project and the influence of the role. You will work closely with project leadership, bring structure to complex delivery challenges and help turn an ambitious construction programme into an achievable plan. For a planning professional who enjoys ownership, technical complexity and being close to the decisions that matter, this offers a substantial next step.

The role

You will take ownership of the integrated project programme, ensuring that engineering, procurement, construction, testing and handover activities are aligned. Leading the planning team, you will establish clear standards for programme development, progress measurement and reporting, giving the project team an accurate view of performance and the actions needed to protect key milestones.

Key responsibilities include:

Lead the planning function across the project, developing the team and coordinating planning inputs from delivery teams and subcontractors.
Develop, maintain and manage the integrated baseline programme, ensuring that it reflects contractual requirements, construction methodology, resources and project interfaces.
Work closely with engineering, procurement, commercial and construction teams to develop realistic delivery strategies and detailed execution programmes.
Monitor progress, analyse critical and near-critical paths, and identify emerging risks to completion.
Challenge sequencing, productivity assumptions and resource allocation to improve programme certainty.
Develop recovery and mitigation plans with the delivery teams, translating analysis into practical site actions.
Produce clear progress reports, forecasts and presentations for senior management, the client and the consultant.
Assess the programme impact of changes and delays, maintaining robust records and supporting the commercial team with extension-of-time submissions.
Establish consistent planning processes, reporting standards and progress measurement across work packages.
Represent the main contractor in planning and progress meetings, providing credible, evidence-based advice.

About you:

You are an experienced construction planning professional with a strong main contractor background and a track record of leading planning teams on major civil infrastructure projects. You understand how complex projects are built and can combine detailed programme analysis with practical delivery judgement.

You will bring:

A degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or a related discipline.
Significant planning experience on large, complex civil infrastructure projects, including experience in a Planning Manager or equivalent leadership role.
A strong understanding of construction sequencing, procurement dependencies, workfront availability and interfaces between major packages.
Advanced Primavera P6 skills and a thorough understanding of critical path analysis, resource loading, progress measurement and forecasting.
Experience managing integrated programmes involving multiple subcontractors and delivery teams.
A sound understanding of contractual planning obligations, delay analysis and extension-of-time requirements.
The confidence to challenge assumptions constructively and communicate clearly with senior stakeholders.
Strong leadership skills, with the ability to develop a capable team and maintain high standards under delivery pressure.

UAE or wider GCC experience would be advantageous, particularly on major infrastructure programmes with demanding stakeholder and interface requirements.

Why consider this opportunity

This role offers the chance to lead a function central to the success of a multi-billion-dollar development. You will have exposure to the full complexity of a major infrastructure project, close engagement with senior project leadership and the opportunity to make a visible contribution to its delivery.

For someone ready to bring their planning expertise to a larger stage, it is an opportunity to build on an established track record, lead a team through a significant construction programme and add a major UAE infrastructure project to their career portfolio.