Planning Manager

Planning Manager – High-Rise Building Construction Projects

Location: Dubai

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Planning Manager to lead project planning, scheduling, monitoring, and reporting activities for prestigious high-rise residential tower developments in Dubai. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in managing planning functions for large-scale residential construction projects, including towers exceeding 40+ stories, and will play a critical role in ensuring successful project delivery within schedule, budget, and contractual requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning & Scheduling

• Develop, maintain, and control integrated project master schedules from concept through project handover.
• Prepare detailed baseline schedules, resource-loaded schedules, recovery plans, and revised programs as required.
• Establish project work breakdown structures (WBS), milestones, critical paths, and project control systems.
• Lead schedule development in compliance with project specifications, contract requirements, and client expectations.
• Monitor project progress and identify schedule risks, delays, and mitigation measures.

Project Controls & Reporting

• zcdf and mitigation strategies.
• Support contractual matters related to Extension of Time (EOT), claims, disruption analysis, and delay assessments.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and mentor planning engineers and project controls personnel across multiple projects.
• Establish planning standards, procedures, and best practices within the organization.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in planning, scheduling, and reporting processes.

Risk Management

• Identify project risks and opportunities affecting project timelines.
• Develop risk mitigation and contingency plans.
• Monitor critical activities and proactively resolve schedule constraints.

Mandatory Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering from a recognized university.
• Minimum 15 years of total construction experience.
• Minimum 10 years in a Planning Manager or Senior Planning role.
• Proven experience on high-rise residential tower projects exceeding 40+ stories.
• Strong GCC construction experience, preferably within Dubai.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple high-value residential developments simultaneously.
• Thorough understanding of construction methodologies, sequencing, project controls, and contract administration.
• Experience in handling delay analysis, EOT claims, and recovery planning.
• Strong knowledge of FIDIC contracts and project management principles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with leading Tier-1 contractors.

Key Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong commercial awareness.
• Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong presentation and communication skills.
• Ability to perform under pressure and manage multiple fast-track projects.
• Results-oriented with a proven track record of delivering complex high-rise developments on schedule.

Project Profile

The successful candidate should have direct planning and project controls experience on large-scale residential tower developments ranging from 75+ to 120+ stories. Involving complex construction methodologies, fast-track schedules, and multi-disciplinary coordination.