Planning Manager

Job Title: Planning Manager

Job Type: Full-time

Location: On-site, Riyadh KSA & Kuwait City, Kuwait

Job Summary:

We are seeking a highly analytical and accomplished Planning Manager to join our team in Riyadh and in Kuwait. In this pivotal role, you will develop and maintain comprehensive project schedules, lead the planning process across all phases, and drive on-time project delivery. Your expertise will play a critical part in managing complex schedules and communicating progress to key stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Develop, update, and manage overall project schedules using Primavera P6 or equivalent software.
2. Lead the planning and scheduling process during pre-construction and construction stages, ensuring project milestones are achieved.
3. Coordinate and conduct critical path analysis, proactively identifying schedule risks and recommending effective mitigation strategies.
4. Monitor project progress against baseline schedules, report variances, and prepare accurate weekly and monthly progress reports for internal use and client submission.
5. Evaluate subcontractor and supplier schedules to ensure alignment with the master project plan and contractual requirements.
6. Integrate risk assessment findings and cost controls into project schedules for robust earned value analysis.
7. Facilitate progress meetings, clearly communicating timelines, risks, and recovery actions to stakeholders, and ensure compliance with client specifications and industry best practices.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field.
2. 15+ years of experience in project planning or scheduling roles within construction or engineering environments.
3. Proficiency in Primavera P6 and advanced analytical skills, including detailed data interpretation and risk-based scheduling.
4. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills to deliver clear, concise, and actionable reports and updates.
5. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and organizational skills with an acute attention to detail and rigorous time management.
6. Thorough understanding of legal, regulatory, and environmental factors impacting project timelines.
7. Demonstrated ability to prepare detailed planning reports and integrate schedule with budget data.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Master’s degree in civil engineering, project management, or a related field.
2. Professional certifications such as PMP, PMI-SP, or Primavera Certification.
3. Experience liaising with consultants and clients to ensure planning submissions meet both technical and contractual standards.