Director – Planning & Schedule Control

Confidential Company; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Company in Abu Dhabi seeks a Director of Planning & Schedule Control to lead integrated master scheduling for ultra-luxury developments. You will challenge contractor programmes, forecast schedules, and provide strategic direction to senior management.

15+ years in construction planning/controls is required, with at least 5 years in planning leadership within luxury projects. Proficiency in Primavera P6 and strong EVM/reporting experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in construction Planning, Scheduling and Project Controls.
• Minimum 5 years in Planning leadership within luxury hospitality or mega developments.
• Proven experience managing Integrated Master Schedules across multiple projects.
• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6, critical path analysis, forecasting and recovery.
• Experience in contractor schedule governance, baseline management and risk analysis.
• Experience leading Planning in developer/owner/project management environments.
• Professional certification in PMP/PMI-SP/AACE or equivalent.
• UAE/GCC experience is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and management of integrated master schedules across multiple projects.
• Establish and maintain planning standards, processes and governance.
• Oversee detailed schedules covering design, procurement and construction.
• Ensure alignment of timelines across stakeholders.
• Monitor progress and performance against schedules; implement controls.
• Provide timely reports to senior leadership; support EVM and KPIs.
• Coordinate planning with internal teams, consultants and contractors.
• Identify schedule risks and propose mitigation plans.
• Drive continuous improvement in planning processes.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Construction Management

15+ years Planning/Controls

5+ years Planning leadership in luxury developments

Integrated Master Schedules governance

Contractor schedule governance

Data-driven decision making

UAE/GCC experience

Tools

Primavera P6

Critical path analysis

Forecasting

Schedule recovery

EVM familiarity

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Director - Planning & Schedule Control to lead planning, scheduling, and project controls across our portfolio of ultra-luxury, high-profile developments. This role requires a proven leader with deep technical expertise in Primavera P6, critical path analysis, schedule forecasting, risk mitigation and recovery strategies, capable of challenging contractor programmes and providing strategic recommendations to senior management.

Key Responsibilities

Planning & Scheduling

• Lead the development and management of integrated master schedules across multiple projects
• Establish and maintain planning standards, processes, and governance frameworks
• Oversee detailed project schedules covering design, procurement, and construction phases
• Ensure alignment of timelines across all project stakeholders

Project Controls & Reporting

• Monitor project progress and performance against approved schedules
• Implement schedule control measures, including delay analysis and mitigation strategies
• Provide accurate and timely reports to senior leadership
• Support earned value management (EVM) and performance tracking

Stakeholder Coordination

• Work closely with internal teams, consultants, and contractors to ensure schedule alignment
• Lead planning coordination across multiple ultra-luxury development assets and phases
• Support decision-making by providing data-driven insights and recommendations

Risk & Performance Management

• Identify potential schedule risks and delays and propose mitigation plans
• Drive continuous improvement in planning processes and project controls practices
• Ensure compliance with project timelines and delivery objectives

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field
• 15+ years of progressive experience in construction Planning, Scheduling and Project Controls.
• Minimum 5 years in Planning leadership within luxury hospitality, branded residences, in ultra-luxury, large-scale, or mega development projects (hospitality, mixed-use, infrastructure, etc.)
• Proven experience managing Integrated Master Schedules across multiple projects or assets.
• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6, critical path analysis, forecasting and schedule recovery.
• Strong experience in contractor schedule governance, baseline management and schedule risk analysis.
• Experience leading Planning functions within developer, owner or project management environments.
• Professional certification in PMP, PMI-SP, AACE or equivalent.
• UAE/GCC experience is highly preferred.