Planning Director - Construction Industry

The Greater Change; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction firm in the UAE is seeking a Planning Director to oversee all planning and project controls functions across multiple projects. This executive-level position requires a minimum of 12 years of experience in planning leadership for construction or high-rise projects, along with a strong background in project controls methodologies and tools such as Primavera P6 and MS Project. The role emphasizes strategic planning direction and resource coordination to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Qualifications

• Minimum 12+ years of planning leadership experience in construction or high-rise projects.
• Expert knowledge of project controls methodologies.
• High level of professionalism and technical competence.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, scheduling, and project controls across multiple projects.
• Develop and implement planning standards and methodologies.
• Monitor project progress and lead delay analysis.

Skills

Planning leadership

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or Project Management

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Job description

Role Overview

The Planning Director leads all planning, scheduling, and project controls functions across multiple projects.
The role ensures projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in alignment with contractual, commercial, and operational objectives.
This position integrates planning with procurement, commercial, and execution strategies to improve project predictability, performance, and risk management.

Key Responsibilities

Planning Leadership

Develop and implement planning standards, procedures, and methodologies.
Establish master programs, baseline schedules, and progress measurement systems.
Provide strategic planning direction to project teams.

Project Controls

Monitor project progress, risks, and recovery strategies.
Lead delay analysis, reporting, and mitigation planning.
Support claims preparation and time impact analysis.

Resource & Cost Coordination

Coordinate manpower, equipment, and resource planning.
Support productivity analysis and performance optimization.

Systems & Reporting

Implement and manage Primavera P6, MS Project, and planning dashboards.
Drive continuous improvement in planning accuracy and reporting quality.

Team Leadership

Lead recruitment, development, and performance management of planning teams.
Build strong planning capability across project teams.

Compensation

Executive-level compensation aligned with UAE market standards.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 12+ years of planning leadership experience in construction or High Rise projects.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or Project Management.
• Expert knowledge of Primavera P6 and project controls methodologies.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• High level of professionalism and technical competence.