Planning Engineer

Arada; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Arada is seeking a Project Controls Analyst to be the key operational link to the Project Controls Director. This role will focus on portfolio-wide data management, reporting standardizations, and cross-functional collaboration.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in project planning within the UAE's real estate sector, strong technical skills in Primavera P6, and a proven ability to engage with senior leadership.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of project planning and scheduling experience in UAE real estate.
• Hands-on construction planning experience of at least 3-4 years.
• Experience in PMO, Project Controls, or Developer corporate environment.

Responsibilities

• Consolidate data and manage project controls database.
• Design and implement standardized reporting templates.
• Coordinate with stakeholders on design and procurement tracking.

Skills

Primavera P6

Microsoft Excel

Power BI

PowerPoint

Project Controls Methodologies

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering

PMP or PMI-SP Certification

Job description

About Arada

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Sharjah, UAE, Arada was created to build spaces that inspire, connect, and enrich communities. As one of the region’s fastest-growing master developers, Arada has delivered landmark residential, retail, hospitality, and lifestyle destinations that redefine modern living.

At Arada, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We foster a collaborative, innovative, and high-performance culture where talented professionals are empowered to make a meaningful impact on the communities we create.

Role Purpose

Act as the central operational link and technical attaché to the Project Controls Director, driving portfolio-wide data consolidation, cross‑functional stakeholder coordination, and executive reporting from the Head Office. This role is responsible for standardizing reporting frameworks across all high‑rise and master development sites, monitoring design and procurement trackers, and developing C‑suite presentations, serving as the strategic right‑hand support for all departmental operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Portfolio Data Consolidation & Reporting Governance
• Central Database Management: Establish and maintain the department's central project controls database, ensuring seamless data harvesting and consolidation from all project sites.
• Reporting Standardization: Design, implement, and enforce standardized weekly and monthly reporting templates across contractors, consultants, and internal project teams to ensure consistency, accuracy, and transparency.
• Periodic Audit & Review: Conduct rigorous reviews of incoming site reports, cross‑verifying contractor progress claims against actual site conditions and flagging critical path anomalies, schedule risks, and reporting inconsistencies directly to the Project Controls Director.
• Cross-Functional Stakeholder Coordination (Pre‑Contract Tracks)
• Design & Procurement Tracking: Establish, manage, and continuously update comprehensive trackers and dashboards for pre‑construction activities, with a strong focus on design development, authority approvals, procurement milestones, and package award schedules.
• Internal Stakeholder Interface: Coordinate directly with Development Managers, Design Directors, and Procurement leads to resolve scheduling conflicts and ensure pre‑contract deliverables align with planned construction commencement dates.
• Master Program Development: Support the Project Controls Director in developing, maintaining, and logic‑linking portfolio‑level master programs that integrate design, permitting, tendering, procurement, and construction activities.
• Executive Analytics & C‑Suite Presentations
• Dashboard Management: Maintain and oversee the department’s live Power BI and ERP‑based dashboards, transforming complex project, commercial, and schedule data into meaningful performance indicators and executive-level insights.
• Executive Presentation Development: Consolidate portfolio-wide progress updates, schedule risks, delay exposures, and cost‑related insights into professional, structured presentations and briefing materials for the CDO, CFO, CEO, and Executive Leadership Team.
• Special Briefings & Ad‑Hoc Analytics: Act as an operational extension of the Project Controls Director by conducting deep‑dive analyses, forensic schedule reviews, and focused data audits on critical or distressed project packages as required.
• Site‑HO Bridging & Compliance Enforcement
• Site Coordination: Maintain close engagement with embedded site planning teams, consultants, and contractors to ensure real‑time visibility of progress, risks, and emerging critical path delays.
• Process Enforcement: Audit planning and reporting compliance across all projects, ensuring schedule networks, baseline updates, milestone reporting, and delay notifications adhere strictly to Arada’s Project Controls Manual and governance requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• PMP or PMI-SP (Scheduling Professional) certifications are highly advantageous.

Experience

7–10 years of progressive project planning and scheduling experience within the UAE real estate, developer, or construction sector.

• Minimum 3–4 years of hands‑on site‑based construction planning and execution experience.
• Minimum 3–4 years within a Head Office PMO, Project Controls, or Developer corporate environment.
• Proven experience supporting multiple projects simultaneously and coordinating across diverse stakeholder groups.

Technical Skills

• Advanced to expert‑level proficiency in Primavera P6.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel reporting and analytical capabilities.
• Strong Power BI dashboard development and data visualization skills.
• Advanced PowerPoint presentation design with the ability to prepare executive‑level reporting materials.
• Strong understanding of project controls methodologies, schedule governance, and portfolio reporting frameworks.

Core Competency

• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and organizational agility.
• Ability to confidently engage with senior leadership while maintaining strong technical credibility with consultants, contractors, and project teams.
• Strong analytical mindset with the capability to challenge assumptions, identify reporting inconsistencies, and provide data‑driven recommendations.
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and capable of operating effectively in a fast‑paced, multi‑project environment.