Planning Manager

ATKINSREALIS OVERSEAS - ABU DHABI; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 400,000 - 660,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tax-free salary

Life insurance

Medical insurance

Annual leave

Hybrid work

Relocation assistance

Flight contribution

Housing allowance

Wellbeing program

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis is seeking an experienced Planning Manager in Dubai to lead planning, scheduling, and project controls for large-scale data centre developments. You will develop integrated schedules, manage EVM, run CPM analyses, and coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure on-time delivery and accurate forecasts.

The role requires 12+ years planning/scheduling experience, PMP/PSP, advanced Primavera P6, and a track record in data centre projects within UAE/GCC environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• PMP, PSP (Planning & Scheduling Professional) or equivalent certification.
• Minimum 12 years of planning/scheduling experience in construction or infrastructure.
• Minimum 5 years on Data Centre projects.
• Advanced Primavera P6, CPM, and schedule risk analysis knowledge.
• Proficient in MS Project, Excel, and Power BI reporting tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and manage detailed project schedules from concept through commissioning and handover.
• Establish project planning procedures, scheduling standards, and reporting frameworks.
• Prepare baseline programmes, recovery schedules, and revised project plans as required.
• Monitor project progress and perform critical path analysis to identify schedule risks and opportunities.
• Coordinate with project managers, engineering teams, contractors, consultants, and clients to ensure project milestones are achieved.
• Lead schedule reviews, progress meetings, and planning workshops with internal and external stakeholders.
• Analyze project performance against approved baselines and provide accurate forecasts of project completion dates.
• Prepare weekly and monthly planning reports, dashboards, and executive summaries.
• Implement and maintain Earned Value Management (EVM) and other project control techniques where applicable.
• Review contractor programmes and assess schedule impacts arising from variations, delays, and change requests.
• Support claims analysis, extension of time evaluations, and forensic schedule assessments.
• Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize schedule delays.
• Ensure compliance with company planning standards, client requirements, and industry best practices.
• Mentor and guide planning engineers within the project team.

Skills

Planning & scheduling

CPM analysis

Stakeholder management

Project controls

Data Centre projects

Education

Bachelor's in Civil Eng / Construction Mgmt

Tools

Primavera P6

Microsoft Project

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Job Description Overview We are seeking an experienced Planning Manager to lead the planning, scheduling, and project controls functions. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and maintaining integrated project schedules, monitoring project performance, identifying risks to project delivery, and providing strategic planning support throughout the project lifecycle. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in large-scale Data Centre developments and a strong understanding of fast-track construction environments, stakeholder management, and project controls methodologies.

Your role

• Develop, maintain, and manage detailed project schedules from concept through commissioning and handover.
• Establish project planning procedures, scheduling standards, and reporting frameworks.
• Prepare baseline programmes, recovery schedules, and revised project plans as required.
• Monitor project progress and perform critical path analysis to identify schedule risks and opportunities.
• Coordinate with project managers, engineering teams, contractors, consultants, and clients to ensure project milestones are achieved.
• Lead schedule reviews, progress meetings, and planning workshops with internal and external stakeholders.
• Analyze project performance against approved baselines and provide accurate forecasts of project completion dates.
• Prepare weekly and monthly planning reports, dashboards, and executive summaries.
• Implement and maintain Earned Value Management (EVM) and other project control techniques where applicable.
• Review contractor programmes and assess schedule impacts arising from variations, delays, and change requests.
• Support claims analysis, extension of time evaluations, and forensic schedule assessments.
• Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize schedule delays.
• Ensure compliance with company planning standards, client requirements, and industry best practices.
• Mentor and guide planning engineers within the project team.

About you

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.

• Professional certifications such as PMP, PSP (Planning & Scheduling Professional), or equivalent
• Minimum 12 years of experience in planning and scheduling activities within the construction, engineering, or infrastructure sectors.
• Minimum 5 years of experience working on Data Centre projects.
• Proven experience managing planning functions on large-scale mission-critical facilities.
• Experience across the full project lifecycle, including design, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover.
• UAE or GCC project experience is highly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6.
• Strong knowledge of project controls, critical path methodology (CPM), and schedule risk analysis.
• Proficient in Microsoft Project, Excel, and Power BI reporting tools.
• Strong understanding of Data Centre construction methodologies, commissioning requirements, and phased handover strategies.
• Experience preparing executive dashboards and progress reports for senior leadership and clients.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career.

• Tax-free salary.
• Comprehensive life insurance coverage.
• Premium medical insurance for you and your dependents.
• Generous annual leave balance.
• Flexible and hybrid work solutions.
• Remote work opportunities outside of country.
• Company gratuity scheme.
• Discretionary bonus program.
• Annual flight contribution.
• Relocation assistance.
• Transportation & housing allowances (available for remote work locations).
• Employee Wellbeing Program: 24/7 access to specialists in finance, legal matters, family care, personal health, fitness and nutrition.

Seize every opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your expertise, and be recognized for the impact you make.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people. Find out more.

Worker Type Employee Job Type Regular

• We seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives.
• We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.
• Created by the integration of long-standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people.
• We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems.
• We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory and environmental services, intelligent networks and cybersecurity, design and engineering, procurement, project and construction management, operations and maintenance, decommissioning and capital.
• The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital.
• News and information are available at Atkinsrealis or follow us on LinkedIn.