Planning Manager (Infrastructure/Data Centre)
AtkinsRéalis Group
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Job summary
AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Planning Manager to lead schedules for large-scale UAE projects, including hyperscale data centres. You will drive master schedules and governance across design, procurement, construction and commissioning, coordinating with multiple partners and stakeholders.
The role requires extensive CPM and EVM experience, proficiency in Primavera P6 and related tools, and a track record on fast-track projects in the Middle East. UAE/GCC familiarity is essential.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a construction/engineering discipline.
- Professional certification in project controls is a plus.
- Minimum 5–10 years UAE/GCC experience preferred.
Responsibilities
- Lead master schedules from inception to handover.
- Establish scheduling governance and frameworks.
- Coordinate across design, procurement, construction, and commissioning.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
N.B: We are currently pending award on several significant projects. Should we be awarded, this position is key role. Consequently we are keen to speak to individuals in the market place with the experience listed below for such potential future programmes of work"
The Planning Manager will be responsible for leading all project planning, scheduling, monitoring, reporting, and project controls activities for large-scale industrial, manufacturing, logistics, and hyperscale data centre projects across the UAE. The role plays a critical part in ensuring successful project delivery through robust schedule development, progress measurement, risk analysis, delay mitigation, and recovery planning.
The successful candidate will have extensive experience in managing schedules for mission-critical data centres, industrial facilities, logistics hubs, manufacturing plants, and associated infrastructure projects, with a strong understanding of fast-track and complex construction environments.
Planning & Scheduling Leadership
- Develop and manage master project schedules from project inception through commissioning and handover.
- Establish project planning procedures, standards, and schedule governance frameworks.
- Lead planning activities across design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and close-out stages.
- Ensure alignment between project execution plans and schedule requirements.
- Develop integrated schedules covering all project stakeholders and delivery partners.
Programme & Master Schedule Development
- Level 1 Executive Schedules
- Level 2 Master Programmes
- Level 3 Project Control Schedules
- Level 4 Detailed Construction Schedules
- Level 5 Short-Term Lookahead Programmes
- Integrate design, procurement, authority approvals, construction, commissioning, and operational readiness activities.
- Develop baseline schedules and manage schedule revisions.
Data Centre Planning & Controls
- Develop construction and commissioning schedules for hyperscale and colocation data centres.
- Coordinate schedules involving mission-critical systems including:
- Electrical Infrastructure
- UPS Systems
- Generators
- MV & LV Distribution
- Chilled Water Systems
- CRAH/CRAC Units
- BMS Systems
- Fire Detection & Suppression Systems
- Network Infrastructure
- Manage Integrated Systems Testing (IST) and commissioning programmes.
- Monitor milestones related to energization, systems integration, client acceptance testing, and go-live operations.
Progress Monitoring & Reporting
- Implement project progress measurement systems.
- Monitor critical path activities and project milestones.
- Identify schedule deviations and develop corrective action plans.
- Produce weekly and monthly project reports.
- Present schedule performance updates to senior management and clients.
Reporting Metrics
- Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
- Planned vs Actual Progress
- Earned Value Analysis
- Critical Path Analysis
- Productivity Analysis
- Procurement Status
- Risk Exposure Assessment
Schedule Risk Management
- Identify schedule risks and potential delays.
- Lead schedule risk assessments and mitigation workshops.
- Develop recovery and acceleration plans.
- Perform scenario planning and schedule simulations.
- Evaluate impacts of design, procurement, and construction changes.
Analysis Techniques
- Critical Path Method (CPM)
- Schedule Risk Analysis
- Monte Carlo Simulations
- What-If Scenario Analysis
- Time Impact Analysis (TIA)
Claims & Delay Analysis
- Support commercial and project teams in claims management.
- Prepare and review:
- Extension of Time (EOT) Claims
- Delay Analyses
- Disruption Claims
- Acceleration Claims
- Develop forensic planning reports.
- Assist with dispute resolution and arbitration support.
Delay Analysis Methodologies
- Window Analysis
- Impacted As-Planned
- Time Impact Analysis
- As-Planned vs As-Built
- Collapsed As-Built Analysis
Project Controls Integration
- Work closely with commercial and project controls teams.
- Ensure alignment of schedule, cost, procurement, and resource plans.
- Integrate planning data into project control dashboards.
- Support earned value and productivity reporting.
- Contribute to risk management and forecasting processes.
Client & Stakeholder Management
- Lead schedule review meetings with clients and project teams.
- Interface with consultants, contractors, suppliers, and authorities.
- Present executive summaries and project health assessments.
- Support bid submissions and project pursuits with planning expertise.
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in:
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Construction Management
- Project Management
- Engineering Discipline Related to Construction
Preferred
- Master's Degree in:
- Project Management
- MBA
- MSc Construction Management
- MSc Project Controls
- MSc Engineering Management
Experience
- Minimum 12-18 years of planning and project controls experience.
- Minimum 5-8 years as Planning Manager or Senior Planning Engineer on major projects.
- Experience managing schedules for projects exceeding USD 150M+ in value.
- Proven experience on complex industrial and mission-critical developments.
Project Experience
- Demonstrable experience delivering:
- Data Centres
- Hyperscale Data Centres
- Colocation Facilities
- Cloud Infrastructure Projects
- Tier III & Tier IV Data Centres
- Industrial Facilities
- Manufacturing Plants
- Semiconductor Facilities
- Pharmaceutical Facilities
- Logistics Facilities
- Warehouse Developments
- Industrial Infrastructure
UAE/GCC Experience
- Minimum 5-10 years of UAE or GCC experience.
- Strong understanding of local authority approvals and project delivery processes.
- Experience with fast-track projects in the Middle East.
Technical Expertise
- Planning & Project Controls
- Extensive experience with:
- Critical Path Method (CPM)
- Integrated Master Scheduling
- Earned Value Management (EVM)
- Schedule Risk Analysis
- Resource Loading
- Cost Loading
- Progress Measurement
- Baseline Management
- Performance Reporting
- Project Controls Systems
Data Centre Knowledge
- Good understanding of:
- Uptime Institute Tier Standards
- ANSI/TIA-942
- Commissioning Process
- Integrated Systems Testing (IST)
- Mission-Critical Infrastructure
- Operational Readiness Planning
- Data Centre Delivery Lifecycle
Delay & Claims Expertise
- Extension of Time Claims
- Delay Analysis
- Disruption Analysis
- Acceleration Assessments
- Forensic Planning
- Arbitration and Expert Support
Software Requirements
- Planning Platforms
- Primavera P6 (Mandatory)
- Primavera Risk Analysis
- Microsoft Project
- Project Controls
- Power BI
- Oracle Primavera Unifier
- Deltek Acumen Fuse
- EcoSys
- Safran Risk
- Digital Delivery Platforms
- Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC)
- BIM 360
- Navisworks
- Aconex
- Procore
Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career.
This includes:
- Tax-free salary.
- Life insurance coverage.
- Medical insurance.
- Annual leave balance.
- Company gratuity scheme.
- Discretionary bonus program.
- Annual flight contribution.
- Transportation & housing allowances.
- 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.
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.
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