Planning Manager - UAE

James L Williams Middle East; Dubai; On-site; AED 446,000 - 759,000; Full time

Job summary

James L Williams Middle East seeks an experienced Planning Manager to lead planning across multiple Data Centre and mission-critical projects. You will develop planning strategies, oversee schedules, mentor the planning team, and ensure compliance with contractual and client requirements.

The role requires software proficiency (Primavera P6), strong leadership, and a track record of delivering complex projects on time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• 10–15 years of planning experience in construction, EPC, or MEP projects.
• Proven leadership experience managing planning teams across multiple projects.
• Experience working on data center projects is mandatory.
• Strong knowledge of Primavera P6.
• Experience preparing baseline schedules, progress updates, and planning reports.
• Experience working with main contractors, consultants, and subcontractors on large-scale projects.
• Good understanding of delay analysis and Extension of Time (EOT) processes.
• Strong coordination and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor Planning Engineers across multiple projects, ensuring consistency in planning standards and deliverables.
• Review and approve project programmes, planning reports, and planning deliverables prepared by the planning team.
• Support continuous improvement of planning processes, methodologies, and reporting systems.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules using Primavera P6 in accordance with contract requirements.
• Prepare resource-loaded and cost-loaded baseline programs in coordination with the Project Manager and Commercial team.
• Ensure timely submission and approval of baseline schedules with the client and/or main contractor.
• Monitor project progress and update schedules regularly based on site inputs.
• Identify delays, variances, and potential risks impacting the project schedule.
• Support the implementation of mitigation or recovery plans where required.
• Consolidate project resource requirements and labour forecasts to support management decision-making.
• Prepare and maintain planning deliverables including: Resource and equipment histograms, Look-ahead programs, Weekly and monthly progress reports, Engineering and procurement trackers, Project KPIs and progress dashboards.
• Coordinate with Project Managers, site teams, subcontractors, and consultants to gather progress data and planning inputs.
• Liaise with the Client/Main Contractor planning team for review and approval of schedules and program updates.
• Attend weekly progress meetings and planning meetings.
• Identify schedule risks, delays, and potential impacts to project milestones.
• Support the preparation of delay notices, schedule impact analysis, and Extension of Time (EOT) claims in coordination with the Commercial team.
• Advise senior management on programme risks, critical path impacts, and recovery strategies to support successful project delivery.
• Review subcontractor schedules and ensure alignment with the approved project baseline program.
• Monitor subcontractor progress and highlight deviations from the schedule.

Skills

Leadership experience

Planning & scheduling

Coordination & communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

James L Williams Middle East is seeking an experienced Planning Manager to lead the planning and scheduling function across multiple Data Centre and mission-critical projects. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing planning strategies, overseeing project planning and scheduling activities, leading the planning team, monitoring project performance, supporting project controls, and ensuring compliance with contractual and client requirements to achieve successful project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Planning & Scheduling

• Lead and mentor Planning Engineers across multiple projects, ensuring consistency in planning standards and deliverables.
• Review and approve project programmes, planning reports, and planning deliverables prepared by the planning team.
• Support continuous improvement of planning processes, methodologies, and reporting systems.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules using Primavera P6 in accordance with contract requirements.
• Prepare resource-loaded and cost-loaded baseline programs in coordination with the Project Manager and Commercial team.
• Ensure timely submission and approval of baseline schedules with the client and/or main contractor.

Schedule Monitoring & Updates

• Monitor project progress and update schedules regularly based on site inputs.
• Identify delays, variances, and potential risks impacting the project schedule.
• Support the implementation of mitigation or recovery plans where required.

Planning Deliverables & Reporting

• Consolidate project resource requirements and labour forecasts to support management decision-making.
• Prepare and maintain planning deliverables including:
  • Resource and equipment histograms
  • Look-ahead programs
  • Weekly and monthly progress reports
  • Engineering and procurement trackers
  • Project KPIs and progress dashboards

Coordination with Project Stakeholders

• Coordinate with Project Managers, site teams, subcontractors, and consultants to gather progress data and planning inputs.
• Liaise with the Client/Main Contractor planning team for review and approval of schedules and program updates.
• Attend weekly progress meetings and planning meetings.

Risk & Delay Monitoring

• Identify schedule risks, delays, and potential impacts to project milestones.
• Support the preparation of delay notices, schedule impact analysis, and Extension of Time (EOT) claims in coordination with the Commercial team.
• Advise senior management on programme risks, critical path impacts, and recovery strategies to support successful project delivery

Subcontractor Planning Management

• Review subcontractor schedules and ensure alignment with the approved project baseline program.
• Monitor subcontractor progress and highlight deviations from the schedule.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
• 10–15 years of planning experience in construction, EPC, or MEP projects
• Proven leadership experience managing planning teams across multiple projects.
• Experience working on data center projects is mandatory
• Strong knowledge of Primavera P6
• Experience preparing baseline schedules, progress updates, and planning reports
• Experience working with main contractors, consultants, and subcontractors on large-scale projects
• Good understanding of delay analysis and Extension of Time (EOT) processes
• Strong coordination and communication skills