Senior Planning Manager

Talents Tide; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A diversified family holding group in Dubai is seeking a Senior Planning Manager to lead the planning and performance of major projects. The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of experience in project control, particularly in real estate and construction, and expertise in Primavera P6 and MS Project. This strategic role offers high visibility and the chance to work closely with executive leadership.

Benefits

Competitive compensation and benefits

Opportunity to work directly with executive leadership

Long-term role with high visibility

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience, with at least 5 years in a planning or project control leadership role.
• Proven experience in large-scale real estate, construction, or multi-sector project portfolios.
• Familiarity with cost planning and project governance is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain project schedules throughout the project lifecycle.
• Track progress and performance through earned value management and KPIs.
• Act as a liaison between internal stakeholders and external consultants.

Skills

Strong experience in master planning

Cross-functional coordination

Project control

Strong communication skills

Leadership skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Urban Planning, or related field

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Job description

Overview

Senior Planning Manager, Holding Group

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Reports to: Director of Projects / Group COO / CEO (depending on structure)

Industry: Diversified Family Holding (Real Estate, Construction, Investments)

This is a strategic role requiring close collaboration with executive leadership, technical teams, and external stakeholders to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in alignment with business objectives.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a Senior Planning Manager to lead the planning, scheduling, and performance monitoring of major group-level projects across multiple business units. The ideal candidate will bring strong experience in master planning, project control, and cross-functional coordination, preferably within family-owned or private conglomerates in the GCC.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Planning & Scheduling
• Develop, maintain, and update detailed project schedules (Primavera P6/MS Project) across the project lifecycle from concept to completion.
• Integrate scope, timelines, and resources into a comprehensive project plan, identifying critical paths and dependencies.
• Support the alignment of project plans with broader group strategy and investment goals.

• Performance Monitoring & Control
• Track progress and performance through earned value management (EVM), KPIs, and reporting dashboards.
• Conduct schedule risk analysis and recommend corrective actions where needed.
• Lead delay analysis and extension of time (EOT) assessments.

• Strategic Planning & Governance
• Participate in annual and multi-year business planning exercises.
• Coordinate across subsidiaries to consolidate plans and ensure synergy in timelines, resource allocation, and milestone alignment.
• Contribute to feasibility assessments and strategic planning for new developments or ventures.

• Stakeholder Coordination
• Act as a liaison between internal stakeholders (project teams, finance, legal, executive office) and external consultants/contractors.
• Support the leadership team with decision-making data, timelines, and risk assessments.

• Reporting & Documentation
• Prepare executive-level reports, planning documentation, and dashboards for board and senior management reviews.
• Maintain full audit trails of planning decisions and changes to the baseline.

Key Requirements

• Bachelors Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Urban Planning, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience, with at least 5 years in a planning or project control leadership role.
• Proven experience in large-scale real estate, construction, infrastructure, or multi-sector project portfolios.
• Strong background in Primavera P6, MS Project, and planning software.
• Familiarity with cost planning, contracts (FIDIC), and project governance is an advantage.
• Experience working in or with family-owned businesses or private investment groups is preferred.
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with ability to manage multiple stakeholders.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Opportunity to work directly with executive leadership in a strategic role
• Long-term role with high visibility across diversified group activities
• A stable, legacy-driven business environment focused on quality and results

Due to high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.