Senior Planning Manager

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

Job summary

A diversified family holding in Dubai is seeking a Senior Planning Manager to lead planning and scheduling for major group-level projects. The role requires strong experience in master planning and project control within family-owned or private conglomerates. Candidates should have at least 10 years of experience, with proven skills in Primavera P6 and MS Project. The position offers competitive compensation, a strategic role, and the opportunity to work closely with executive leadership in a stable business environment.

Benefits

Competitive compensation and benefits

High visibility across diversified group activities

Opportunity to work directly with executive leadership

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience, with at least 5 years in planning or project control leadership.
• Strong background in project management methodologies.
• Experience in family-owned businesses or private investment groups is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, scheduling, and performance monitoring of major projects.
• Develop and maintain project schedules across project lifecycle.
• Track progress through earned value management and KPI reporting.
• Act as liaison between internal stakeholders and external consultants.
• Prepare executive-level reports and maintain audit trails of planning decisions.

Skills

Master planning

Project control

Cross-functional coordination

Strong communication skills

Leadership skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Construction Management

Urban Planning

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Job description

Reports to: Director of Projects / Group COO / CEO (depending on structure)
Industry: Diversified Family Holding (Real Estate, Construction, Investments)

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.

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.

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.

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.