Strategic Planning Lead for Rail & Transit Projects

Mace; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 300,000 - 540,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working options

Job summary

Mace is seeking a skilled planner to own planning standards, master schedules and critical-path analysis for major UAE infrastructure programmes. You will coordinate inputs from project teams, consultants and contractors while monitoring baselines and risks to support decision-making.

The role requires a relevant degree and proven rail or comparable project delivery experience, with strong client-facing and analytical skills.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent professional experience in the applicable discipline.
• Demonstrated experience on rail, metro, high-speed rail or comparable major infrastructure programmes.
• Strong client-facing, analytical, written communication and multidisciplinary coordination skills.
• Knowledge of relevant delivery processes, standards, systems and governance for the role.
• Professional membership, chartership or specialist certification preferred where applicable.
• UAE or wider GCC experience is advantageous but should not replace demonstrable technical and delivery competence.

Responsibilities

• Ownership of planning standards, integrated master schedules, critical-path analysis and schedule assurance.
• Develops and maintains project schedules, ensuring activities, milestones and dependencies are aligned with delivery objectives and contractual requirements.
• Coordinates planning inputs across project teams, consultants, contractors and stakeholders, supporting the successful integration of programme activities.
• Monitors progress against approved baselines, tracking performance, identifying variances and highlighting emerging risks and opportunities.
• Produces schedule analysis, critical path assessments and forecast updates, providing timely insights to support project decision-making.
• Supports the integration of planning activities with cost, risk, change and project controls processes to maintain accurate performance reporting.
• Prepares and maintains progress reports, planning deliverables and programme records, ensuring data accuracy and compliance with governance requirements.
• Collaborates with project teams to develop practical delivery programmes that incorporate safety, logistics, procurement, construction and sustainability considerations.
• Works collaboratively towards the common goal of net zero carbon transition and share responsibility for the proactive identification and management of the associated carbon emissions and reductions during the delivery of work.

Skills

Planning

Scheduling

Stakeholder coordination

Analytical skills

Client-facing

Education

Relevant degree

Job description

Mace is seeking a skilled planner to own planning standards, master schedules and critical-path analysis for major UAE infrastructure programmes. You will coordinate inputs from project teams, consultants and contractors while monitoring baselines and risks to support decision-making.

The role requires a relevant degree and proven rail or comparable project delivery experience, with strong client-facing and analytical skills.