Planning Manager (Saudi Nationals)

Nesma & Partners; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 420,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

Nesma & Partners in Riyadh seeks an experienced Planning Manager to lead the planning, scheduling, and project controls across a portfolio of major EPC projects. You will define baseline schedules, drive resource optimization, and guide a high-performing planning team from tender to handover.

The role requires advanced Primavera P6 skills, strong delay analysis capabilities, and excellent English communication for stakeholder management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or related).
• 8+ years total experience in project planning and controls, including 3+ years in a managerial or senior lead role.
• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6 and delay analysis methodologies.
• Fluency in professional English with strong presentation and stakeholder management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop, baseline, and maintain master schedules for large-scale EPC projects, ensuring alignment with objectives and milestones.
• Lead, develop, and mentor the Project Controls and Planning team, setting KPIs and driving operational excellence.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and subcontractors to ensure sequencing, work packaging, and interfaces align with target timelines.
• Oversee weekly/monthly schedule updates, monitor critical paths, review S-curves/histograms, and publish senior management dashboards.
• Perform qualitative and quantitative schedule risk assessments, forensic/delay analyses, and recovery schedule formulations.
• Assess workforce and equipment loading, balance capacity constraints, and approve resource-loaded baseline programs.
• Assist in developing competitive, realistic bid schedules during the tender phase.

Skills

Team Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Strategic planning

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Primavera P6

Delay analysis methodologies

Resource leveling

Project management controls

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Planning Manager to lead and optimize the overall planning, scheduling, and project controls across our portfolio of major projects.

In this role, you will be responsible for defining baseline schedules, driving resource optimization, managing delay and risk analyses, and leading a high-performing team of planning engineers to ensure seamless execution from tender to handover.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic & Master Planning: Develop, baseline, and maintain comprehensive master schedules for large-scale EPC projects, ensuring vertical alignment with business objectives and contractual milestones.
• Team Leadership: Lead, develop, and mentor the Project Controls and Planning team, setting clear KPIs and driving operational excellence.
• Interface & Cross-Functional Coordination: Collaborate with Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and external subcontractors to ensure sequencing, work packaging, and interfaces align with target timelines.
• Progress & Performance Monitoring: Oversee weekly/monthly schedule updates, monitor critical paths, review S-curves and histograms, and publish senior management dashboards.
• Risk & Delay Analysis: Perform qualitative and quantitative schedule risk assessments, forensic/delay analyses, and recovery schedule formulations to safeguard project delivery.
• Resource Optimization: Assess workforce and equipment loading, balance capacity constraints, and approve resource-loaded baseline programs.
• Tendering Support: Assist in developing competitive, realistic bid schedules during the tender phase.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or related discipline).
• Experience: Minimum 8+ years of total experience in project planning and controls, including at least 3+ years in a managerial or senior lead role.
• Technical Expertise: Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6, delay analysis methodologies, resource leveling, and project management controls.
• Communication: Fluency in professional English with strong presentation and stakeholder management abilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior tier-1 EPC or mega-project contracting experience in the GCC/Saudi market.
• Master's degree in Engineering or Project Management.
• Professional certifications (PMP, PMI-SP, PSP).
• Professional working proficiency in Arabic.