Senior Planning Engineer

Taj Dhabi; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Taj Dhabi in Saudi Arabia seeks a Senior Planning Engineer to develop, maintain, and control detailed project schedules using Primavera P6, ensuring alignment with baselines and contractual requirements across engineering, procurement, construction, testing, and handover.

You will lead CPM analysis, monitor progress, prepare weekly and monthly reports, and mentor junior planners while coordinating with multi-disciplinary teams on large-scale projects.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of planning and scheduling experience in construction/engineering.
• Advanced Primavera P6 planning and scheduling skills.
• Experience with CPM, EVM, and time impact analysis.
• Experience with large-scale EPC or major projects and client coordination.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain baseline and project schedules using Primavera P6.
• Prepare and manage Level 3/Level 4 schedules covering engineering, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover.
• Establish and maintain project WBS, activity codes, calendars, relationships, constraints, milestones, and schedule logic.
• Review contract requirements, project specifications, scope, and milestones and incorporate them into the project schedule.
• Monitor actual project progress against the approved baseline schedule.
• Prepare schedule narratives explaining progress, delays, risks, and mitigation measures.
• Prepare weekly and monthly progress reports for management, clients, and consultants.
• Coordinate with Construction and Engineering teams to ensure activities are achievable and aligned with site requirements.
• Monitor engineering deliverables, material procurement, manufacturing, deliveries, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover activities.

Skills

Scheduling

Leadership

Communications

Risk analysis

Mentoring

Problem solving

Forecasting

Coordination

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or Construction Management

Tools

Primavera P6

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Job Summary

The Senior Planning Engineer is responsible for developing, maintaining, monitoring, and controlling project schedules to ensure that projects are delivered in accordance with approved time, cost, scope, contractual requirements, and project objectives.

The role involves managing project planning activities using Primavera P6, monitoring actual progress against approved baselines, analyzing critical paths and schedule delays, preparing recovery strategies, forecasting project completion dates, and providing accurate planning and progress information to project management.

The Senior Planning Engineer works closely with Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Commercial, Cost Control, QA/QC, HSE, subcontractors, consultants, and clients to ensure effective project schedule control throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and control detailed baseline and project schedules using Primavera P6.
• Prepare and manage Level 3/Level 4 schedules covering engineering, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover activities.
• Establish and maintain project WBS, activity codes, calendars, relationships, constraints, milestones, and schedule logic.
• Review contract requirements, project specifications, scope, and milestones and incorporate them into the project schedule.
• Monitor actual project progress against the approved baseline schedule.
• Collect, verify, and analyze progress data from Engineering, Procurement, Construction, subcontractors, and other project teams.
• Prepare regular schedule updates in accordance with project procedures and reporting requirements.
• Perform Critical Path Method (CPM) analysis and identify critical and near-critical activities.
• Monitor float, milestones, interfaces, and key contractual dates.
• Analyze planned versus actual progress and identify schedule variances and performance trends.
• Prepare weekly and monthly progress reports for project management, clients, and consultants.
• Develop and maintain S-curves, progress curves, milestone reports, dashboards, and schedule variance reports.
• Prepare 2-week, 3-week, and 4-week look-ahead schedules as required.
• Coordinate with Construction and Engineering teams to ensure planned activities are achievable and aligned with site requirements.
• Monitor engineering deliverables, material procurement, manufacturing, deliveries, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover activities.
• Review contractor and subcontractor schedules, schedule updates, progress reports, and recovery plans.
• Identify potential schedule risks, delays, and constraints and provide early-warning notifications to project management.
• Develop recovery and acceleration schedules when project performance falls behind the approved plan.
• Analyze the effect of changes, variations, RFIs, design revisions, late approvals, material delays, and other project events on the schedule.
• Perform Delay Analysis and Time Impact Analysis (TIA) where required.
• Support preparation and substantiation of Extension of Time (EOT) claims and other schedule-related contractual claims.
• Prepare schedule narratives explaining project progress, delays, critical issues, and mitigation measures.
• Prepare accurate forecast completion dates and advise project management on potential project outcomes.
• Coordinate with the Cost Control/Commercial team to integrate cost and schedule information where applicable.
• Support Earned Value Management (EVM) and project performance analysis.
• Monitor productivity and resource utilization and identify opportunities for schedule optimization.
• Evaluate the impact of resource shortages, productivity issues, procurement delays, and construction constraints on project completion.
• Participate in weekly and monthly progress, planning, coordination, and client meetings.
• Present project schedule status, critical issues, risks, and recovery actions to project management and stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate records of schedule updates, progress data, delay events, changes, and planning documentation.
• Ensure project planning activities comply with company procedures, client requirements, contractual obligations, and project controls standards.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to Planning Engineers and Junior Planning Engineers.
• Perform any additional duties assigned by the Planning Manager, Project Controls Manager, or Project Manager.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, or a relevant engineering discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant planning and scheduling experience within the construction or engineering industry.
• Previous experience as a Planning Engineer / Senior Planning Engineer on major construction projects.
• Experience with a Main Contractor, EPC Contractor, or Project Management Consultant is preferred.
• Strong experience in large-scale construction, infrastructure, commercial, mixed-use, hospitality, entertainment, industrial, or mega projects is preferred.
• Advanced practical experience with Primavera P6.
• Experience developing and maintaining baseline, detailed, recovery, and acceleration schedules.
• Strong experience in progress measurement, schedule updating, critical path analysis, and forecasting.
• Experience with delay analysis, Time Impact Analysis, EOT, and claims support.
• Experience reviewing contractor and subcontractor schedules and progress submissions.
• Good understanding of engineering, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover processes.
• Experience working with consultants, clients, subcontractors, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Good understanding of EPC/project delivery methodologies and construction sequencing.
• Knowledge of Earned Value Management and project performance measurement is preferred.
• Previous experience in Saudi Arabia or GCC countries is preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of project controls and cost/schedule integration is an advantage.
• Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) registration or eligibility is preferred where applicable.
• Advanced Primavera P6 planning and scheduling skills.
• Strong knowledge of CPM, schedule logic, float, and critical path analysis.
• Strong baseline development and schedule control capabilities.
• Excellent progress monitoring and reporting skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Good knowledge of delay analysis and schedule impact assessment.
• Ability to develop effective recovery and acceleration strategies.
• Strong knowledge of construction sequencing and project execution.
• Ability to analyze complex schedule information and provide practical recommendations.
• Strong knowledge of S-curves, progress measurement, and performance analysis.
• Good understanding of EOT and contractual schedule requirements.
• Strong communication and coordination skills.
• Ability to work effectively with clients, consultants, contractors, subcontractors, and internal departments.
• Strong reporting and presentation skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict project reporting deadlines.
• Leadership and mentoring skills.
• Strong commitment to project objectives, schedule performance, and timely delivery.

The Senior Planning Engineer will be responsible for preparing, reviewing, or controlling:

• Baseline Project Schedule
• Detailed Level 3/Level 4 Schedule
• Schedule Updates
• Weekly Progress Reports
• Monthly Progress Reports
• S-Curves
• Progress Measurement Reports
• Critical Path Analysis
• Milestone Reports
• Look-Ahead Schedules
• Recovery Schedules
• Acceleration Schedules
• Schedule Variance Analysis
• Progress Dashboards
• Schedule Forecasts
• Delay Analysis
• Time Impact Analysis
• EOT Supporting Documentation
• Schedule Narratives
• Earned Value/Performance Reports
• Based primarily at construction project sites and/or project offices.
• Close collaboration with Planning, Project Controls, Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Commercial, Cost Control, QA/QC, HSE, subcontractors, consultants, clients, and project management teams.
• Regular involvement in site progress monitoring, coordination meetings, planning workshops, and project reporting.
• Dynamic and deadline-driven environment supporting large-scale and high-profile construction projects throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.