Senior Planning Manager - Operational Readiness

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

Job summary

Parsons is seeking a Senior Planning Manager in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to lead project planning, scheduling, and operational readiness for large-scale delivery. The role requires extensive planning expertise, strong leadership, and coordination across departments, contractors, and technical stakeholders to ensure a public opening readiness.

You will integrate procurement, design, and commissioning into cohesive schedules.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Project Management, or related field.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in project planning and scheduling.
• Proven track record managing planning activities for large-scale projects.
• Strong knowledge of project planning principles and methodologies.
• Proficiency with Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project; Power BI experience for reporting.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive project plans and integrated schedules.
• Define critical path activities, dependencies, milestones, and interfaces.
• Coordinate planning activities across multiple departments and stakeholders.
• Monitor progress and adjust schedules to changes and constraints.
• Establish and manage an integrated planning framework for operational readiness.
• Lead planning personnel and ensure reporting accuracy and dashboards.

Skills

Leadership

Scheduling

Communication

Problem-solving

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management

Civil Engineering degree

PM Certification (PMP)

Tools

Primavera P6

Microsoft Project

Power BI

Job description

Senior Planning Manager - Operational Readiness

Role: Senior Planning Manager

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Industry: Construction

Function: Project-Program Management

Experience: Minimum 15 years

Job Type: Full Time

Position Overview

Parsons is seeking a Senior Planning Manager in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to lead project planning, scheduling, and operational readiness activities for large-scale project delivery. The role requires extensive planning expertise, strong leadership capabilities, and the ability to coordinate complex schedules involving multiple departments, projects, contractors, and technical stakeholders. A central responsibility will be establishing and managing critical path activities required to bring an operational facility to public opening. The Senior Planning Manager will integrate procurement, design, technology, project delivery, facilities maintenance, tenant fit-out, testing and commissioning, and handover activities into coordinated schedules that provide clear visibility of dependencies, risks, milestones, and readiness requirements.

Job Details

Country: Saudi Arabia

City: Riyadh

Industry: Construction

Function: Project-Program Management

Salary: Not disclosed

Gender: No Preference

Candidate Nationality: Not specified

Work Arrangement: On-site

Planning and Scheduling Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive project plans and integrated schedules.
• Establish planning requirements and scheduling methodologies appropriate to project objectives.
• Define critical path activities, dependencies, milestones, and delivery interfaces.
• Coordinate planning activities across multiple departments within the Client organization.
• Work closely with project managers, engineers, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Maintain alignment between project objectives, schedules, resources, and delivery priorities.
• Monitor project progress against approved plans and schedules.
• Adjust schedules when changes, delays, constraints, or emerging requirements affect delivery.
• Maintain accurate planning information to support management decisions.
• Manage multiple project planning priorities while maintaining schedule integrity.

Operational Readiness Planning

• The Senior Planning Manager will establish an integrated planning framework that connects project delivery with the activities required for an operational facility to open to the public.
• Develop schedules covering operational readiness requirements.
• Integrate procurement activities with design and delivery milestones.
• Coordinate technology-related dependencies within the overall program.
• Incorporate facilities maintenance readiness into project planning.
• Coordinate tenant fit-out activities with wider delivery schedules.
• Integrate testing and commissioning requirements.
• Establish handover activities and associated dependencies.
• Identify the critical path through construction completion, commissioning, handover, and operational readiness.
• Monitor interfaces between individual workstreams that could affect the planned opening.
• Provide schedule visibility for activities requiring cross-department coordination.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor progress against established schedules and milestones.
• Prepare project planning and scheduling reports for senior management.
• Develop and maintain project dashboards.
• Use planning data to communicate schedule performance and emerging constraints.
• Track project status using appropriate project management software and reporting tools.
• Identify schedule deviations and recommend appropriate corrective measures.
• Maintain clear reporting on critical activities, risks, resources, and timelines.
• Support timely management decisions through accurate planning information.

Risk and Delivery Management

• Identify planning and scheduling risks that could affect project delivery.
• Develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Monitor schedule impacts arising from project changes and constraints.
• Resolve planning issues and conflicts arising during project execution.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to address dependencies affecting critical milestones.
• Support management of project budgets, resources, and timelines.
• Ensure planning activities comply with applicable industry standards, regulations, and best practices.

Team Leadership

• Lead and coordinate planning personnel supporting project delivery.
• Mentor planning staff and strengthen their technical capabilities.
• Provide direction on planning methods, scheduling practices, and reporting requirements.
• Review team outputs for accuracy and consistency.
• Support effective coordination between planning staff and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Promote disciplined schedule management across project activities.

What Required Skills You 'LL Bring

• Bachelor 's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Project Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in project planning and scheduling.
• Proven track record managing planning activities for large-scale projects.
• Strong knowledge of project planning principles and methodologies.
• Understanding of applicable planning standards, regulations, and best practices.
• Ability to establish and manage critical path schedules.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder coordination capabilities.
• Proficiency with Primavera P6.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Project.
• Experience using Power BI for project reporting and analysis.
• Ability to establish and manage project dashboards.
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects and planning priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet demanding deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving capability for planning and execution issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Professional certification.
• Experience planning for Operational Readiness.
• Master 's degree in Construction Management, Project Management, or a related field.

Planning Impact

The Senior Planning Manager will provide an integrated view of the activities required to move the project from delivery into operational use. By connecting design, procurement, technology, facilities maintenance, tenant fit-out, testing and commissioning, and handover milestones, the role will help identify critical dependencies early and maintain focus on the activities required for successful public opening.

About Parsons

Parsons brings multidisciplinary expertise to major infrastructure, construction, transportation, and development programs. Its teams work across planning, project controls, engineering, construction, operational readiness, and program management to support coordinated delivery of complex projects.