Senior Principal Planning

Mott MacDonald; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a Senior Planning Consultant to enhance project planning and scheduling across diverse sectors. This role involves leading a team of planners, driving improvements in scheduling practices, and ensuring effective stakeholder communication. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in planning methodologies, including Earned Value and Critical Path Management. Join a forward-thinking company committed to social outcomes and digital innovation, where your expertise will contribute to transformative projects and a diverse, inclusive work environment.

Benefits

90 days paid maternity leave

Competitive annual leave

Annual professional subscription

Annual performance bonus

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in planning and scheduling across various industries.
• Strong leadership skills with a focus on team development and mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Oversee planning and schedule management across projects.
• Manage a team of professional planners and support business development.

Skills

Team Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Earned Value Management

Critical Path Management

Communication Skills

Planning Process Improvement

Time Management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related field

Chartered Membership (desirable)

Tools

Primavera

MS Project

Microsoft Office

Safran

PowerBI

Job description

About The Role

The Senior Planning Consultant will act on behalf of Mott MacDonald or as a Client's Representative and is responsible for overseeing planning and schedule management across various projects and programmes.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience developing and implementing schedule management best practices, including the development of work breakdown structures, establishing progress monitoring methods and reports. They should possess the ability to perform and assure schedule analysis, communicating recommendations to clients and key stakeholders. Experience in establishing and managing planning teams, including developing functional strategies and recruitment to achieve growth, is also essential.

Main Responsibilities (But Not Limited To):

1. Deliver effective planning capabilities and resources within a defined area or across major projects and programmes.
2. Support business development and stakeholder management activities across a range of customers and opportunities by working with account and programme leads.
3. Manage and develop a team of professional planners, including line management, career development, and continuous professional development.
4. Act as a recognized Subject Matter Expert as needed.
5. Identify, specify, and support improvements to scheduling and planning capabilities and service offerings in collaboration with Excellence Leads.
6. Oversee and provide programme and portfolio-level master planning, especially in complex stakeholder environments.
7. Develop and evaluate tender documents for bids.
8. Facilitate interactive planning workshops for complex projects or programmes to align planning efforts.
9. Establish methods for quantitative progress measurement, including CPM, resource loading, forecasting, cost loading, and EVM.
10. Design and deliver reporting frameworks for delivery and senior leadership, ensuring clear controls and concise schedule performance reports to support early decision-making.
11. Manage project schedules, generate high-quality data, and support schedule risk management, senior leadership decision-making, and predictability.
12. Monitor performance through cost/resource curves, schedule health checks, variance analysis, and support Baseline and Change Management procedures.
13. Identify and mitigate threats to project schedules, initiate, and close out corrective actions.
14. Oversee schedule assurance reviews, perform Time Impact Assessments, Schedule QRA's, and respond to Extension of Time claims.

Candidate Specifications:

1. Experience in team leadership and managing professionals.
2. Experience leading planning and scheduling across industries such as Utilities, Transportation, Energy, Water, Defence, and Building.
3. Ability to quickly establish credibility and lead planning initiatives.
4. Proven track record in handling complex situations with integrity.
5. Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to communicate effectively with senior executives.
6. Commitment to delivery on time, to standard, and within resources.
7. Excellent communication skills, capable of simplifying complex issues.
8. Experience with Earned Value and Critical Path Management.
9. Knowledge of planning in contractual environments; NEC3/4 experience is desirable.
10. Development and continuous improvement of planning processes, procedures, and systems.
11. Effective management and leadership skills, both direct and functional.
12. Commitment to Continuing Professional Development, including progression towards chartership or membership of professional bodies.
13. Logical mindset, methodical approach, and excellent organizational skills.
14. Time management skills and experience mentoring early and mid-career professionals.
15. Expertise in Primavera and MS Project.
16. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications.
17. Skilled in using risk and reporting tools such as Safran, PowerBI.

Our Purpose

At Mott MacDonald, our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do; focusing on excellence and digital innovation to transform our clients' businesses, communities, and employee opportunities.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

EDI is central to our organization. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment.

Flexible Working

We support our staff in creating work-life balance and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements during the interview process.

We Can Offer:

• 90 days paid maternity leave
• Competitive annual leave
• Annual professional subscription
• Annual performance bonus (subject to company performance)

Location: Riyadh, SA

Contract Type: Permanent

Work Pattern: Full Time

Market: Buildings

Discipline: Planning and Modelling

Job Ref: 7359

Recruiter Contact: Iustina Blidariu