Planner

Absa Group; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 550 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent financial institution in Johannesburg seeks a Project Planner to develop and maintain comprehensive project schedules. The role requires 5-8 years of experience in corporate real estate planning, alongside advanced skills in project management tools like Primavera P6 and MS Project. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical and organizational abilities and be capable of managing multiple priorities effectively. This opportunity offers growth within a reputable bank focused on empowering Africa's future.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of experience in planning for capital investment and corporate real estate.
• 8-10 years working in construction or consultation in the built environment.
• Professional certification in planning or project controls is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain integrated project plans and control structures.
• Monitor and report on project schedule performance.
• Manage scope change requests and assess their impact on project schedules.

Skills

Project planning

Risk management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Education

Degree in Engineering, Project Management, or related field

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Job description

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time.

With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.

Job Summary

To deliver and maintain standard, consistent, and realistic project schedules that accurately reflect the assessed risk parameters for each project within the Capital Investment Plan. The role supports effective decision‑making and project delivery through robust planning and schedule control.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

1. Project Planning and Control

• Develop, deliver, and maintain realistic, integrated project plans and control structures for large‑scale, complex capital investment projects.
• Ensure plans are aligned with project objectives, scope, and constraints.
• Drive the development of project schedules by defining activities, sequencing, estimating durations, assigning resources, and identifying interdependencies.

2. Baseline and Schedule Management

• Lead the creation and maintenance of project baselines, ensuring alignment with approved budgets and milestones.
• Integrate risk, contingency, and resource considerations into schedule development using deterministic and probabilistic approaches.

3. Progress Monitoring and Performance Tracking

• Monitor and report on project schedule performance through regular updates and analysis of progress against baseline.
• Conduct critical path and trend analysis to identify deviations and opportunities for corrective action.
• Track and support risk mitigation efforts associated with schedule performance.

4. Change Management

• Review scope change requests to assess their impact on project schedules and the critical path.
• Provide alternative scheduling options to support timely decision‑making in response to change.

5. Contract and Milestone Alignment

• Ensure that all contract milestones and key dates are reflected accurately in the integrated master schedule.
• Review and evaluate contractor bid schedules and planning deliverables to support procurement and contract award recommendations.

6. Standards, Tools, and Process Implementation

• Implement and ensure adherence to standardised planning tools, templates, and procedures.
• Enforce compliance with planning governance and quality assurance protocols.
• Promote continuous improvement through lessons learned and benchmarking data.

7. Reporting and Communication

• Prepare and deliver high‑quality planning inputs for project reports, risk reviews, and performance dashboards.
• Communicate planning insights and risks effectively to stakeholders, including senior leadership and project delivery teams.

8. Knowledge Management

• Compile and deliver project close‑out and planning data to support knowledge retention, continuous learning, and future project success.

Skills & Experience Required:

• Proven experience in project planning for Corporate Real Estate and capital investment programmes.
• Advanced proficiency in planning and scheduling tools (e.g., Primavera P6, MS Project).
• Strong understanding of project lifecycle, risk management, and earned value techniques.
• Familiarity with deterministic and probabilistic schedule risk analysis.
• Excellent analytical, organisational, and communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

Minimum Requirements:

• Mandatory: Degree in Engineering, Project Management, Construction, or related field.
• Mandatory: Experience in Planning for Capital Investment Portfolio and Corporate Real Estate (5 – 8 years)
• Mandatory: Experience working in Construction and or Consultation in Built Environment (8 – 10 years)
• Advantageous: Professional Certification in planning or project controls (e.g., PMI‑SP, AACE, or equivalent) advantageous.

Education

Bachelor’s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised.