Planning Manager

Overview

• KEO is a creative enterprise, where innovation is a way of life.
• We are uniquely resourced with end-to-end services to take clients from inspiration – through conceptualization – to realization of planning, design or project delivery in the built and natural environments.
• For over 60 years we’ve led with vision, contributing to many of the world’s most ambitious projects, iconic places, remarkable experiences and prosperous communities.
• As a highly integrated and agile AEP/PMCM firm, KEO is recognized by ENR as one of the Top 225 International Design Firms and one of the Top 20 International PM/CM Firms.
• We are also ranked by World Architecture as the 51st largest global architecture firm and the #1 Firm in the Middle East Region in their 2024 WA100 Survey.
• We invite you to join us.
• Why?
• When you join KEO, you’ll discover more than just a job – you’ll find a supportive environment that fosters your professional development through internal global mobility and career development and does so within a culture that supports company-wide health and well-being through on-demand counselling services and regular workplace clinics. You will be invited to celebrate community events such as sports days, fun-runs, in-house sports teams and beach clean ups. In addition to your competitive package and benefits you will have access to a suite of policies that include hybrid working arrangements, individual athletic sponsorship, study assistance sponsorship, employee referral rewards.
• Our newest opportunity is for a talented Planning Manager to join our award-winning team based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• The successful candidate will lead all planning, scheduling, progress monitoring, delay analysis, and reporting activities throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring alignment with project objectives, timelines, and stakeholder expectations.
• We envisage responsibilities in this role to include;
• Lead the master planning and programme control function
• Develop, maintain, and control the baseline schedule in coordination with Client, Consultants, and Contractors.
• Review and critically assess contractor programmes, including sequencing, methodologies, procurement, resource loading, and recovery strategies.
• Ensure full integration of design, procurement, approvals, construction, testing & commissioning, and handover activities.
• Drive critical path analysis, identify programme risks, and implement mitigation and recovery actions.
• Monitor progress, update schedules, and ensure accurate reflection of site performance and productivity trends.
• Assess programme impacts of variations, design changes, delays, and disruptions, and advise on mitigation strategies.
• Implement Earned Value Management (EVM) to measure performance and forecast completion outcomes.
• Lead preparation of dashboards, KPIs, S-curves, and executive-level reporting on project performance.
• Coordinate closely with commercial teams to align programme performance with cost and financial forecasting.
• Conduct regular progress reviews with contractors and consultants, ensuring programme compliance and accountability.
• Perform structured delay analysis (TIA, Window Analysis) and support EOT claims and dispute resolution.
• Maintain robust programme records to support contractual and claims requirements.
• Identify schedule risks, integrate them into risk registers, and develop mitigation and contingency plans.
• Provide early warning on potential delays and recommend corrective actions to senior management.
• Deliver weekly and monthly progress reporting and executive presentations on programme status and forecast.
• Lead stakeholder planning meetings to ensure alignment on progress, risks, and recovery actions.
• Integrate authority approvals and statutory requirements into the overall project programme.
• Ensure full compliance with contractual obligations, PMC standards, and client requirements.
• Support audits, reviews, and governance processes related to planning and project controls.
• To be successful in this dynamic opportunity, we envision that your career journey to date will include 15 years' work experience partnered with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management.

Experience

• required:
• Minimum 15 years of overall experience in project planning and controls.
• Minimum 5 years of recent experience in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• Proven experience working with PMC/Consultancy organizations in the same role.
• Strong background in retail, mall, building, EPC, and Design & Build projects.
• Experience managing planning activities for large-scale multi-package developments is essential.

& Competencies

• Strong proficiency in project planning and scheduling software (Primavera P6 preferred).
• Strong understanding of: Project Controls, Cost Control, Earned Value Management (EVM), Delay Analysis & Claims, Risk Management
• Excellent reporting and presentation capabilities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced project environment.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills.

• AACE-CCP (Certified Cost Professional)