Strategic Planning Department Manager (HQ)

About This Role

Job Description This role focuses on strategic planning and portfolio management of long-term infrastructure projects, particularly through the development and oversight of Five-Year Portfolio Plans (5YPPP) and master plans. Responsibilities include managing project initiation and stage-gate processes, reviewing and approving master plans, capital investment plans, and business cases, and ensuring alignment with organizational KPIs and national guidelines. The position also involves prioritizing projects, coordinating with internal departments and external stakeholders (including government entities and developers), monitoring plan implementation, integrating GIS data, and supporting agreements for service delivery. Additionally, it includes capability assessment, knowledge transfer initiatives, and ensuring all activities comply with quality, safety, and environmental standards.

Responsibilities

• Adopting and implementing Client’s PMM and EXPROs Five-Year Projects.
• Portfolio Planning (5 YPPP) processes and methodologies.
• Project registration and managing initial stages of the Stage-Gate process.
• Review and update the National Guideline for the Master Planning.
• Manage the development of the National Master Plan.
• Review Clusters Master Plan.
• Review and approve the Capital Investment Plan (CIP) that the Local Master Plan identifies.
• Ensure that all projects identified within the CIP contribute toward achieving the KPIs.
• Review and approve the project's business cases.
• Ensure all projects are aligned with the requirements of the Master Plan.
• Supporting the cluster to prepare/update the 5YPPP periodically.
• Prioritize projects within the 5 YPPP based on the approved criteria.
• Update and finalize the 5YPPP based on the comment from the EXPRO team.
• Work with other client departments to develop the capital expenditure for their specialised program.
• Supporting the Client in coordinating with external governmental departments, such as municipalities, to ensure the alignment of their projects with their expansion plans.
• Working with the supply and demand committee to update their plan regularly.
• Monitor the implementation of the regional Master Plans and their identified CIPs.
• Assessing the capability of the Client’s existing department staff and recommending appropriate roles and responsibilities.
• Integrate client’s assets GIS data in one database platform.
• Preparing the Strategic Planning department knowledge transfer program, which includes comprehensive on-the-job learning.
• Working with the Client to coordinate the water and wastewater service with the main developers.
• Draft agreements and MOUs to provide services for the developers.
• Coordinate with the regional clusters to ensure the timely execution of agreements and relevant projects.
• Attend coordination meetings with the main developers.
• Review mega project requirements for water and wastewater service and ensure these requirements are included within the master plans.
• Informs themselves of the relevant quality, environmental, safety, and occupational health policies, as well as manuals and procedures within Hill International, and ensures continued compliance with these requirements while employed by Hill.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the line manager/supervisor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor / Master of Engineering or urban planning from an accredited university.
• Minimum 20 years experience in related fields, such as national/international significant initiatives and developments. A record of close engagement with utility providers and broader commercial and public cluster stakeholders.
• Expert in central development master planning and urban planning – preferably at national levels. Thorough knowledge of urban and infrastructure planning disciplines.
• Expert in the development of water and wastewater master plan
• Extensive experience working internationally (preference for Middle East / KSA). Preferable cultural understanding of project management within KSA.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.