My client a leading Fitout Contractor in Dubai is seeking an experienced Planning Manager to lead the planning and scheduling function across multiple interior fit-out projects in Dubai, including office, residential, and F&B developments.
This role combines hands-on planning expertise with team leadership, ensuring all projects are effectively programmed, monitored, and delivered on schedule. The Planning Manager will play a critical role in aligning project timelines with site execution, supporting project teams, and driving consistency and accuracy across all planning activities.
Key Responsibilities
Planning & Scheduling
- Develop and maintain detailed baseline programmes covering design, procurement, construction, and handover stages
- Monitor project progress against schedules and identify risks, delays, and deviations
- Prepare recovery programmes and mitigation strategies to maintain project timelines
- Ensure integration of subcontractor and supplier schedules into overall project programmes
Team Leadership & Management
- Lead, mentor, and manage a team of Planning Engineers across multiple projects
- Allocate resources effectively and oversee workload distribution
- Establish planning standards, methodologies, and reporting consistency across all projects
- Provide technical guidance and support to ensure high-quality planning outputs
Project Coordination
- Work closely with Project Managers, site teams, procurement, and commercial departments to align planning with execution
- Support site teams with look-ahead programmes and actionable planning insights
- Ensure planning outputs reflect real-time project conditions and constraints
Reporting & Analysis
- Produce weekly and monthly progress reports, dashboards, and look-ahead schedules
- Analyse programme variances and provide clear recommendations to senior management
- Track key milestones and highlight risks impacting delivery
Pre-Construction & Tender Support
- Lead planning input for tender submissions, including preparation of preliminary programmes
- Support pre-construction activities with realistic and achievable project timelines
Delay Analysis & Claims
- Support and prepare delay analysis and Extension of Time (EOT) submissions where required
- Maintain accurate records to support claims and project reporting
Resource Planning
- Assist in resource planning and forecasting across multiple concurrent projects
- Ensure alignment between manpower, materials, and programme requirements
Requirements
Education & Experience
- Minimum 8+ years' experience in construction planning
- At least 3 years in a leadership or supervisory role
- Strong experience in interior fit-out projects, ideally within fast-track environments in the UAE
Technical Skills
- Expert user of Primavera P6 and MS Project
- Strong understanding of fit-out construction sequencing and delivery timelines
- Knowledge of authority approval processes in Dubai (DM, DCD, Trakhees, etc.)
- Familiarity with delay analysis methodologies and reporting tools
Leadership & Soft Skills
- Strong leadership, mentoring, and team management capabilities
- Excellent communication and coordination skills across multidisciplinary teams
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
- Analytical mindset with strong attention to detail
- Proactive, solution-oriented, and able to perform under pressure
