Lead Planning Engineer

We are seeking an exceptional Lead Planning Engineer to take a strategic role in the planning and delivery of large-scale, high-value construction and real estate developments in Dubai. This is an opportunity for a seasoned planning professional with a strong track record in major residential and luxury real estate projects to take ownership of project planning strategy, drive schedule performance, and provide high-level guidance to project teams and senior leadership. Working closely with Project Directors, senior management, and key stakeholders, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring complex projects are delivered against ambitious timelines, while proactively managing critical risks, project dependencies, and schedule performance. Key Responsibilities - Lead project planning and scheduling strategy across major construction projects, establishing robust planning frameworks, scheduling standards, and best practices. - Oversee the development and management of comprehensive project schedules, from pre-construction and design development through procurement, construction, and final handover. - Establish and manage baseline programmes, integrated master schedules, and resource-loaded schedules aligned with project objectives and contractual milestones. - Drive critical path analysis, scenario planning, and schedule risk assessments to anticipate delays, evaluate mitigation strategies, and safeguard key project milestones. - Monitor project performance against approved baselines, challenge progress assumptions, and hold project teams accountable for schedule commitments. - Provide senior management with clear, data-driven insights into project progress, emerging risks, critical dependencies, and potential impacts on overall delivery. - Lead the preparation and presentation of executive-level progress reports, planning dashboards, and schedule performance reviews. - Work closely with Project Directors, construction teams, consultants, and contractors to resolve planning constraints and maintain alignment across project workstreams. - Drive continuous improvement in planning methodologies, reporting standards, and project controls processes. - Mentor and provide technical guidance to planning engineers, promoting a high standard of planning excellence across project teams. - Develop and support recovery and mitigation plans where project performance is behind schedule - Conduct delay analysis and support the preparation of extension of time (EOT) claims - Coordinate planning activities with Project Managers, Site Teams, Engineers, Contractors and other key stakeholders - Review contractors’ and subcontractors’ programmes and assess compliance with contractual requirements - Monitor key project milestones and ensure that planning data accurately reflects actual site progress - Support project forecasting and provide management with recommendations to improve schedule performance and project delivery - Provide planning insights and recommendations to support informed management decision-making Benefits - Competitive salary - Official UAE employment status - Comprehensive medical insurance coverage - Opportunity to work on major construction projects in Dubai - Direct collaboration with project management and senior leadership Working schedule 6 days per week from Monday to Saturday and Sunday is off.

Develop, maintain and update detailed project schedules from project initiation through completion; Prepare baseline schedules, detailed work programmes and resource-loaded schedules; Monitor project progress against approved plans and identify potential delays, risks and schedule constraints; Perform critical path analysis and assess the impact of delays on overall project completion; Prepare weekly and monthly progress reports, dashboards and schedule updates for project management, senior leadership and key stakeholders; Develop and support recovery and mitigation plans where project performance is behind schedule; Conduct delay analysis and support the preparation of extension of time (EOT) claims; Coordinate planning activities with Project Managers, Site Teams, Engineers, Contractors and other key stakeholders; Review contractors’ and subcontractors’ programmes and assess compliance with contractual requirements; Monitor key project milestones and ensure that planning data reflects actual site progress; Support project forecasting and provide management with recommendations to improve schedule performance and project delivery; Provide planning insights and recommendations to support informed management decision-making