Planning Manager

Job Title:

Planning Manager – Railway / Metro Infrastructure

Purpose of the Role

To lead and manage all project planning, scheduling, and monitoring activities for railway and metro projects.
The Planning Manager ensures accurate, timely, and proactive planning to meet project milestones, optimize resources, and mitigate risks, supporting successful delivery of civil, track, systems, E&M, and operational works.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain the Master Project Schedule covering all civil, systems, signaling, E&M, and commissioning activities.
• Prepare detailed work breakdown structures (WBS) and phase-level schedules.
• Coordinate with engineering, procurement, construction, QA/QC, and commissioning teams to ensure realistic and achievable schedules.
• Implement schedule baseline and updates, reflecting progress, risks, and changes.

2. Monitoring & Reporting

• Track project progress against baseline schedule using Primavera P6 or equivalent tools.
• Identify and analyze schedule variances, delays, and potential bottlenecks.
• Prepare and submit weekly/monthly schedule reports, including progress dashboards and KPI analysis, for management and client review.
• Conduct forecasting and look-ahead planning to mitigate delays.

3. Resource & Risk Management

• Assist in resource allocation planning across multiple disciplines and subcontractors.
• Collaborate with project controls and management teams to identify schedule risks and mitigation strategies.
• Support change management processes and integrate schedule impacts of variations, RFIs, and design changes.

4. Stakeholder Coordination

• Act as a focal point for schedule coordination with clients (RTA, Etihad Rail), consultants, and contractors.
• Participate in progress review meetings, coordination meetings, and workshops.
• Ensure that schedule requirements are communicated effectively to all project teams.

5. System Implementation & Continuous Improvement

• Implement project planning tools, procedures, and reporting systems in compliance with client and corporate standards.
• Support lessons-learned initiatives to improve planning efficiency and accuracy.
• Develop and maintain planning procedures, templates, and guidance documents.

Qualifications & Experience

Requirement

Details

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or Project Management. Master’s preferred.

Experience

10-15– years of project planning experience, including 6+ years in railway/metro projects in UAE or GCC.

Industry Knowledge

Civil infrastructure, track, tunnels, stations, depots, signaling, E&M systems, and commissioning.

Certifications

Primavera P6 certification, PMP or Prince2 preferred.

Software

Primavera P6, MS Project, MS Office, project management dashboards.

Language

Excellent English (written & verbal); Arabic is an advantage.

Job Type: Full-time