Job Summary

A Planning Engineer is responsible for developing, monitoring, updating, and controlling project schedules to ensure construction projects are completed within approved timelines and contractual milestones.

The role supports project management by providing planning, scheduling, progress monitoring, delay analysis, resource forecasting, and reporting services to facilitate effective project execution and decision-making.

Typically reports to the Planning Manager, Project Manager, or Project Director.

Job Description

The Planning Engineer develops baseline schedules, monitors project progress, analyzes delays, prepares recovery plans, and generates management reports. The role coordinates with engineering, procurement, commercial, and construction teams to ensure project activities remain aligned with contractual requirements and company objectives.

This role requires strong expertise in project scheduling, critical path analysis, resource planning, progress measurement, and construction project controls.

Core Responsibilities

1. Project Planning & Scheduling

• Develop project baseline schedules using Primavera P6 or MS Project.
• Establish project Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
• Define project milestones, deliverables, and activity sequences.
• Prepare detailed construction, procurement, and engineering schedules.
• Develop resource-loaded schedules where required.

2. Progress Monitoring & Control

• Monitor project progress against approved baseline schedules.
• Update schedules with actual site progress.
• Measure physical progress and productivity.
• Identify schedule variances and performance issues.
• Track milestone achievement and critical activities.

3. Critical Path & Delay Analysis

• Analyze critical path activities and schedule impacts.
• Identify potential delays and project risks.
• Perform Time Impact Analysis (TIA) and delay assessments.
• Support Extension of Time (EOT) claims preparation.
• Recommend mitigation and acceleration measures.

4. Resource Planning & Forecasting

• Monitor manpower, equipment, and material resource utilization.
• Forecast future resource requirements.
• Identify resource shortages and productivity issues.
• Support management in workforce planning decisions.
• Coordinate resource allocation with project teams.

5. Recovery Planning

• Develop recovery and acceleration schedules.
• Propose corrective actions to recover delays.
• Evaluate alternative construction sequences.
• Monitor implementation of recovery measures.
• Support project teams in achieving target completion dates.

6. Reporting & Project Controls

• Prepare weekly and monthly progress reports.
• Generate dashboards, S-curves, histograms, and KPI reports.
• Present schedule status to management and clients.
• Monitor project performance indicators.
• Maintain project planning records and documentation.

7. Coordination & Communication

• Coordinate with Project Managers, Engineers, Procurement, and Commercial teams.
• Attend project progress meetings.
• Liaise with consultants and clients regarding schedule matters.
• Support tender planning and project execution strategies.
• Provide planning support during project lifecycle.

8. Tender Planning Support

• Prepare tender schedules and project execution programs.
• Assist estimation teams during bid preparation.
• Develop preliminary manpower and resource plans.
• Review project durations and sequencing during tender stage.
• Support value engineering and project strategy development.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of construction planning and scheduling principles
• Advanced Primavera P6 proficiency
• Good knowledge of MS Project
• Understanding of project lifecycle management
• Ability to perform critical path analysis and delay analysis
• Knowledge of resource planning and productivity monitoring
• Familiarity with FIDIC contracts and EOT procedures
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent reporting and presentation abilities
• Good communication and coordination skills

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline.

Experience

Planning Engineer

• 3–7 years of construction planning experience.
• Minimum 2 years UAE/GCC experience preferred.

Senior Planning Engineer

• 8–15 years of planning experience.
• Minimum 5 years UAE/GCC experience.
• Experience in large-scale building, infrastructure, or industrial projects.

Technical Skills

• Primavera P6 (Mandatory)
• Microsoft Project
• Microsoft Excel (Advanced)
• Power BI (Advantage)
• AutoCAD (Basic Understanding)
• ERP Systems (Odoo, Oracle, SAP – Advantage)

Preferred Certifications

• PMP Certification
• PMI-SP (Scheduling Professional)
• AACE International Certification
• Primavera Professional Certification

Reporting Structure Example

Project Director / Project Manager

→ Planning Manager

→ Planning Engineer

→ Planning Coordinator

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Schedule adherence percentage
• Milestone achievement rate
• Accuracy of progress reporting
• Critical path management effectiveness
• Recovery plan implementation success
• Delay identification and mitigation efficiency
• Resource utilization efficiency
• EOT claim support effectiveness
• Timely submission of planning reports
• Variance between planned and actual project progress

Recommended Candidate Profile

1. Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management.
2. Strong Primavera P6 expertise.
3. Previous UAE/GCC construction experience.
4. Experience with main contractors handling building, infrastructure, or industrial projects.
5. Strong understanding of project controls, claims, and delay analysis.
6. Experience working with international contractors or large regional construction companies.

Preferred Previous Employers

• Orascom Construction
• Hassan Allam
• Arab Contractors
• ALEC
• ACC
• CCC
• Trojan Construction
• NMDC
• Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC)

Typical Career Path

Planning Engineer → Senior Planning Engineer → Planning Manager → Project Controls Manager → Project Director / Operations Manager