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

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or a related field
• Minimum 10 years of experience as a Planning Engineer or Project Controls Engineer
• Proven experience working on large-scale construction projects
• Strong knowledge of project scheduling methodologies, critical path analysis and progress monitoring
• Experience with delay analysis, recovery planning and EOT claims
• Good understanding of project controls and the full construction project lifecycle
• Experience working with contractors and/or consultancy companies is highly preferred
• Strong analytical, reporting and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work effectively with senior management and multiple project stakeholders
• Professional working proficiency in English

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.