About this role

Planning Engineer

Workplan Development & Project Scheduling:
Expected Result: The project has a realistic, resource-loaded workplan aligned to design, BOQ and site conditions that provides a reliable basis for execution and control.
Develop and issue the baseline construction programme (WBS to activity level) covering all road construction phases earthworks, sub-base, base course, drainage, structures and surfacing.
Translate design, BOQ and specification information into a resource-loaded schedule, aligning manpower, plant and materials to programme milestones.
Sequence activities logically, reflecting realistic productivity rates, weather/seasonal constraints and site access.
Secure Project Manager/PMO sign-off on the baseline programme before issue.
Update and reissue the programme whenever scope, design or site conditions materially change.
Targets:
Baseline programme issued and approved before mobilisation — 100%
Programme reflects current approved scope/design — 100%
Programme revisions issued following an approved change — Within 3 working days

Progress Monitoring, Tracking & Execution:

Expected Result: Actual site progress is tracked accurately and continuously against the approved programme, giving management a reliable, real-time picture of project status.
Track daily/weekly site progress against the baseline and working programme.
Produce S-curves, progress dashboards and variance analysis comparing planned versus actual progress.
Conduct 2–4 week rolling look-ahead planning to drive short-interval execution on site.
Verify reported progress against physical site conditions before issuing updates.
Maintain an accurate, current master schedule at all times.
Targets:
Weekly/monthly progress reports issued within agreed cutoff — Within 24 hours
Variance between reported and verified site progress — Less than 5%
Look-ahead activities completed as scheduled — At least 85%

Site Coordination & Resource Alignment:

Expected Result: Materials, manpower and equipment are mobilised ahead of programme need dates, and planning is fully integrated with site execution.
Coordinate with procurement, stores and site teams to ensure resources are available ahead of scheduled activities.
Attend site progress and management meetings, providing technical planning input.
Work with Site/Project Managers to translate the programme into practical daily/weekly work orders.
Flag resource-driven schedule risks before they affect the critical path.
Targets:
Resource-driven delays attributable to late planning input — Zero
Scheduled planning/site coordination meetings attended — 100%

Delay Identification, Escalation & Recovery Planning:

Expected Result: Schedule risks and delays are identified early, escalated promptly, and addressed through realistic recovery plans that protect the overall completion date.
Continuously monitor the critical path and identify activities at risk of slippage.
Investigate root causes of delay in coordination with Site/Project Managers.
Develop and issue recovery/mitigation plans for confirmed delays.
Escalate schedule risks and delays that may affect overall project completion.
Targets:
Schedule risks flagged ahead of critical path impact — At least 2 weeks' notice
Recovery plan issued after a confirmed delay — Within 3 working days
Unresolved critical delays without escalation — Zero

Reporting, Documentation & Programme Control:

Expected Result: Programme documentation is accurate, current and properly controlled, giving management and clients confidence in reported project status.
Maintain full version control and approval trail for all programme issues and revisions.
Prepare and issue accurate progress and variance reports to management and, where required, client/consultant teams.
Support cost/time impact assessment of variations, delays and change orders.
Maintain organised records of planning data, productivity rates and lessons learned for future projects.
Targets
Programme updates version-controlled and approved before reissue — 100%
Monthly S-curve/variance report issued — By agreed date, error-free
Planning records maintained and retrievable — 100%

Schedule Projection Accuracy & Accountability:

Expected Result: The Planning Engineer holds full, direct accountability for the accuracy and reliability of the project's schedule projection from baseline to completion; projections are realistic, defensible and current at all times.
Own the end-to-end integrity of the project's time projection, ensuring it reflects true site status at every reporting cycle.
Treat any projection failure — an inaccurate, outdated or undisclosed projection — as a critical planning lapse requiring immediate correction.
Proactively verify projections against actual progress rather than relying on assumed rates or unconfirmed inputs.
Immediately disclose and correct any identified projection error, however it arose.
Targets:
Projection accuracy verified against actual site progress — Every reporting cycle
Unexplained or undisclosed projection failure — Zero tolerance
Identified projection errors corrected from detection — Within 48 hours.
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Planning Engineer