Planning and Reporting Manager

Role Overview

The Planning and Reporting Manager plays a pivotal role in ensuring the successful execution of projects by overseeing comprehensive planning, scheduling, monitoring, and reporting functions. This position is instrumental in aligning project deliverables with the organization’s strategic objectives, budgetary constraints, governance requirements, and key milestones. The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing robust project controls, integrating cross-functional activities, and providing accurate, timely data to support informed decision-making at all levels of the organization.

Key Responsibilities

The Planning and Reporting Manager will be entrusted with the following core responsibilities:

• Master Development Schedule (MDS) Management: Develop, maintain, and support the MDS, ensuring it encompasses all project phases, interfaces, and stakeholder deliverables in alignment with organizational goals.
• Project Controls and Planning Strategy: Establish and implement a robust project controls and planning framework that aligns with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Integration of Project Activities: Ensure seamless integration of design, authority approvals, procurement, construction, infrastructure, utility, and handover activities to maintain project momentum.
• Milestone and Critical Path Management: Define key project milestones, gateways, critical paths, and delivery priorities to ensure timely project completion.
• Schedule Monitoring and Compliance: Review, challenge, and approve consultant, contractor, and PMO baseline schedules and updates to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and project sequencing.
• Progress Tracking and Risk Identification: Monitor progress against approved baselines, identify delays, risks, and interface constraints, and conduct critical path and delay analyses to recommend mitigation or recovery measures.
• Multi-Stakeholder Coordination: Ensure proper schedule integration across multiple packages, contractors, and stakeholders to maintain alignment and avoid conflicts.
• Periodic Reporting and Portfolio Management: Provide periodic reporting to senior leadership, including the PIF, in coordination with the EPMO/CEO Office, and develop project progress curves, milestone tracking, and portfolio-level reporting.
• Risk Management and Mitigation: Maintain and update the project risk register in collaboration with stakeholders, identify schedule-related risks, and support mitigation strategies to minimize project disruptions.
• Impact Assessment and Dispute Avoidance: Assess the impact of scope changes, variations, and commercial decisions on project timelines, review Extension of Time (EOT) claims, and support dispute avoidance through accurate records and reporting.
• Data Consistency and Accuracy: Ensure consistency and accuracy of planning data across all project packages and maintain proper records of approved baselines, revisions, and historical progress data.
• Digital Tools and Automation: Oversee the implementation and utilization of Primavera P6 Cloud, project dashboards, and reporting systems, and promote digital reporting, automation, and data-driven project controls practices.
• Executive-Level Reporting: Prepare executive-level dashboards, progress reports, KPI reports, and strategic planning presentations to provide accurate and actionable insights to senior management and governing authorities.

Qualifications and Experience

To excel in this role, candidates must meet the following qualifications and experience requirements:

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering is preferred. Degrees in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering may also be considered, provided the candidate demonstrates extensive and relevant experience in a Lead Project Planning Manager role across all disciplines.
• Certifications: Professional certifications such as PMP, PSP, PMI-SP, or equivalent are highly desirable and demonstrate a commitment to excellence in project planning and controls.
• Language Proficiency: Strong proficiency in English is essential for reading, understanding, and implementing contracts. Proficiency in Arabic is considered an added advantage.
• Experience: Minimum of 12-15 years of relevant experience, with at least 10 years in a Lead Project Planning Manager role, overseeing comprehensive project planning, scheduling, and reporting functions.