Planning Manager - Fitout

My client a leading Fitout Contractor in Dubai is seeking an experienced Planning Manager to lead the planning and scheduling function across multiple interior fit-out projects in Dubai, including office, residential, and F&B developments. This role combines hands-on planning expertise with team leadership, ensuring all projects are effectively programmed, monitored, and delivered on schedule. The Planning Manager will play a critical role in aligning project timelines with site execution, supporting project teams, and driving consistency and accuracy across all planning activities. Key Responsibilities Planning & Scheduling * Develop and maintain detailed baseline programmes covering design, procurement, construction, and handover stages * Monitor project progress against schedules and identify risks, delays, and deviations * Prepare recovery programmes and mitigation strategies to maintain project timelines * Ensure integration of subcontractor and supplier schedules into overall project programmes Team Leadership & Management * Lead, mentor, and manage a team of Planning Engineers across multiple projects * Allocate resources effectively and oversee workload distribution * Establish planning standards, methodologies, and reporting consistency across all projects * Provide technical guidance and support to ensure high-quality planning outputs Project Coordination * Work closely with Project Managers, site teams, procurement, and commercial departments to align planning with execution * Support site teams with look-ahead programmes and actionable planning insights * Ensure planning outputs reflect real-time project conditions and constraints Reporting & Analysis * Produce weekly and monthly progress reports, dashboards, and look-ahead schedules * Analyse programme variances and provide clear recommendations to senior management * Track key milestones and highlight risks impacting delivery Pre-Construction & Tender Support * Lead planning input for tender submissions, including preparation of preliminary programmes * Support pre-construction activities with realistic and achievable project timelines Delay Analysis & Claims * Support and prepare delay analysis and Extension of Time (EOT) submissions where required * Maintain accurate records to support claims and project reporting Resource Planning * Assist in resource planning and forecasting across multiple concurrent projects * Ensure alignment between manpower, materials, and programme requirements

Education & Experience * Minimum 8+ years' experience in construction planning * At least 3 years in a leadership or supervisory role * Strong experience in interior fit-out projects, ideally within fast-track environments in the UAE Technical Skills * Expert user of Primavera P6 and MS Project * Strong understanding of fit-out construction sequencing and delivery timelines * Knowledge of authority approval processes in Dubai (DM, DCD, Trakhees, etc.) * Familiarity with delay analysis methodologies and reporting tools Leadership & Soft Skills * Strong leadership, mentoring, and team management capabilities * Excellent communication and coordination skills across multidisciplinary teams * Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously * Analytical mindset with strong attention to detail * Proactive, solution-oriented, and able to perform under pressure