Senior Planning Manager

Role Overview

Senior Planning Manager at KBR, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This role reports to the Project Controls Director and is responsible for coordinating with PMCs for overall planning, scheduling, and coordination of a major mixed-use infrastructure development programme, including defining, maintaining, and implementing requirements and standards for Primavera P6.

Company Overview

KBR provides PMO services, enterprise-level governance, assurance, integration, and performance oversight across all projects and programs for a major infrastructure programme in Riyadh. The project is a mixed-use development aiming to be a global landmark and authentic destination, featuring several iconic assets and functioning as a distinct, self-sustaining hub.

Role Purpose

Establish and maintain the planning, scheduling, and integration framework for a large-scale development programme. Coordinate with PMCs to ensure compliance with planning standards, deliver integrated master schedules at programme and portfolio levels, monitor schedule performance, and provide governance and quality assurance across all project planning activities.

Key Responsibilities

Planning Standards and Systems Management

• Define, maintain, and implement the EPPM P6 EPS hierarchy and levels in compliance with the approved WBS and ensure proper assignment for each node to relevant PMCs.
• Manage the EPPM P6 Environment by maintaining P6 programmes EPS nodes, IMS, and monthly archiving.
• Develop and maintain weightage system that supports progress measurement rollup for project, District, and programme level reporting.
• Maintain an updated P6/EPS change log.
• Provide alignment between planning tools, PMIS (SharePoint), DWH, and all existing cost and reporting platforms.
• Coordinate schedule data integration and validation across systems.
• Support enhancements to planning and reporting tools consistent with digital transformation objectives.

Master Scheduling and Integration

• Produce and update Master Procurement Schedule in accordance with procurement strategy.
• Develop and maintain programme-level and portfolio-level Integrated Master Schedule (IMS).
• Verify the entire programme scope and sitewide packages are included within the IMS with communication upstream and downstream.
• Ensure that the IMS schedule covers all project scope from initiation to closeout, including design approvals, statutory approvals, infrastructure-related works, procurement activities, tenant fit-out, and exhibitions duration.
• Identify and manage inter-project interfaces, dependencies, and critical paths.
• Verify alignment between district-level and asset-level schedules.
• Support scenario analysis, sequencing options, and strategic planning inputs.

Baseline Documentation and Maintenance

• Produce the IMS Baseline Package documents, including programme narrative, basis of schedule, weightage distribution, cost loading breakdown, resource loading and resource leveling, codes, key interfaces, logistic constraints, assumptions, and exclusions.
• Produce, maintain, and regularly update the IMS including the Baseline BoD completion dates tracker, cash flow calculation and guidelines, resource calculation and guidelines, baseline Change Control Tracker, baseline records and version history, IMS Interface Tracker, programme-level key issues, delay analysis, schedule alerts, and mitigation measures tracker.

Monthly Reporting and Analysis

• Produce and issue monthly updated IMS pack reflecting the approved monthly progress cut-off date and reporting calendar, including consolidated portfolio/programme-level IMS, Schedule Performance Analysis Report, Baseline and Change Impact Statement, Forecast and Mitigation Status Report, Interfaces and Dependency Log, updated KPIs report, updated IMS cashflow critical path(s) and near-critical path analysis, float consumption and trend analysis, schedule alert monitoring and reporting, updated resource profile Schedule Change Log, and version-controlled IMS tracker with clear revision history.
• Report upon percent complete at district, programme, and portfolio levels based on the agreed weightage system.
• Participate in monthly Programme Review meetings.

Portfolio-Level Development Master Schedule

• Develop and maintain an overall, portfolio-level integrated Development Master Schedule (DMS) that combines and aligns inputs, activities, and milestones from multiple stakeholders.
• Report upon DMS activities including Development Briefs and Feasibility Business Plan approvals, land acquisition and release dates, marketing activities and launch events, tenant fit-outs and exhibitions activities, sales strategies and events, budgeting, and cost information.

PMC Schedule Governance and Validation

• Provide governance and oversight of PMC L3 Baseline schedules development and control by reviewing, validating, and approving PMC-developed schedules to validate compliance with planning standards and requirements.
• Verify schedules are realistic and achievable, logic-driven, resource and cost loaded, and fully traceable.
• Review and approve baseline schedules, including interim and recovery baselines.
• Manage baseline change control, including impact assessment, approvals, and documentation.
• Lead revised schedule baseline process.

Performance Monitoring and Analysis

• Review PMC L3 updated schedules and verify performance by defining standard progress measurement rules and methodologies.
• Review PMC progress updates for accuracy, consistency, and substantiation.
• Validate reported progress against approved schedules and supporting evidence.
• Perform schedule performance analysis, including critical path, float consumption, and trend analysis.
• Identify delays, risks, and emerging issues impacting schedule performance.
• Perform detailed schedule analysis of Level 4 Contractor Programme to investigate issues related to progress and project status.

Quality Assurance and Compliance

• Provide independent quality assurance of PMC schedules by monitoring PMC compliance with planning and scheduling standards through conducting periodic schedule quality reviews and health checks.
• Verify traceability, audit trails, and documentation for schedule decisions.
• Support internal and external audits related to schedule management.

Forecast and Recovery Management

• Support proactive forecast and recovery schedule management by reviewing and validating PMC forecasts and projected completion dates.
• Assess the credibility of mitigation and recovery plans for delayed projects.
• Support the development and review of recovery schedules and acceleration options.
• Evaluate and escalate schedule risks and opportunities in coordination with risk management functions.

Organizational Development

• Support long-term programme maturity by capturing lessons learned and best practices in planning and scheduling.
• Support training, guidance, and mentoring for PMCs and internal teams.

Qualifications & Experience

• BSc in construction management, engineering, planning, or management.
• Minimum 15 years post-graduation experience.
• Professional memberships and charterships required.
• PMI-PMP, PMI-CAMP, GRI Professional, or equivalent certification.
• Sound knowledge of all engineering, commercial, and planning aspects of major civil, infrastructure, and development projects.

Skills & Competencies

• Experienced user of Primavera P6, Pert Master, and MS Office.
• Excellent knowledge of CPM networks, resource and cost loading, and risk management techniques.
• Ability to effectively monitor and analyse progress, identify trends, and recommend corrective actions.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.
• Leadership.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Commercial awareness.
• Strong client focus.
• Planning and organising skills.
• Accepts responsibility.
• HSE Awareness.