Planning Engineer

Company: Heilbronn Contracting LLC
Location: Dubai, UAE
Experience: Minimum 7+ years of experience, including UAE/Dubai projects
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Overview

Heilbronn Contracting LLC is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Planning Engineer to join our team in Dubai. The successful candidate will be responsible for project planning, scheduling, progress monitoring and reporting across construction projects, ensuring timely completion in accordance with approved project schedules, contractual requirements and company objectives.

The ideal candidate must have strong experience in construction planning within the UAE, with the ability to develop baseline programmes, monitor project progress, identify delays and coordinate effectively with project managers, site teams, consultants and subcontractors.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Planning and Scheduling

• Develop, prepare and maintain detailed project schedules and baseline programmes for construction projects.
• Prepare project programmes covering design, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning and handover activities.
• Establish project milestones, critical paths, activity durations and resource requirements.
• Develop master programmes, detailed construction schedules, look-ahead programmes and recovery schedules.
• Ensure programmes align with contractual requirements, project specifications and approved construction methodologies.

2. Progress Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor actual project progress against approved baseline programmes and planned targets.
• Conduct regular site visits to verify progress and obtain accurate updates from project teams.
• Identify delays, critical activities, programme slippages and potential risks affecting project completion.
• Prepare daily, weekly and monthly progress reports, dashboards, progress curves and performance reports.
• Provide early warnings and recommend corrective actions to minimise delays.

3. Delay Analysis and Recovery Planning

• Analyse programme deviations and identify the causes of delays.
• Prepare mitigation plans, catch-up programmes and revised schedules where required.
• Conduct critical path analysis and assess the impact of changes, variations and unforeseen events.
• Support the preparation of extension-of-time (EOT) submissions and delay analysis documentation.
• Coordinate with project teams to ensure timely implementation of recovery measures.

4. Coordination and Project Control

• Coordinate with Project Managers, Construction Managers, site engineers, procurement, QS and subcontractors to obtain progress updates.
• Monitor procurement schedules, material deliveries, approvals and subcontractor programmes.
• Track design submissions, authority approvals, material approvals and other project dependencies.
• Attend progress meetings with clients, consultants and internal teams, presenting programme updates and highlighting key risks.
• Ensure all project stakeholders understand programme requirements, milestones and target completion dates.

5. Documentation and Compliance

• Maintain accurate planning records, progress data, programme revisions and supporting documentation.
• Prepare and update resource histograms, S-curves, manpower schedules and progress measurement reports.
• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations, project specifications and relevant Dubai authority requirements.
• Support project management in forecasting completion dates, resource needs and potential programme impacts.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum 7+ years of experience in construction planning and project controls, with relevant experience in Dubai/UAE construction projects.
• Strong experience in preparing and managing baseline programmes for building construction projects.
• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6 is essential.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Project, Microsoft Excel and project reporting tools.
• Proven experience in critical path analysis, progress monitoring, delay analysis and recovery planning.
• Knowledge of construction sequencing, procurement schedules, resource planning and subcontractor coordination.
• Experience preparing EOT submissions and supporting contractual claims is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical, organisational, communication and reporting skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet project deadlines.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in high-rise buildings, luxury residential developments, villas or large-scale building construction projects in Dubai.
• Familiarity with consultant and client reporting requirements and UAE construction contracts.
• Experience working with main contractors and coordinating multidisciplinary construction teams.
• Immediate availability or ability to join at short notice would be an advantage.

Key Competencies

• Strong planning and scheduling capabilities
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Proactive risk identification and mitigation
• Effective communication and coordination
• Time management and deadline management
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively