Planning Manager

Atkins Realis Group

Overview

AtkinsR alis is looking for a Planning Manager based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Planning Manager is responsible for the development, management, and analysis of integrated master schedules for large-scale building construction programs, with a particular emphasis on hospitality, mixed use, and complex vertical developments. This role requires strong regional experience within the Middle East, in-depth familiarity with Saudi Arabian regulatory, authority approval, and delivery frameworks, and the capability to manage complex schedule interfaces across multiple design packages, contractors, consultants, and government entities. The Planning Manager plays a pivotal role in ensuring project timelines are robust, realistic, and contractually compliant, and fully aligned with construction methodology, engineering design, procurement strategies, and commercial objectives throughout all project phases from early planning and design through construction, testing, commissioning, and final handover.

Your role

Master Planning & Program Scheduling

• Develop and maintain fully integrated master schedules for large-scale hospitality, mixed-use, and high-rise building programs.
• Incorporate design development, authority approvals, procurement, construction, fit-out, FF&E, testing, commissioning, and handover activities into cohesive schedules.
• Establish schedule logic, critical paths, milestones, and sequencing aligned with large, fast-track delivery models.

Multi-Package & Interface Management

• Manage planning interfaces across multiple work packages, including structure, façades, MEP, interiors, public realm, utilities, and enabling works.
• Coordinate and challenge contractor and consultant schedules to ensure alignment with the program master schedule.
• Integrate inputs from PMC, designers, contractors, specialist trades, and suppliers into a unified planning framework.

Saudi Regulatory & Authority Alignment

• Embed Saudi authority approvals, permitting, and regulatory milestones (e.g., municipal, civil defense, utilities, and relevant ministries) into project schedules.
• Ensure alignment with Saudi construction practices, approval cycles, and compliance requirements.
• Account for religious, cultural, and seasonal considerations impacting program delivery.

Schedule Analysis & Risk Management

• Perform critical path analysis, schedule health checks, what if scenarios, and delay impact assessments.
• Identify schedule risks, interface constraints, and potential delays, proposing mitigation and recovery strategies.
• Support schedule risk workshops and contribute to program-level risk and opportunity registers.

Reporting & Stakeholder Communications

• Prepare detailed planning reports, dashboards, and schedule narratives for executive leadership and key stakeholders.
• Present planning status, key risks, and recovery strategies to clients, development partners, and authorities.
• Ensure accurate progress measurement, forecasting, and alignment with cost and commercial reporting.

Governance, Standards & Capability Development

• Establish and maintain planning standards, procedures, and coding structures suitable for large-scale programs.
• Ensure planning deliverables comply with contractual, client, and governance requirements.
• Mentor and guide planners and junior planning staff, supporting capability development within the function.