KEO is a creative enterprise, where innovation is a way of life. We are uniquely resourced with end-to-end services to take clients from inspiration – through conceptualization – to realization of planning, design or project delivery in the built and natural environments. For over 60 years we’ve led with vision, contributing to many of the world’s most ambitious projects, iconic places, remarkable experiences and prosperous communities.

As a highly integrated and agile AEP/PMCM firm, KEO is recognized by ENR as one of the Top 225 International Design Firms and one of the Top 20 International PM/CM Firms. We are also ranked by World Architecture as the 51st largest global architecture firm and the #1 Firm in the Middle East Region in their 2024 WA100 Survey.

We invite you to join us. Why?

When you join KEO, you’ll discover more than just a job – you’ll find a supportive environment that fosters your professional development through internal global mobility and career development and does so within a culture that supports company-wide health and well-being through on-demand counselling services and regular workplace clinics. You will be invited to celebrate community events such as sports days, fun-runs, in-house sports teams and beach clean ups. In addition to your competitive package and benefits you will have access to a suite of policies that include hybrid working arrangements, individual athletic sponsorship, study assistance sponsorship, employee referral rewards.

Our newest opportunity is for a talented Planning Manager to join our award-winning team based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The successful candidate will lead all planning, scheduling, progress monitoring, delay analysis, and reporting activities throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring alignment with project objectives, timelines, and stakeholder expectations.

We envisage responsibilities in this role to include;

• Leading the master planning and programme control function.

  
  

• Developing, maintaining, and controlling the baseline schedule in coordination with the client, consultants, and contractors.

  
  

• Reviewing and critically assessing contractor programmes, including sequencing, methodologies, procurement, resource loading, and recovery strategies.

  
  

• Ensuring full integration of design, procurement, approvals, construction, testing & commissioning, and handover activities.

  
  

• Driving critical path analysis, identifying programme risks, and implementing mitigation and recovery actions.

  
  

• Monitoring progress, updating schedules, and ensuring accurate reflection of site performance and productivity trends.

  
  

• Assessing programme impacts of variations, design changes, delays, and disruptions, and advising on mitigation strategies.

  
  

• Implementing Earned Value Management (EVM) to measure performance and forecast completion outcomes.

  
  

• Leading the preparation of dashboards, KPIs, S-curves, and executive-level reporting on project performance.

  
  

• Coordinating closely with commercial teams to align programme performance with cost and financial forecasting.

  
  

• Conducting regular progress reviews with contractors and consultants, ensuring programme compliance and accountability.

  
  

• Performing structured delay analysis (TIA, Window Analysis) and supporting EOT claims and dispute resolution.

  
  

• Maintaining robust programme records to support contractual and claims requirements.

  
  

• Identifying schedule risks, integrating them into risk registers, and developing mitigation and contingency plans.

  
  

• Providing early warnings on potential delays and recommending corrective actions to senior management.

  
  

• Delivering weekly and monthly progress reporting and executive presentations on programme status and forecasting.

  
  

• Leading stakeholder planning meetings to ensure alignment on progress, risks, and recovery actions.

  
  

• Integrating authority approvals and statutory requirements into the overall project programme.

  
  

• Ensuring full compliance with contractual obligations, PMC standards, and client requirements.

  
  

• Supporting audits, reviews, and governance processes related to planning and project controls.

  
  

To be successful in this dynamic opportunity, we envision that your career journey to date will include 15 years' work experience partnered with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management.

Experience required:

• Minimum 15 years of overall experience in project planning and controls.
• Minimum 5 years of recent experience in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• Proven experience working with PMC/Consultancy organizations in the same role.
• Strong background in retail, mall, building, EPC, and Design & Build projects.
• Experience managing planning activities for large-scale multi-package developments is essential.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong proficiency in project planning and scheduling software (Primavera P6 preferred).
• Strong understanding of: Project Controls, Cost Control, Earned Value Management (EVM), Delay Analysis & Claims, Risk Management
  Excellent reporting and presentation capabilities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced project environment.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills.

Professional Certifications (Advantageous):

• PMI-SP (PMI Scheduling Professional)
• AACE-PSP (Planning & Scheduling Professional)
• AACE-CCP (Certified Cost Professional)

KEO’s performance is founded upon integrity, results, innovation, safety and our people. We embrace diversity and recognise its’ contribution to client success wherever we work.

We are excited to hear how you can partner with our award-winning team and treat all expressions of interest confidentially.