Projects & Planning Manager

The Projects & Planning Manager plays a critical role in overseeing the complete planning and execution of complex, large-scale projects within a manufacturing environment. This position is responsible for transforming engineering designs, Bills of Quantities (BOQs), and stakeholder requirements into a cohesive execution plan. The role ensures that capital projects—from engineering and procurement through civil, MEP, and commissioning phases—are managed efficiently and effectively. The incumbent supports the PMO Office by developing reports, dashboards, and recovery plans to guarantee projects are delivered on schedule, within budget, and according to design specifications.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning & Execution: Lead the creation of detailed Work Execution Plans (WEPs) that outline strategies, milestones, and control measures for project delivery. Develop and implement the Project Management Plan throughout the project lifecycle. Maintain Integrated Master Schedules (Level 2/L3) using Primavera P6 or MS Project, ensuring logical linkage of inter-departmental dependencies. Establish project baselines and manage schedule configuration control with data-backed approvals. Translate technical drawings, specifications, and BOQs into actionable site work packages. Prepare weekly and monthly Look-Ahead Plans to guide site teams toward short-term objectives. Identify slipping tasks and critical path deviations early, and spearhead the development of Mitigation and Recovery Plans.

PMO Support: Monitoring & Reporting: Provide specialized support to the PMO by establishing standardized frameworks for project monitoring and performance tracking. Develop and automate executive reports, including S-Curves, Plan vs. Actual progress, and portfolio-level dashboards. Collect, validate, and analyze progress data from multidisciplinary teams to ensure a “Single Version of Truth” in reporting. Monitor engineering deliverables, procurement pipelines, and site activities to maintain alignment with the master schedule. Escalate critical risks, schedule variances, and interface bottlenecks to senior management with recommended actions.

Contractor & Construction Management: Serve as the primary coordinator for contractor activities, ensuring adherence to project timelines and quality standards. Review and approve contractor work programs, resource histograms, and mobilization plans. Conduct regular site monitoring to verify physical progress against reports and measurable quantities. Lead progress review meetings and enforce rigorous follow-up on Minutes of Meeting (MoM) action items. Support construction teams in resolving site-level challenges such as permit issues, work-front access, and inter-disciplinary clashes.

Resource Planning & Management: Develop the Resource Management Plan to ensure timely mobilization of manpower, materials, tools, and equipment according to execution sequences. Monitor planned versus actual resource deployment to avoid delays caused by shortages or idle equipment. Analyze productivity metrics and resource histograms to optimize workforce allocation across multiple work fronts. Coordinate with Procurement to prioritize material deliveries based on current Construction Need Dates.

Stakeholder Coordination & Interface Management: Facilitate cross-functional coordination among Engineering, Procurement, Civil, MEP, and Operations teams to ensure smooth project handovers. Identify and manage interface points to prevent bottlenecks in site execution. Maintain interface registers and responsibility matrices to clarify task ownership across departments. Act as the central point of contact for project information, ensuring all stakeholders work from the latest approved drawings and schedules.

Cost Control & Delay Analysis: Implement cost-control measures to monitor earned value against the budget. Develop and report key performance indicators such as Cost Performance Index (CPI) and Schedule Performance Index (SPI). Conduct professional delay analysis to identify root causes and quantify impacts for Extension of Time (EOT) or claims management. Evaluate cost and schedule effects of variation orders and design changes.

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or Industrial Engineering.

Experience: 7 to 10 years of relevant experience in Project Management, Contractor Management, and Project Execution within large-scale manufacturing environments.

Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, AutoCAD, and MS Office (especially Excel). Strong ability to interpret and translate complex drawings, engineering designs, and BOQs into field execution plans.

Certification: PMP certification is highly preferred.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

Hands-on experience in Construction Management is a significant advantage. The ideal candidate is execution-oriented, proactive, and able to meet stringent deadlines. Excellent conflict resolution, team-building, and communication skills are essential. Strong administrative capabilities in managing Minutes of Meeting, document control, and follow-up discipline are required. Expertise in developing high-level management reports and analytical dashboards is also expected.