WSP in Africa

Senior Planner / Lead Planner

WSP in Africa  •  Abu Dhabi, AE (Onsite)  •  9 days ago
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Job Description

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Senior Planner to join our Transport & Infrastructure business unit in Abu Dhabi. This role will support the planning, scheduling, and coordination of a major infrastructure masterplan and land development project in the UAE.

The successful candidate will bring strong expertise in project planning within an engineering consultancy environment, with a thorough understanding of multidisciplinary design workflows and infrastructure delivery phases. You will play a key role in developing and managing project schedules, monitoring progress, and ensuring alignment across engineering disciplines, stakeholders, and authority requirements.

Project Planning & Scheduling

  • Develop and manage detailed project schedules using tools such as Primavera P6 and/or MS Project.
  • Prepare baseline schedules, design programmes, and progress updates aligned with project milestones and deliverables.
  • Identify critical paths, dependencies, and constraints across multidisciplinary design activities.
  • Monitor and update schedules regularly, highlighting risks, delays, and mitigation strategies.

Multidisciplinary Coordination

  • Coordinate closely with engineering disciplines to ensure integrated scheduling.
  • Align design deliverables and submission timelines across all stakeholders.
  • Support the identification and resolution of interface issues affecting project timelines.

Progress Monitoring & Reporting

  • Prepare progress reports, dashboards, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for internal teams and clients.
  • Track actual progress against planned schedules and provide variance analysis with corrective action recommendations.
  • Support project managers in forecasting, resource planning, and workload distribution.

Client, Stakeholder & Authority Coordination

  • Participate in project meetings, presenting schedule updates and planning insights.
  • Interface with clients, consultants, contractors, and relevant authorities to ensure alignment on timelines and deliverables.
  • Support planning and sequencing of design submissions in line with UAE authority approval processes (e.g., ADM, ADSSC/ADDCD, ADDC).

Project Controls & Risk Management

  • Assist in developing work breakdown structures (WBS) and project execution plans.
  • Identify planning-related risks and contribute to mitigation strategies.
  • Maintain planning documentation, ensuring accuracy and compliance with project standards.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Project Management, or a related discipline.
  • Minimum 15+ years of experience in project planning within engineering consultancy or major infrastructure environments.
  • Mandatory prior experience working with Tier 1 Abu Dhabi government entities (e.g., ADM, ADSSC/ADDCD, ADDC, AD Ports, or equivalent), with a strong understanding of their processes, standards, and approval workflows.
  • Proven track record delivering planning and scheduling for large-scale infrastructure and land development projects in Abu Dhabi.
  • Strong proficiency in Primavera P6, MS Project, and Microsoft Excel.
  • Advanced understanding of multidisciplinary design processes, interfaces, and delivery sequencing.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage complex programmes, critical paths, and high-level stakeholder coordination.
  • Excellent analytical, organisational, and communication skills, with the ability to present planning insights to senior stakeholders.
  • Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-profile project environment with multiple stakeholders.

What if we can have work-life balance? What if we can be rewarded in ways that support our individual needs? What if we can be accepted for who we are? Here at WSP – we can!

WSP recognizes that work is only one part of our lives and making time for the other things in our life is important – be that our families, our friends or ourselves. So, if working from home, working part-time or having flexible start and finish time will help with this let us know as part of your application.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

WSP in Africa

About WSP in Africa

We are one of the world’s leading professional services firms, uniting our engineering, advisory and science-based expertise to shape communities to advance humanity.

From local beginnings to a globe-spanning presence today, we operate in over 50 countries and employ approximately 73,000 professionals, known as Visioneers.​

Operating from South Africa, and with a team of over 650+ we deliver innovative projects across sectors: Transport & Infrastructure, Property & Buildings, Earth & Environment, Water, Power & Energy and Mining & Metals.​

Visit us at https://www.wsp.com/en-ZA/

#WeAreWSP

Industry
Consulting & Advisory
Company Size
501-1,000 employees
Headquarters
Johannesburg, ZA
Year Founded
1885
Website
wsp.com
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