Planner (Saudi National) at Parsons in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Job Description:

We are seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Saudi National Planner/Scheduler to support the successful delivery of large-scale rail and transport infrastructure projects. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing, monitoring, and maintaining project schedules, ensuring alignment with project objectives, and providing critical insights to support decision-making. This role requires expertise in planning methodologies, scheduling tools, and coordination with multidisciplinary teams to ensure timely and efficient project execution.

Candidates must have extensive experience working in the concept, design and procurement phases of the project lifecycle along with previous experience of working in a Project Management or Engineering Consultancy.

The Planner/Scheduler will play a key role in analyzing project data, identifying risks, and ensuring compliance with project governance and client requirements.

What You'll Be Doing:

Health, Safety, and Security:

• Champion a culture of health, safety, wellbeing, and security across the project, ensuring compliance with organizational policies, client requirements, and local regulations.
• Empower the team to implement safety initiatives, including the ‘Stop Work’ authority, to maintain a safe working environment.

Project Planning and Scheduling:

• Develop, update, and maintain detailed project schedules for all phases of the project lifecycle, including concept, design, procurement, and construction.
• Perform critical path analysis and identify schedule risks, delays, and opportunities to optimize project timelines.
• Coordinate with project teams to ensure schedules are realistic, achievable, and aligned with project objectives.
• Provides guidance, direction, and specialized assistance for the resolution of difficult and complex planning and scheduling problems.
• Interfaces with clients, attends regular meetings, and provides recommendations.
• Participates in the development of the master coding structure (WBS, CBS, etc.), interfacing with all relevant departments and functions.
• Supports/performs integration of scope, cost, and schedule within the WBS and ensures mapping is accurate on an ongoing basis.
• Undertakes analysis, evaluation, and development of forecasts for project resources and cost.
• Accumulates and accesses historical data, utilizing earned value principles, for use in maintaining a realistic basis for future planning and forecasting.
• Analyze, evaluate, forecast, and report schedule status against an established baseline.
• Assesses the impact(s) of pre/post-contract risks and/or changes and schedule slippages.
• Creates statistical reports for management on a recurring or one-of-a-kind basis.
• Performs other responsibilities associated with this position as may be appropriate.

Data Collection and Analysis:

• Gather, compile, and analyze data on economic, social, and physical factors affecting project timelines and resource allocation.
• Monitor project progress and performance, providing regular updates and reports to stakeholders and senior management.

Stakeholder Coordination:

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including contractors, consultants, and local authorities, to ensure alignment on project schedules and milestones.
• Facilitate workshops and meetings to build consensus on project timelines and resolve scheduling conflicts.

Software and Tools Utilization:

• Utilize advanced planning and scheduling software (e.g., Primavera P6, Microsoft Project) to create and manage project schedules.
• Ensure accurate and timely updates to project schedules, integrating inputs from multidisciplinary teams.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Prepare detailed reports, including schedule performance metrics, progress updates, and variance analyses.
• Maintain accurate records of schedule changes, delays, and justifications to ensure transparency and accountability.

Compliance and Best Practices:

• Ensure adherence to company policies, client requirements, and industry best practices in all planning and scheduling activities.
• Support the development and implementation of standard operating procedures for project planning and scheduling.

What Required Skills You'll Bring:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, or a related field.
• Higher National Diploma in a relevant field is also acceptable.

Certifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP), PRINCE2, AgilePM, or equivalent certifications are desirable but not mandatory.
• Certified Planner Certification (preferred).
• Certification in Primavera P6 or other scheduling tools is highly desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in project planning and scheduling, preferably within rail, transport, infrastructure or large-scale construction projects.
• Demonstrable experience in developing and managing schedules for multidisciplinary projects.
• Extensive experience working in the concept, design, and procurement phases of the project lifecycle.

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in planning and scheduling software, such as Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, and other relevant tools.
• Strong knowledge of planning methodologies, critical path analysis, and resource allocation techniques.

Soft Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution abilities.

What Desired Skills You'll Bring:

• Must be fluent in English, both written and spoken, with excellent technical writing skills as well as oral and written communication skills.
• Proactive and delivery-focused, with a strong ability to align stakeholders around a common vision.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing business needs, with the ability to prioritize workloads and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills, with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation.
• Experience working in Saudi Arabia and/or the Gulf region is highly preferred.

Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels no matter the race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

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