Senior Planning Manager

About the Role

KBR, Inc. is seeking a Senior Planning Manager for a full-time position in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This role is integral to a major infrastructure program for a mixed-use development in Riyadh, aiming to establish a global landmark and a distinct, self-sustaining community. The Senior Planning Manager will report to the Project Controls Director and will be responsible for coordinating overall project planning, scheduling, and coordination with Project Management Consultants (PMCs).

Project Context

The project involves a significant infrastructure program for a mixed-use development designed to be a globally recognized landmark and an authentic destination in Riyadh. This community will function as a self-sustaining hub, featuring several iconic assets. KBR's involvement includes providing PMO services, enterprise-level governance, assurance, integration, and performance oversight across all projects and programs within this development.

Key Responsibilities

• Define, maintain, and implement the EPPM P6 EPS hierarchy and levels, ensuring compliance with the approved Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and proper assignment to relevant PMCs.
• Ensure alignment between planning tools, PMIS (SharePoint), Data Warehouse (DWH), and all existing cost and reporting platforms.
• Coordinate schedule data integration and validation across various systems.
• Support enhancements to planning and reporting tools in line with digital transformation objectives.
• Manage the EPPM P6 Environment, including maintaining P6 program EPS nodes, Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), and monthly archiving.
• Develop and maintain a weightage system for progress measurement rollup at project, district, and program levels, and maintain an updated P6/EPS change log.
• Produce and update the Master Procurement Schedule according to the procurement strategy.
• Develop and maintain program-level and portfolio-level Integrated Master Schedules (IMS).
• Verify that the entire program scope and site-wide packages are included within the IMS, ensuring communication upstream and downstream.
• Identify and manage inter-project interfaces, dependencies, and critical paths.
• Verify alignment between district-level and asset-level schedules.
• Support scenario analysis, sequencing options, and strategic planning inputs.
• Produce IMS Baseline Package documents, including program narrative, basis of schedule, weightage distribution, cost loading breakdown, resource loading and leveling, codes, key interfaces, logistic constraints, assumptions, and exclusions.
• Produce, maintain, and regularly update the IMS, including the Baseline BoD completion dates tracker, cash flow calculation and guidelines, resource calculation and guidelines, baseline Change Control Tracker, baseline records and version history, IMS Interface Tracker, program-level key issues, delay analysis, schedule alerts, and mitigation measures tracker.
• Ensure the IMS schedule covers all project scope from initiation to closeout, including activities for design approvals, statutory approvals, infrastructure works, procurement, tenant fit-out, and exhibitions.
• Produce and issue a monthly updated IMS pack reflecting the approved monthly progress cut-off date and reporting calendar. This includes consolidated portfolio/program-level IMS, Schedule Performance Analysis Report, Baseline and Change Impact Statement, Forecast and Mitigation Status Report, Interfaces and Dependency Log, updated KPIs report, updated IMS cash flow critical path(s) and near-critical path analysis, float consumption and trend analysis, schedule alert monitoring and reporting, updated resource profile Schedule Change Log, and a version-controlled IMS tracker with clear revision history.
• Report percent complete at district, program, and portfolio levels based on the agreed weightage system.
• Develop and maintain an overall, portfolio-level integrated ‘Development Master Schedule’ (DMS) that combines and aligns inputs, activities, and milestones from multiple stakeholders.
• Report on DMS activities including Development Briefs and Feasibility Business Plan approvals, land acquisition and release dates, marketing activities and launch events, tenant fit-outs and exhibitions activities, sales strategies and events, budgeting, and cost information.
• Provide governance and oversight of PMC L3 Baseline schedules development and control by reviewing, validating, and approving PMC-developed schedules for compliance with planning standards and requirements.
• Verify schedules are realistic, achievable, logic-driven, resource and cost loaded, and fully traceable.
• Review and approve baseline schedules, including interim and recovery baselines.
• Manage baseline change control, including impact assessment, approvals, and documentation.
• Participate in monthly Program Review meetings and lead the revised schedule baseline process.
• Review PMC L3 updated schedules and verify performance by defining standard progress measurement rules and methodologies.
• Review PMC progress updates for accuracy, consistency, and substantiation.
• Validate reported progress against approved schedules and supporting evidence.
• Perform schedule performance analysis, including critical path, float consumption, and trend analysis.
• Identify delays, risks, and emerging issues impacting schedule performance.
• Provide independent quality assurance of PMC schedules by monitoring compliance with planning and scheduling standards through periodic schedule quality reviews and health checks.
• Verify traceability, audit trails, and documentation for schedule decisions.
• Support internal and external audits related to schedule management.
• Support proactive forecast and recovery schedule management by reviewing and validating PMC forecasts and projected completion dates.
• Assess the credibility of mitigation and recovery plans for delayed projects.
• Support the development and review of recovery schedules and acceleration options.
• Evaluate and escalate schedule risks and opportunities in coordination with risk management functions.
• Perform detailed schedule analysis of Level 4 Contractor Programs to investigate issues related to progress and project status.
• Support long-term program maturity by capturing lessons learned and best practices in planning and scheduling, and supporting training, guidance, and mentoring for PMCs and internal teams.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in planning and scheduling roles.
• Proficiency in Primavera P6 is required, including defining, maintaining, and implementing its requirements and standards.
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex infrastructure programs and mixed-use developments.
• Strong understanding of project controls, governance, assurance, and integration.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, within a dynamic project environment focused on delivering a landmark development. The role involves close coordination with various Project Management Consultants and internal teams.