Head of Planning

Head of Planning

Job Purpose

Assure the most effective method of performance for project controls, specifically project planning and scheduling management. This includes schedule development, schedule analysis (risk, critical/sub-critical activities, schedule variance), and timely execution of key activities in compliance with standardized processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement management and technical direction for all facets of the planning and scheduling function, including schedule risk, analysis, reporting, resources, productivity, impact assessment, and schedule management by establishing project control planning and schedule procedures, guidelines, and flow charts to support management decision-making.
• Manage the project planning and scheduling team, coordinate input from project management functions such as engineering, procurement, construction, completion/commissioning, and interface. Supervise all planning and scheduling functions, including schedule development, control, analysis, and recommendations for improvement.
• Ensure effective project planning and scheduling measures are executed by contractors and subcontractors.
• Manage the preparation of project controls deliverables, especially planning and scheduling deliverables, in line with project management systems.
• Ensure effective implementation and updating of project planning and scheduling procedures.
• Coordinate the collection, consolidation, analysis, and reporting of control trend and progress measurement information to assess overall project status and identify potential problem areas. Conduct schedule delay and impact analysis, review schedule recovery plans, and evaluate additional resources required for such plans.
• Implement project changes, ensure schedule impacts are assessed and incorporated, and ensure approved changes are reflected in overall schedule stewardship and reporting.
• Evaluate contractor performance and progress in project controls (planning and scheduling), assess discrepancies, and seek clarifications or corrections as needed. Ensure appropriate planning systems are fully integrated and suitable for the project.
• Provide an interface between management and contractors with respect to project controls, especially planning, scheduling, and reporting.
• Ensure all activities comply with safety, health, environment, and quality policies, regulations, and standards.
• Contribute to the development of local national employees.
• Ensure all activities comply with anti-trust and competition laws and firewall policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Commercial, Marketing, Sciences, Engineering, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, Law, Communication, Technologies, Mathematics, or Statistics.
• Minimum 10 years' experience in business planning, including 6 years in the Oil & Gas industry, and at least 2 years in a supervisory or oversight role of contractor/subcontractor/service/vendor personnel.
• Experience on major projects, from an Owner or Contractor perspective, managing EPC Lump Sum Contracts, and working with multi-cultural teams with large local subcontractors.
• Subject matter expertise in project planning and scheduling; proficiency with scheduling tools such as Primavera and schedule risk analysis tools (e.g., Acumen, Primavera Risk Analysis).
• Ability to develop and maintain project schedules (L1-L4) based on acceptable schedule basis/assumptions, resource loading, logic, sequence, and relationship.
• Capable of performing various schedule analyses based on latest project data.
• Ability to undertake complex tasks and act as a source of guidance for staff and internal customers.
• Initiative to deliver timely schedule analyses based on project requirements.
• Ability to set situations/issues in the context of the entire team and appreciate wider relationships with other people and organizations.
• Ability to work independently within established procedures, plans, and budgets, and contribute to their development.
• Autonomy over scheduling and planning of own work; ability to organize efforts of work group for overall efficiency.
• Excellent written and oral English skills.
• Strong negotiating and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Good computer literacy skills: Primavera, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, databases, and similar tools.