Planning Manager

About the role
The Planning Manager will be responsible for developing, monitoring, and controlling project schedules across all interior design-and-build projects. The role requires close coordination with design, procurement, project execution, vendors, and client stakeholders to ensure project milestones are achieved efficiently.
Key Responsibilities
1. Project Planning & Scheduling
Own and publish comprehensive baseline project schedules for all active design-and-build projects, covering design, procurement, execution, and handover phases.
Develop detailed, activity-level schedules that clearly identify critical path, dependencies, and float.
Build master schedules and rolling look-ahead plans that surface risks and constraints weeks in advance, enabling proactive recovery.
Maintain and update all schedules as actuals roll in, keeping them alive and credible as the project's source of truth.
2. Schedule Monitoring & Control
Track actual progress against planned schedules on a weekly basis; flag delays, acceleration, and deviations immediately.
Conduct detailed variance analysis, dig into the why behind every slip: is it design approval, procurement, execution, or resource constraints?
Produce weekly project status reports and monthly scheduling reviews for management; articulate impact on project delivery dates and cost implications.
Ensure zero misses on timelines, hold the line on milestones and escalate deviations that threaten delivery.
3. Risk & Recovery Management
Proactively identify schedule-related risks, design delays, vendor lead times, resource constraints, site conditions, and develop clear mitigation strategies.
Monitor inter-dependencies between projects and functions to flag conflicts and resource contention early.
4. Cross-Functional Coordination
Partner closely with Design, Procurement, Execution, and Site teams to understand realistic timelines, identify bottlenecks, and drive schedule alignment.
Facilitate monthly planning review meetings and weekly progress tracking calls; be the voice for timeline realism and early warning.
Work with vendors, subcontractors, and suppliers to understand delivery windows and manage external dependencies.
Support client communication on project timelines, change impact, and schedule recovery plans.
5. Planning Tools & Analytics
Maintain accurate project records, schedule baselines, change logs, ensuring data integrity and traceability.
Spot trends and anomalies: unusual delays, recurring bottlenecks, missed forecasts, and bring structured recommendations to close them.
Academic & Professional Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related field.
PMP, PRINCE2, or Project Planning certifications are a strong advantage.
Experience
6-10 years of hands-on experience in project planning, scheduling, and project controls, not just project support.
Demonstrated experience managing multiple complex projects simultaneously in design-and-build, commercial interiors or workplace fit-outs.
Prior exposure to investor-facing or stakeholder reporting roles is valued.
Technical Skills
Deep, confident command of MS Project.
Advanced proficiency in MS Excel, dashboards, pivot analysis, data visualization, and dynamic reporting.
Experience building project dashboards in Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent is a strong differentiator.
Familiarity with construction methodologies, interior fit-out processes, and project lifecycle management.

Work arrangement
No