Planning Manager

Job Description

Planning Manager – GE Project (Hai Phong)

Department: Buildings & Infrastructure (B&I) / Industry Division (as applicable)
Project Location: Hai Phong, Vietnam
Reporting to: Project Director / Project Manager
Employment Type: Full-time

Position Summary

The Planning Manager is responsible for leading all project planning, scheduling, progress monitoring, reporting, and project controls activities for the GE Project in Hai Phong. The role ensures that project objectives are achieved through effective planning, resource coordination, schedule control, risk identification, and timely reporting to clients and project management.

The Planning Manager will work closely with the Project Director, Project Managers, Construction Managers, Contractors, and Client representatives to establish and maintain project schedules, monitor progress, identify delays, and implement recovery actions to support successful project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning & Scheduling

• Develop, maintain, and monitor the Project Master Schedule covering engineering, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover activities.
• Prepare baseline schedules, work breakdown structures (WBS), milestones, and project execution plans.
• Review and validate contractors' schedules, resource plans, and recovery programs.
• Ensure all project schedules are aligned with contractual requirements and project objectives.
• Establish project planning procedures, schedule coding structures, progress measurement systems, and reporting protocols.

Project Controls & Progress Monitoring

• Monitor project progress and compare actual performance against approved baselines.
• Analyze schedule performance and identify potential delays, risks, and critical path impacts.
• Develop mitigation and recovery plans in coordination with project stakeholders.
• Perform critical path analysis, trend analysis, what-if scenarios, and schedule forecasting.
• Monitor productivity, resource utilization, and project performance indicators.

Reporting & Management Support

• Prepare weekly and monthly project progress reports for clients and management.
• Develop project dashboards, KPI reports, S-curves, manpower histograms, and look-ahead schedules.
• Present planning updates during management meetings, project reviews, and client meetings.
• Provide schedule impact analysis for variations, claims, extension of time (EOT), and change orders.
• Support management decision-making through reliable project performance analysis and forecasting.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Coordinate planning activities with Project Managers, Construction Managers, QA/QC, HSE, Procurement, Engineering, and Contractors.
• Facilitate planning and progress review meetings.
• Ensure accurate communication of project status and schedule performance to all stakeholders.
• Support client-facing discussions related to project planning and schedule performance.

Risk Management

• Identify schedule risks and opportunities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support project risk assessments and develop risk mitigation strategies.
• Monitor key project milestones and proactively address potential schedule deviations.
• Evaluate the impact of project changes on schedule, resources, and overall project objectives.

Project Governance & Compliance

• Ensure planning and reporting activities comply with company procedures, project requirements, and contractual obligations.
• Maintain proper documentation and records related to project controls and planning activities.
• Promote best practices in planning, scheduling, and project controls.

Leadership & Team Support

• Provide leadership and technical guidance to planning engineers and project controls personnel.
• Mentor junior team members and support competency development.
• Foster a collaborative and performance-driven project culture.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in:
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Construction Management
• Project Management
• Industrial Engineering
• Or related disciplines

Experience

• Minimum 8-10 years of experience in project planning, scheduling, or project controls within industrial, power, energy, infrastructure, EPC, or construction projects.
• At least 3 years of experience in a Planning Manager, Senior Planning Engineer, or Project Controls role.
• Experience on large-scale industrial, manufacturing, power plant, renewable energy, or EPC projects is highly preferred.
• Experience working with international clients and multinational project teams is an advantage.

Technical Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of project planning and scheduling methodologies.
• Strong understanding of project lifecycle management.
• Proficiency in:
• Primavera P6 (mandatory)
• Microsoft Project
• Excel and reporting tools
• Power BI (preferred)
• Strong capability in:
• Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Schedule Risk Analysis
• Resource Planning
• Progress Measurement
• Forecasting and Reporting

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent planning and organizational capabilities.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to influence and coordinate multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong presentation and report-writing skills.
• Detail-oriented with excellent time management.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.

Language Requirements

• Fluent English communication, both written and spoken.
• Ability to prepare professional reports and conduct meetings with international clients and stakeholders.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and results-oriented.
• High level of accountability and ownership.
• Strong leadership and coordination abilities.
• Commercial awareness and business-minded approach.
• Team player with the ability to work in a multicultural environment.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Achievement of project milestones and schedule targets.
• Accuracy of project schedule forecasts.
• Timeliness and quality of project reporting.
• Effectiveness of delay mitigation and recovery plans.
• Stakeholder satisfaction regarding planning and controls support.
• Compliance with project controls procedures and contractual requirements.

Work Location: Hai Phong Project Site with occasional travel as required by project needs.