Principal Planner @ Wood

Wood is a global leader in consulting, engineering and operations for the energy and materials sectors. With 33,000 people in around 50 countries, Wood supports clients across the full asset lifecycle, delivering safe, predictable outcomes while enabling resilient operations and a lower carbon future. Wood forms the Energy & Materials pillar of Sidara - a global partnership uniting leading multidisciplinary engineering, design, and project management companies. www.woodgroup.com

Diversity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer that recognises the value of a diverse workforce. All suitably qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective criteria and without regard to the following (which is a non-exhaustive list): race, colour, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other characteristics in accordance with the relevant governing laws.

Wood is recruiting for a Principal Planner to join its UAE business unit focusing on establishing project work breakdown structures (WBS), coding structures, and planning methodologies.

This role is a full-time on-site role in Dubai, UAE

This role is a full-time on-site role in Dubai, UAE with travel requirement.

#Wood #UAE #Dubai #Principal Planner

The role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Principal Planner to join our UAE Business Unit.

Our Clients and Projects

Designing the future. Transforming the world.

Wood has been awarded an Onshore Brownfield project to support an International Client operation for delivering FEED, Detailed Design, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning Services. This project focuses on enhancing degassing stations, optimizing flare systems, and integrating low-carbon solutions to support our client’s energy transition and emissions reduction goals.

What we can offer

• Meaningful and interesting projects Delivered to high profile clients and complex projects in Iraq
• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion; we are an organisation actively committed to diversity and inclusion across our business with employee networks committed to giving all employees a voice
• Competitive salary with regular salary reviews to ensure we are rewarding at the right level in line with the market
• Commitment to continued professional development; development plans that are tailored to your individual needs and interests
• Global connections: join experts around the world who are at the leading edge of our industry, shaping the standards of our profession
• Medical Insurance: Ensures inpatient and outpatient medical care is available should you require treatment.
• Group Life and Personal Accident Insurance: The company provides Life Assurance cover
• The Employee Share Plan: Gives you the opportunity to purchase Wood shares and receive a match from the company
• Long Service Award: Wood values the commitment and loyalty of our people. Celebrating Long Service provides an opportunity for the business to demonstrate their appreciation of the hard work, dedication and many years’ services of our employees at 5-year service milestones

Job Objectives

Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain Level 1 to Level 4 integrated project schedules.
• Establish project work breakdown structures (WBS), coding structures, and planning methodologies.
• Prepare baseline schedules, project execution schedules, and recovery schedules.
• Develop engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, commissioning, and start-up schedules.
• Ensure schedules are aligned with project scope, milestones, and contractual requirements.

Project Controls & Performance Management

• Monitor project progress against approved baselines.
• Analyze schedule performance using key planning metrics and KPIs.
• Perform schedule forecasting and critical path analysis.
• Identify schedule risks, delays, constraints, and opportunities.
• Support earned value management (EVM) and project performance reporting where applicable.
• Prepare schedule variance analyses and recommend corrective actions.

Reporting & Stakeholder Management

• Produce weekly and monthly planning and project controls reports.
• Present schedule status, critical path updates, and recovery plans to project leadership and clients.
• Support project reviews, management meetings, and project assurance activities.
• Interface with engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and subcontractor teams to obtain progress updates and verify performance.

Risk & Change Management

• Facilitate schedule risk assessments and scenario planning workshops.
• Evaluate the schedule impact of changes, variations, and claims.
• Support project risk management processes and mitigation planning.
• Participate in risk reviews and project contingency assessments.

Leadership & Mentoring

• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to Planners and Senior Planners.
• Promote planning best practices across projects.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives within the Project Controls function.
• Participate in bid and proposal activities, including schedule development and resource planning.

What makes you remarkable?

At Wood, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world’s most critical challenges.

Expected

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 12-15 years of planning and scheduling experience within the Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Energy, Infrastructure, or Industrial sectors.
• Demonstrated experience supporting FEED, Detailed Design, EPC, EPCC, Brownfield, and Greenfield projects.
• Strong understanding of project controls principles and project lifecycle management.

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6.
• Experience with Microsoft Project.
• Strong understanding of:
• Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Schedule Risk Analysis
• Resource Loading and Forecasting
• Progress Measurement Systems
• Change Management
• Project Controls Reporting