Planning Lead

Job Description:-

Role Planning (Lead)

Job Location: South Mumbai

Department: Project Planning & Execution

Designation: Manager / Senior Manager

Key Purpose of the Role

The Manager / Senior Manager – Planning & Site Execution will be responsible for end-to-end project planning, scheduling, monitoring, and coordination of high-rise construction projects, particularly ultra-luxury residential and commercial tower developments.

The role requires strong hands-on experience in both project planning and on-site execution, ensuring effective resource planning, timely procurement and deployment of materials and equipment, adherence to project schedules, cost control, quality standards, and safety requirements.

The incumbent will work closely with project teams, design consultants, procurement, contracts, and site execution teams to monitor progress against approved schedules, identify potential delays, implement corrective actions, and ensure the timely completion of project milestones.

2. Key Accountabilities

Develop, review, and monitor comprehensive project schedules, including master schedules, detailed construction schedules, and short-term and long-term execution plans.

Ensure effective integration of planning and site execution activities to achieve project timelines and deliverables.

Monitor project progress against baseline schedules and identify deviations, delays, and critical path activities.

Coordinate with site teams to ensure timely mobilization and optimal utilization of manpower, materials, machinery, and other resources.

Prepare and monitor material requirement plans, including cement, reinforcement steel, concrete, structural materials, finishing materials, and other high-value items.

Ensure timely availability of materials, plant, and equipment at the project site in accordance with approved specifications and construction requirements.

Monitor project costs, prepare and review control estimates, and identify opportunities for cost optimization.

Establish project milestones, track achievement, and initiate recovery plans wherever required.

Ensure compliance with approved drawings, technical specifications, quality standards, statutory requirements, and safety protocols.

Prepare regular project progress reports, dashboards, and management presentations for senior leadership.

3. Strategic Responsibilities

Develop short-term, medium-term, and long-term construction plans aligned with the overall project delivery strategy.

Establish project planning systems, reporting mechanisms, and performance benchmarks to improve execution efficiency.

Optimize resource deployment and construction sequencing to minimize delays, idle time, wastage, and cost overruns.

Identify potential project risks, bottlenecks, and critical activities and develop mitigation strategies.

Support project leadership in decision-making through accurate progress analysis, forecasts, and performance reports.

Ensure alignment between design, procurement, planning, and execution teams to facilitate smooth project delivery.

4. Operational Responsibilities

A. Project Planning & Scheduling

Prepare and update detailed project schedules using Microsoft Project (MSP), covering all major construction activities and project milestones.

Develop activity-wise schedules for structural works, MEP services, faade, waterproofing, internal finishing, and other construction activities.

Prepare baseline schedules, look-ahead plans, weekly and monthly work programs, and recovery schedules.

Identify critical path activities, dependencies, float, and potential schedule constraints.

Establish realistic and achievable time forecasts in consultation with site execution teams.

Monitor daily, weekly, and monthly progress against planned targets and analyze variances.

Coordinate with site teams to ensure that work fronts are available and construction activities are properly sequenced.

Prepare revised schedules and recommend corrective measures to achieve project completion targets.

B. Site Execution & Progress Monitoring

Possess hands-on experience in site execution and a practical understanding of construction methodologies for high-rise tower projects.

Coordinate with project managers, construction managers, site engineers, and subcontractors to ensure execution as per approved schedules.

Monitor progress of RCC structure, formwork, reinforcement, concreting, blockwork, plastering, MEP installations, faade, and finishing activities.

Review site productivity, manpower deployment, equipment utilization, and subcontractor performance.

Conduct regular site visits to validate actual progress against reported progress and identify execution constraints.

Identify delays arising from drawings, approvals, material shortages, manpower constraints, interface issues, and other site-related challenges.

Develop and implement action plans to resolve bottlenecks and improve site productivity.

Ensure coordination between civil, structural, MEP, faade, and interior finishing activities.

C. High-Rise & Ultra-Luxury Project Planning

Plan and monitor construction activities for high-rise residential or commercial tower projects, preferably ultra-luxury developments.

Demonstrate an understanding of high-rise construction sequencing, floor-cycle planning, vertical transportation, logistics, and tower-wise resource allocation.

Coordinate planning for RCC structural cycles, high-rise concrete pumping, formwork systems, faade installation, MEP coordination, and premium finishing works.

Monitor floor-wise and tower-wise progress to ensure adherence to construction cycle targets.

Coordinate long-lead materials, specialist subcontractors, imported or customized finishes, and high-specification building components.

Plan and monitor interface activities involving civil works, MEP services, faade, elevators, building management systems, and luxury interior finishes.

Ensure construction sequencing and finishing schedules are aligned with quality expectations and the premium specifications of ultra-luxury projects.

D. Project Monitoring & Controls

Compare planned progress with actual physical progress and identify schedule variances.

Prepare weekly and monthly progress reports, S-curves, milestone trackers, productivity reports, and management dashboards.

Track key performance indicators, including planned versus actual progress, manpower productivity, resource utilization, and schedule variance.

Monitor achievement of key intermediate milestones and highlight critical delays to project leadership.

Prepare revised forecasts, catch-up plans, and mitigation strategies for delayed activities.

Review and monitor control estimates, quantity forecasts, and project cost implications arising from changes in scope or execution methodology.

Maintain accurate planning records, progress documentation, and project performance data.

E. Resource, Material & Equipment Planning

Prepare resource-loaded schedules and manpower deployment plans in coordination with execution teams.

Forecast monthly, quarterly, and annual material requirements, including cement, steel, concrete, and other major construction materials.

Coordinate with procurement, contracts, and stores teams for timely material availability.

Monitor plant and machinery requirements, mobilization schedules, deployment, and utilization.

Ensure timely reconciliation of materials and equipment and investigate discrepancies.

Identify resource constraints in advance and recommend suitable corrective actions.

F. Design Coordination & Technical Review

Coordinate with design, architectural, structural, and MEP teams to ensure timely availability of approved construction drawings.

Facilitate technical discussions with consultants, subcontractors, site engineers, and project management teams.

Track drawing submissions, approvals, revisions, and their impact on project schedules.

Identify design-related constraints and resolve coordination issues that may affect construction progress.

Review construction sequences and technical interfaces to ensure practical and efficient site execution.

G. Quality, Safety & Compliance

Ensure planning activities incorporate quality control requirements, inspection points, and statutory obligations.

Coordinate with quality and safety teams to integrate inspections, testing, and safety requirements into the project schedule.

Monitor adherence to approved construction procedures, specifications, and quality standards.

Support internal audits and maintain project documentation in accordance with ISO procedures and company policies.

Ensure that project progress reporting and records are accurate, traceable, and regularly updated.

H. Reporting & Stakeholder Coordination

Provide regular updates on project progress, schedule deviations, resource constraints, and cost implications to the Project Head, Regional Head, and Corporate Office.

Prepare clear and concise presentations for project review meetings and senior management discussions.

Conduct periodic planning and progress review meetings with site execution, procurement, contracts, design, and other relevant teams.

Maintain effective coordination with consultants, vendors, contractors, and specialist agencies.

Escalate critical issues promptly and recommend practical solutions to ensure project objectives are achieved.

5. Required Technical Skills & Software Proficiency

Microsoft Project (MSP): Strong working knowledge of project scheduling, baseline management, critical path analysis, dependencies, progress updates, and recovery schedules.

Microsoft Excel: Advanced working knowledge of progress tracking, planning MIS, pivot tables, formulas, look-ahead plans, resource planning, and data analysis.

Microsoft PowerPoint: Strong presentation skills for preparing management dashboards, project review presentations, progress reports, and schedule analysis.

AutoCAD: Ability to read, interpret, and review architectural, structural, and MEP drawings; identify drawing interfaces and support construction planning.

Project Controls: Working knowledge of S-curves, milestone tracking, productivity analysis, variance analysis, and planned-versus-actual reporting.

Construction Planning: Strong understanding of construction methodologies, sequencing, resource planning, and execution constraints in high-rise projects.

6. Education & Experience Requirements

B.E. / B.Tech in Civil Engineering or Diploma in Civil Engineering.

Approximately 5–10 years of relevant experience in construction planning and site execution.

Strong hands-on experience in both project planning and on-site construction execution is essential.

Experience in high-rise residential or commercial tower projects is strongly preferred.

Experience in ultra-luxury residential projects, premium developments, or large-scale real estate projects will be an added advantage.

Demonstrated experience in preparing and monitoring detailed construction schedules using Microsoft Project.

Practical exposure to project monitoring, progress reporting, resource planning, material forecasting, and schedule recovery.

Experience coordinating with site execution teams, consultants, subcontractors, procurement, and design teams.

7. Key Competencies

Strong planning, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Practical understanding of construction methodologies and site execution challenges.

Ability to interpret drawings and translate project requirements into achievable construction schedules.

Excellent coordination, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Strong presentation and reporting capabilities.

Ability to identify risks, anticipate delays, and implement corrective measures proactively.

High attention to detail, ownership, and accountability.

Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple activities in a fast-paced project environment.

Strong focus on project timelines, cost efficiency, quality, safety, and resource optimization.

8. Internal & External Interactions

Internal Stakeholders:

Project Head / Project Manager

Site Execution and Construction Teams

Design and Engineering Teams

Procurement and Contracts

Stores and Logistics

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Safety Department

Commercial and Cost Control Teams

Regional Management and Corporate Office

External Stakeholders:

Architects and Design Consultants

Structural and MEP Consultants

Project Management Consultants

Main Contractors and Subcontractors

Material Suppliers and Equipment Vendors

Specialist Agencies and Faade Contractors

9. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Achievement of project milestones as per approved schedules.

Accuracy and reliability of project schedules and completion forecasts.

Reduction in schedule slippages and effective implementation of recovery plans.

Accuracy of material, manpower, and equipment forecasts.

Timely identification and resolution of execution bottlenecks.

Effective coordination between planning, design, procurement, and site execution teams.

Improvement in resource utilization and construction productivity.

Timeliness and accuracy of project progress reports and management presentations.

Compliance with quality, safety, statutory, and documentation requirements.