Head – Project Planning & Control

About the Organization

Adani Group is a leading diversified Indian conglomerate with 10 publicly listed entities, focusing on logistics and utilities infrastructure with a pan-India presence. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, it is recognized as a market leader in infrastructure development with globally benchmarked operations and maintenance practices. Adani Airports Holding Limited is revolutionizing the aviation sector by transforming airports into innovative connectivity hubs featuring advanced technology and improved operational efficiencies, aiming for sustainable and community-focused growth.

Job Overview

The Head of Project Planning & Control will provide strategic leadership to the project planning and control functions, ensuring projects are planned, controlled, and executed timely. The role includes steering a comprehensive planning framework, managing integrated project schedules and costs, while aligning with organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead strategic planning and control processes for major projects to optimize resource use and manage risks.
• Provide governance and oversight for project management activities tied to organizational targets.
• Manage internal budget preparation and resource allocation to adhere to schedules and financial goals.
• Coordinate project phasing inputs with the master planning team.
• Create and maintain integrated project schedules using tools like Primavera and MS Project across engineering, procurement, and construction stages.
• Track critical paths and milestones, identify deviations, and enforce corrective measures to keep projects on track.
• Supervise change management to ensure smooth processing of changes minimizing schedule and cost impacts.
• Monitor project progress, establish standard operating procedures, address deviations, and collaborate with teams for timely delivery.
• Collaborate with the CPAG team to align projects with objectives, best practices, and compliance.
• Implement project portfolio management to prioritize and evaluate projects aligning with company goals.
• Promote collaboration among technical, design, contractor, and operations stakeholders.
• Engage external authorities such as the Ministry of Civil Aviation, AERA, and regulatory bodies to meet compliance and project goals.
• Oversee project financials ensuring CAPEX alignment and enact cost control mechanisms to prevent budget overruns.
• Define and monitor KPIs related to progress, quality, safety, and budget adherence; report timely project status and risks to senior management.
• Establish departmental SOPs for streamlined and efficient project planning and control processes.
• Develop risk management approaches to preemptively assess and mitigate potential project risks.
• Lead, mentor, and build a robust project planning team focused on multiple projects delivery with a culture of accountability and excellence.
• Integrate digital technologies such as BIM, AI-enabled project management tools, and Power BI to boost data accuracy and decision-making.

Key Stakeholders

Internal: CEOs of various divisions, Chief Project Officer, Project Heads, Planning & Design, Construction & Engineering, Techno-Commercial, Compliance & Legal, IT, and Finance teams.
External: Airport authorities, government and regulatory bodies, contractors, suppliers, DGCA, and external consultants.

Educational and Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or relevant discipline (B.E/B.Tech).
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent certification.
• Postgraduate qualification in Project Planning or Management (preferably from NICMAR or similar).

Experience Requirements

A minimum of 20 years of extensive experience in project planning and control, including at least 10 years in leadership roles managing large-scale construction projects.