Project Controls Manager

Senior Project Controls Manager - Pharma

Job Locations US-IL-Bradley | US-IL-Chicago Requisition ID 2026-12545 Category Project Management

Overview

Do you consider yourself to be a highly technical, strong communicator with the desire to work in a team environment on complex projects? Gilbane is seeking a Sr. Project Controls Manager that is capable of fulfilling the cost and schedule requirements of multiple large projects or programs, including day-to-day interface with project management, client and contractor personnel, while overseeing and developing junior to mid-level project controls staff. This role will sit primarily on the job site. We are offering subsistence or relocation for this project.

Who are we?

As a Top-10 ENR Contractor, Gilbane is a family-owned business with 45 offices that has been shaping communities since 1870. Consistently recognized as one of the most reputable construction management firms in the country, Gilbane is committed to delivering projects safely and on-time. You will have the opportunity to build schools, labs, hospitals, corporate offices, sports arenas and more!

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Who are you?

You are a coach/leader who leads with an inclusive and empathetic mindset. You provide feedback and guidance to help others excel in their current or future roles. You determine priorities, delegate work, and effectively communicate progress. You establish measures to assess the impact, quality, and timeliness of results while praising successes and sharing lessons learned. You build high performing teams by attracting, engaging, developing, and retaining talented individuals through motivation and discipline to maximize impact on the organization and the individual.

You leverage business insights by understanding industry trends, local market/economic conditions, and Gilbane's business model to make critical decisions and create competitive advantage. You deploy a strategic mindset when considering solutions to long-term opportunities and risks that may develop in the future.

Your core values match Gilbane's: Integrity, Caring, Teamwork, Toughmindedness, Dedication to Excellence, Discipline, Loyalty, and Entrepreneurship.

What's in it for you?

Gilbane offers employees multi-dimensional training opportunities through a number of resources. While managing your responsibilities to projects, you will be able to enroll in trainings through our award-winning Gilbane University to build leadership and technical skills. In addition, you would work with an experienced team which provides you with the opportunity to learn new industry skills every day. You will protect and promote the interests of both Gilbane and the client in all matters as well as demonstrating the personal characteristics of a developing leader.

Responsibilities

Contribute to the interpretation of the proposal or project contract. Develop and execute the strategy and plan for project control activities that support the overall proposal strategy or project requirements. Identify risk areas and recommend mitigation plans.
• Establish and effectively leverage cross-discipline relationships within the business unit to facilitate project controls.
• Provide leadership in interpreting, integrating, and communicating emerging business/industry trends and the implications of these trends for cost control, planning/scheduling, and estimating.
• Provide project control leadership on strategic initiatives within a business unit and project controls leadership on cross-business unit initiatives.
• Create, implement, and execute proper controls to proactively support, monitor, and communicate budget, actual status, and forecast costs, labor hours and quantities for business unit and cross-business unit projects.
• Develop, publish, and promote the use of procedures.
• Establish and maintain a work process that identifies and quantifies project cost trends. Take direct action to either include trends in the forecast or develop a mitigation program with the project or management team.
• Provide consistency between cost control, and scheduling
• Supervise the development and issuance of timely cost control reports. Prepare and issue cost control analysis narratives including recommendations for corrective actions that are used by business unit management and project teams to manage the work.
• Define and advise the project team to take specific actions to effectively manage cash flow.
• Supervise the development, approval, and issuance of client and internal status reports that effectively communicate cost status and trends.
• Motivate the project team to define corrective actions for implementation.
• Establish and effectively leverage cross-discipline relationships within the business unit to facilitate project controls.
• Establish and maintain a project program that identifies and quantifies project labor hour forecasts.
• Prepare and issue schedule analysis narratives including recommendations for corrective actions that are used by business unit management and project teams to manage the work.
• Work with contract administration to ensure projects comply with federal requirements and audits regarding TIA's and REA development and negotiations.
• Responsible for the career development and coaching of team members.
• Fosters a positive and inclusive work environment to motivate and engage team members.
• Interprets and translates the organizational strategy, ensuring team understanding of their role in accomplishing strategic goals.
• Collaborates closely with business development to ensure seamless integration with sales strategies including performance metrics on your assigned projects, pursuits, and client deliverables. Actively participates in opportunities to strengthen client, partner, and industry relationships that position Gilbane as the "Builder of Choice".

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION

• BS or AA in Accounting, Finance, Business, Engineering, Architecture or related field
• 15-20 years of progressive experience with increasing responsibility
• Life sciences construction experience preferred but not required
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Develop, implement and train on standard and project specific cost control procedures in accordance with the Division and/or Business Unit procedures
• Identify and communicate key cost issues to project/construction and operations management in a timely manner to allow corrective action to be implemented
• Tutor and guide project controls staff in project controls fundamentals, procedures and guidelines
• Deploy and modify project control systems as appropriate to support project specific execution requirements
• Implement / effectively use / train on company-standard and industry- standard project controls tools and systems to include Primavera Products, MS Project, Deltek Acumen Fuse, etc.

Salary to be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, and/or experience of the applicant, as well as the internal equity and alignment with the team.

For Chicago, IL, this ranges from $160,000 - $205,000 plus benefits and retirement program.

Gilbane offers an excellent total compensation package which includes competitive health and welfare benefits and a generous profit-sharing/401k plan. We invest in our employees' education and have built Gilbane University into a top training organization in the construction industry. Qualified applicants who are offered a position must pass a pre-employment substance abuse test.

Gilbane is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Note to Recruiters, Placement Agencies, and Similar Organizations : Gilbane does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Please do not forward unsolicited agency resumes to our jobs alias, website, or to any Gilbane employee. Gilbane will not pay fees to any third party agency or firm and will not be responsible for any agency fees associated with unsolicited resumes. Unsolicited resumes received will be considered property of Gilbane and will be processed accordingly.

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