Project Controller

Job Description

Job Description: Project Controller

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Role Title: Project Controller

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Reports To: C&Q Project Manager / C&Q Principal, ACE Technologies

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Location: Indianapolis or Lebanon, IN (On site)

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Role Purpose

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The Project Controller provides integrated financial and schedule oversight for ACE’s Commissioning & Qualification (C&Q) and capital project portfolio. This role ensures accurate tracking of budgets, schedules, and progress metrics to support predictable, efficient project execution.

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Working closely with Project Managers and the C&Q Principal, the Project Controller maintains visibility into project performance, supports forecasting, and ensures timely reporting to leadership and clients. The role combines cost control, scheduling, and analytical insight to drive data-informed decisions across ACE’s active projects.

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Core Responsibilities

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Financial & Schedule Planning

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• Develop and maintain detailed project budgets and baseline schedules in collaboration with Project Managers and C&Q Leads.
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• Integrate financial and schedule data to track cost, resource, and milestone performance.
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• Maintain cost-to-complete and earned value reporting at both project and portfolio levels.
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• Identify schedule risks, budget variances, and resource bottlenecks, recommending corrective actions as needed.
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Progress & Performance Tracking

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• Monitor weekly and monthly project progress against plan, including schedule adherence and deliverable completion.
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• Validate schedule logic, dependencies, and forecast accuracy for ongoing work.
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• Track key project milestones, deliverable submissions, and critical path items.
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• Maintain accurate project dashboards to support leadership reviews and client updates.
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Reporting & Forecasting

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• Prepare comprehensive project control reports covering schedule, cost, and performance KPIs.
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• Support monthly project and portfolio reviews with up-to-date status summaries.
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• Develop forward-looking forecasts for manpower, schedule, and financial projections.
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• Provide early warning analysis for potential delays or overruns and support recovery planning.
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Change & Contract Management

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• Track contract value, scope adjustments, and approved changes throughout project lifecycle.
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• Support the preparation of proposals and change orders with data-driven inputs.
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• Ensure that billing and invoicing align with progress and schedule milestones.
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Continuous Improvement

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• Contribute to the development of ACE’s project controls standards and templates.
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• Help refine schedule management tools and reporting workflows across projects.
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• Capture and share lessons learned related to planning, forecasting, and reporting accuracy.
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Key Competencies

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• Strong analytical and scheduling acumen, with attention to detail and accuracy.
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• Advanced understanding of project planning principles and earned value management.
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• Effective communicator, able to translate complex data into actionable insights.
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• Organized and proactive; able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
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• Team-oriented and collaborative across technical, financial, and leadership functions.
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Qualifications

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• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, or related discipline (MBA or PMP preferred).
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• 5+ years of experience in project controls, cost/schedule engineering, or financial analysis within a technical or regulated industry (pharma/biotech preferred).
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• Proficiency in project management software (MS Project, Primavera P6, or Smartsheet) and analytics tools (Excel, Power BI).
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• Experience with schedule integration, earned value, and resource forecasting.
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• Familiarity with GMP environments and commissioning/qualification project lifecycles is advantageous.
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Position Context

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• The Project Controller acts as a bridge between project management, engineering, and finance, ensuring projects stay on schedule and within budget.
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• Provides real-time visibility to the C&Q Principal and leadership team on performance trends and emerging risks.
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• Plays a key role in strengthening ACE’s project governance framework as the organization scales.
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