Project Controller (Greater Indianapolis)

Job Description: Project Controller

Role Title: Project Controller

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

Location: Indianapolis or Lebanon, IN (On site)

Role Purpose

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.

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.

Core Responsibilities

Financial & Schedule Planning

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

Progress & Performance Tracking

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

Reporting & Forecasting

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

Change & Contract Management

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

Continuous Improvement

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

Key Competencies

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

Qualifications

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

Position Context

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