Project Controls Manager

About the Positions

We’re seeking Project Controls Managers to support large, complex heavy civil infrastructure programs, including highways, roads, bridges, transit (bus and rail), aviation (international airports), and water/wastewater projects delivered through both traditional and alternative delivery methods. These roles sit where cost, schedule, risk, and change come together, so the baseline, the forecast, and the performance a program reports all tell the same story. We are looking for people who can defend a number in front of a contractor and in front of program leadership on the same day.

This post is for future roles and not for a specific opportunity that is available right now. We accept applications and conduct interviews in advance of upcoming hiring needs. When a candidate is selected, their profile is activated in our talent pool for this specialty area. We notify our talent pool candidates first whenever we have a project need.

Responsibilities

may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Oversee the program’s integrated controls system, including the work breakdown and cost breakdown structures, coding standards, and baseline change procedures, so cost and schedule data reconcile to the same source.
• Review and validate contractor cost and schedule submittals, including baseline schedules, monthly updates, progress payments, and contingency drawdown requests, against contract requirements and verified field progress.
• Analyze earned value, cost and schedule performance indices, and productivity trends, and surface the variances that will move the forecast before they show up in a monthly report.
• Evaluate change proposals, delay claims, and time impact analyses for cost and schedule merit, and recommend a position to program leadership.
• Oversee the program forecast, cash flow projection, and contingency and reserve position, and test the assumptions behind each of them.
• Coordinate the risk register with the cost and schedule baselines so quantified exposure carries into the forecast and into contingency decisions.
• May lead the monthly controls cycle, presenting cost and schedule status, trends, and recommended corrective action to program leadership.
• Coordinate controls across adjacent contracts and program interfaces so impacts that cross package boundaries are captured before they land in a claim.
• Coordinate that work across roadway and structures packages, systems and trackwork contracts, airfield phasing, and water and utility relocation work.
• Coordinate across estimating, scheduling, engineering, contracts, document control, and finance so one set of numbers supports program decisions.
• Oversee the controls data in the program’s management information systems and verify that cost, schedule, and change records are complete, correctly coded, and traceable for funding agency reporting and external audit.
• May lead and mentor controls analysts and specialists, setting expectations for analysis quality, turnaround, and how findings get escalated.

Attributes

• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent multi-tasking and organizational skills.
• Collaborative mindset that fosters teamwork, trust, and positive relationships.
• Natural curiosity, problem-solving abilities, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, finance, or business, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of project controls experience for large (>$500M), complex, heavy-civil infrastructure projects.
• Experience integrating cost and schedule data on a common work breakdown and cost breakdown structure, including baseline management and change control.
• Experience applying earned value methods and critical path schedule analysis to evaluate program performance and forecast outcomes.
• Experience reviewing contractor cost and schedule submittals against contract requirements and verified progress.
• Experience leading or directing project controls staff on a capital program.
• Proficiency with industry standard scheduling and program cost controls software (e.g., Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Oracle Unifier, EcoSys, e-Builder, etc.).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite/Office 365 (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in construction management, engineering, finance, or business.
• Active professional certifications such as CCP, PSP, or EVP (AACE), and/or PMP (PMI).
• Experience leading the owner’s project controls function on a highway, bridge, transit and rail, aviation, or water and wastewater capital program exceeding $1B in construction value.
• Experience standing up a project controls function on a new program, including procedures, coding structures, reporting cycle, and staffing plan.
• Experience integrating a quantitative cost or schedule risk model with the program baselines to set and defend a contingency position.
• Experience supporting claims, delay analysis, or dispute resolution with time‑phased cost and schedule records on a program exceeding $1B in construction value.
• Experience configuring or administering the controls modules of a program management information system rather than only working inside one.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Power BI, Oracle Cloud Analytics, or other dashboard KPI reporting software.

Compensation Details

Expected Salary: $130k-$205k/year ($63-$99/hour). Luster provides the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might offer for this position based on the successful candidate’s level and years of experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, education, certifications, licenses, geographic location, etc. Luster reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range depending on circumstances not related to any status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

Just LOOK at the Benefits We Offer!

• Unlimited flexible time off
• Paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending accounts (healthcare and dependent or elder care)
• Long‑term disability insurance
• Short‑term disability insurance
• Life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment
• 401(k) plan with guaranteed employer contribution
• Formal career planning and development program
• $2,500 annually toward professional development
• Wellness program with monthly wellness stipend
• Company cell phone or cell phone plan reimbursement
• Free personalized meal planning and nutrition support with a registered dietitian
• Free personal financial planning services
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discounts
• Employee referral bonus

Specific plan details and coverage for each benefit noted above will be provided upon offer.

Luster is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to criminal history, race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. This employer participates in E-Verify. The employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee's I-9 to confirm work authorization.

All positions may be subject to a background check and drug test once a conditional offer of employment is made for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities, in accordance with all applicable local, state, and/or federal regulations.

This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

Luster does not accept unsolicited resumes from any third‑party. In the absence of a signed agreement, Luster will not consider or agree to payment of any kind. Any unsolicited resumes presented to Luster personnel, including those submitted to Luster hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Luster.