Project Controls Manager - Real Estate Development

Real Estate Development Project Controls Manager

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our countryand you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that futureconsider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Grade: Professional 313 Pay Range: $123,000.00 - $190,700.00

Job Description

The Real Estate Development Project Controls Manager serves as the Owner's independent project controls lead for Project Talon, a large mixed-use project in downtown SLC and is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and reporting the project's integrated controls framework, including schedule management, risk management, forecasting, performance monitoring, and executive reporting.

The position is responsible for developing and maintaining the Owner's Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and providing independent oversight of project performance across all phases of the development process. The role distinguishes between the Owner-controlled Program and Development Schedules and the contractor-controlled Construction Schedule, ensuring alignment among all schedules while providing independent validation of project progress, risks, forecasts, and milestone achievement.

The Project Controls Manager acts as WGU's primary advisor on schedule, risk, and project performance matters and serves as an independent check on information provided by architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and other project stakeholders. The position works closely with Development, Design, Construction, Finance, Development Accounting, Procurement, and Executive Leadership to support informed decision-making and successful project delivery.

This position will be working in office out of our Salt Lake City, Utah headquarters. Relocation Assistance will be provided for those not currently located in a 50 mile radius of Salt Lake.

Key Responsibilities

Schedule Management and Integration

• Develop, maintain, and manage the Owner's Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) encompassing all major project activities from planning through occupancy.
• Maintain the Executive / Program Schedule used for executive reporting, governance, and strategic decision-making.
• Maintain the Development Schedule used to manage design, procurement, approvals, permitting, utilities, sustainability, funding, move management, activation, and other owner-led activities.
• Integrate major milestones and critical activities from the General Contractor's Construction Schedule into the Owner's Integrated Master Schedule.
• Monitor alignment between the Program Schedule, Development Schedule, and Construction Schedule and identify schedule conflicts, risks, and recovery opportunities.
• Independently evaluate contractor schedule assumptions, logic, sequencing, milestone achievement, and recovery plans.
• Coordinate schedule information across WGU, consultants, contractors, public agencies, utility providers, and other project stakeholders.
• Identify critical path activities and provide early warning of schedule risks that may impact project objectives.
• Develop schedule recovery and mitigation strategies when project milestones are at risk.

Project Controls and Performance Management

• Establish and maintain project controls systems, processes, standards, and reporting protocols.
• Develop and monitor key project performance indicators and milestone tracking systems.
• Track progress against approved project objectives, schedules, budgets, and key milestones.
• Analyze project performance trends and provide recommendations for corrective actions.
• Support integrated reporting across schedule, cost, risk, procurement, and project delivery functions.
• Develop and maintain project dashboards and performance reporting tools.

Risk Management

• Lead development and maintenance of the project risk register.
• Identify schedule, delivery, procurement, commercial, operational, and execution risks.
• Facilitate risk workshops and coordination sessions with project stakeholders.
• Evaluate risk impacts and support development of mitigation strategies.
• Monitor risk trends and escalation triggers throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support project-wide risk management efforts and governance processes.

Forecasting and Scenario Analysis

• Develop and maintain project forecasts related to schedule performance and major milestones.
• Perform schedule risk assessments and scenario analyses.
• Evaluate potential impacts of project changes, delays, approvals, procurement activities, and external factors.
• Support executive decision-making through forecasting and alternative scenario modeling.
• Provide independent assessments of project completion forecasts and milestone achievement.

Reporting and Governance

• Prepare executive-level project controls reports, dashboards, and performance analyses.
• Present schedule, risk, forecasting, and performance recommendations to project leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain project controls governance procedures and reporting standards.
• Maintain project controls documentation, records, and reporting protocols.
• Support audits, governance reviews, and project reporting requirements.
• Provide independent recommendations regarding schedule approvals, milestone commitments, recovery plans, and major project decisions.

Collaboration

• Partner closely with the Development Manager to evaluate project alternatives, development strategies, and business decisions.
• Partner with the Design Lead to align design deliverables and project milestones with overall program objectives.
• Partner with Construction leadership to monitor schedule performance, milestone achievement, sequencing, and execution risks.
• Partner with the Quantity Surveyor / Cost Manager to align schedule, cost, risk, and forecasting information and support integrated project controls reporting.
• Partner with the Finance Manager on forecasting, cash flow planning, executive reporting, and financial governance.
• Partner with Development Accounting to support reporting, forecasting, and project performance analysis.
• Coordinate with Procurement to support procurement planning, long-lead item tracking, contracting activities, and delivery milestones.

Schedule Governance

• Serve as the Owner's authority for the Executive / Program Schedule and Development Schedule.
• Validate and oversee, but do not own, the General Contractor's detailed Construction Schedule.
• Ensure alignment and integration between Owner-controlled and contractor-controlled schedules.
• Establish schedule governance procedures, reporting standards, and schedule control processes.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, Business, or related field.

8+ years of experience in project controls, program management, scheduling, construction management, development, or related disciplines.

Experience on large-scale commercial, institutional, mixed-use, higher education, corporate headquarters, or comparable complex mixed use developments.

Demonstrated expertise in project controls, scheduling, forecasting, risk management, performance reporting, and program delivery.

Experience developing and managing integrated master schedules and project controls systems.

Experience working with architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and owner organizations.

Proficiency with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Power BI, and other project controls and reporting platforms.

Advanced analytical, communication, facilitation, and problem-solving skills.

Success Measures

Accuracy and reliability of project forecasts and milestone reporting.

Effective integration and management of Program, Development, and Construction Schedules.

Early identification and mitigation of schedule and project delivery risks.

Timely and accurate executive reporting and performance analysis.

Successful coordination of project controls activities across all project stakeholders.

Achievement of key project milestones and program objectives.

Protection of WGU's interests through independent project controls oversight and governance.

Position & Application Details

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours