Manager, Project Controls

JOB SUMMARY/PURPOSE

The Project Controls Manager is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and managing project controls processes to ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with company standards. This role oversees project scheduling, cost control, forecasting, reporting, risk management, change order management, and performance measurement while providing leadership and strategic guidance to project teams and stakeholders.

The Project Controls Manager works closely with project managers, engineering, procurement, construction, finance, and executive leadership to provide accurate project performance data and support informed decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Project Planning & Scheduling

• Develop, maintain, and oversee integrated project schedules from project initiation through closeout.
• Establish schedule development standards, methodologies, and best practices.
• Monitor schedule performance and identify critical path activities and schedule risks.
• Evaluate schedule changes and recommend corrective actions to maintain project milestones.
• Ensure schedule updates accurately reflect project progress.

Cost Control

• Develop and maintain project budgets, cost reports, and cash flow forecasts.
• Monitor project expenditures against approved budgets.
• Analyze cost variances and identify trends affecting project performance.
• Support earned value management (EVM) and performance measurement processes.
• Prepare monthly cost forecasts and estimate-at-completion (EAC) reports.

Project Reporting

• Produce executive-level project performance reports and dashboards.
• Provide timely and accurate reporting on schedule, cost, productivity, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Present project controls data to project leadership and executive management.
• Ensure consistency and accuracy across all project reporting.

Risk & Change Management

• Facilitate project risk identification, analysis, and mitigation planning.
• Maintain project risk and opportunity registers.
• Manage change control processes, including evaluation of schedule and cost impacts.
• Support preparation and negotiation of change orders and claims documentation.

Project Controls Systems

• Implement and continuously improve project controls procedures and standards.
• Ensure effective use of project controls software and reporting tools.
• Maintain data integrity across scheduling, cost, and reporting systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting automation and operational efficiency.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop project controls personnel.
• Promote collaboration across project teams and functional departments.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with Project Managers to establish project baselines and performance objectives.
• Support engineering, procurement, construction, and finance teams with project controls expertise.
• Participate in project reviews, audits, and client meetings as required.
• Communicate project status, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership.

Minimum education required of the position

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Business, Finance, or a related field.
• Master's degree preferred.

Minimum experience required of the position

• 7 years of progressively responsible experience in project controls, project management, or cost engineering.
• Minimum of 3 years in a leadership role or demonstration of being able to manage large or complex projects.
• Experience supporting large capital projects, industrial facilities, infrastructure energy, or manufacturing projects preferred.

Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities preferred of the position

• Advanced knowledge of project scheduling methodologies.
• Strong understanding of cost management, forecasting, budgeting, and earned value management.
• Experience with project controls software such as Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Deltek Acumen, EcoSys, Power BI, Microsoft Excel, SAP, Oracle, or similar enterprise systems.
• Strong analytical and financial reporting skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with data warehousing tools such as SAP HANA or Google BigQuery
• Experience exploring and visualizing large data sets
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy
• Proactive approach to managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams)
• Experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI
• Organizational and time management skills

Any certificates, licenses, etc. required for the position

• None required
• Able to hear oral communication either in person or on equipment such as telephone or mobile phone.