Project Controls Manager or Senior Manager

Position Project Controls Manager or Senior Manager Location All Locations, TX, CO, OK, and FL, TX Fort Worth, Texas preferred; but will consider applicants in any Plummer office location (Hybrid) Job Id 663 Number of Openings 1 Reports To Vice President of Operations Company Overview At Plummer, we’re passionate about solving water and telecommunication challenges and serving our customers with excellence and integrity. As an engineering consulting firm, we take on a variety of interesting projects to help growing communities in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Florida. Position Summary We are seeking a Project Controls Manager/Senior Manager to establish and lead a new project support function that enhances the effectiveness of our project managers through improved planning, scheduling, and project financial management. As Plummer continues to grow, we are formalizing a project controls function to improve consistency, visibility, accountability, and scalability across our projects. This role will initially serve as a hands‑on leader responsible for defining processes, supporting project teams directly, and shaping the structure and responsibilities of a future project controls team. Over time, this individual will help build and lead a team that provides consistent, high‑quality project support across the firm. Key Responsibilities Serve as a subject matter expert for project setup, planning, and financial management within Unanet (our enterprise resource planning (ERP) system). Partner with Project Managers (PMs) to develop and maintain project plans, budgets, and schedules. Ensure data accuracy, consistency, and usability across projects. Identify opportunities to improve Unanet’s effectiveness to support efficient project delivery. Establish and promote firm‑wide standards for project setup, budgeting, reforecasting, and reporting within the system. Assist PMs with project budgeting, forecasting, and tracking performance. Support development and maintenance of project schedules and plans. Monitor project performance and proactively identify risks or variances. Provide input into reporting and dashboards used to monitor project health. Analyze project performance through variance and trend analysis (budget vs. actuals, forecast changes, schedule performance) to develop a deep understanding of project dynamics. Translate data into meaningful insights and proactively engage PMs with thoughtful, informed questions to identify risks, validate assumptions, and drive necessary budget and forecast adjustments. Act as a thought partner to PMs, ensuring forecasts reflect current realities rather than static plans. Define best practices for project setup, planning, and financial management. Develop templates, workflows, and guidance for PMs. Create scalable processes that improve consistency across projects. Partner with finance and leadership to align on project performance metrics. Assess long‑term needs for a project controls / project support team. Help define roles such as Project Coordinators or Project Analysts. Recruit, onboard, and mentor future team members. Establish clear roles and responsibilities between PMs and the support team. Change Management & Training Support PMs in adopting improved tools and processes. Provide training and guidance on Unanet and project management practices. Act as a bridge between technical teams, finance, and operations. Qualifications 8–12+ years of experience in project controls, project management, or project operations within an engineering, consulting, or professional services firm. Strong experience with Unanet or similar ERP/project management systems (Deltek Vantagepoint, Ajera, etc.). Deep understanding of: Project budgeting and forecasting. Revenue, cost tracking, and utilization. Project lifecycle in project‑focused consulting environments. Experience building and improving processes, not just executing them. Demonstrated ability to influence and gain alignment without direct authority (working with PMs). Strong analytical and organizational skills. Additional Preferred Qualifications 3–5+ years of experience managing or leading teams, with the ability to hire, develop, and mentor project controls or project support staff. Experience building or leading a project controls function. Familiarity with scheduling tools (MS Project, Primavera, etc.). Background in engineering or AEC industry. Leadership Style & Approach Demonstrates a hands‑on, roll‑up‑your‑sleeves mindset; comfortable balancing strategic process development with direct, day‑to‑day project support during the function’s early stages. Willingness to operate effectively in ambiguity and evolving processes, helping stabilize and improve systems, workflows, and data over time. Operates as a practical builder and trusted partner using thoughtful questions and data‑driven insight to support PMs, improve forecasting, and lead change with consistency. What Success Looks Like (First 12–24 Months) PMs spend less time on administrative/system tasks and more time on clients and delivery. Improved consistency and accuracy in project setup, budgets, and forecasts. Clear, standardized project performance reporting. Defined structure and roadmap for a scalable project support team. Successful hiring and onboarding of initial team members. Base Salary Range Manager: $120K – $160K Senior Manager: $150K – $190K Meaning and Rewards One of the best parts of working at Plummer is knowing that at the end of the day we’ve done something positive to improve communities. Plummer also strives to provide a rewarding and balanced work atmosphere with a generous benefits package which includes: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance 401K with Company Match HSA/FSA options PTO, Vacation Days, and Holidays Tuition and Professional Development Reimbursement Telecommuting and Flexible Work Schedules Wellness Program Company paid Short Term and Long Term Disability options Company paid life insurance with the option to purchase supplemental coverage Equal Opportunity Employer Headhunters and recruitment agencies may not submit resumes/CVs through this Web site or directly to managers. Plummer does not accept unsolicited headhunter and agency resumes. Plummer will not pay fees to any third‑party agency or company that does not have a signed agreement with Plummer. #J-18808-Ljbffr