Planning & Project Controls Associate Director

Movar Reply is the UK’s leading Digital Project Controls consultancy. Since 2013 we have helped clients across infrastructure, utilities, transport and the public sector plan with confidence, control with precision and recover programmes that have lost their way - combining deep project controls expertise with advanced data analytics to turn complex programme data into clear, decisive action.

Our work is recognised at the highest level. We won the Global Innovation Award in 2024, were finalists in 2023, and have been shortlisted again for 2026. In 2025 we were named the top Construction Consultancy in the UK Top 100 SME Businesses – recognition of a team that is small enough to care about every client and ambitious enough to lead the industry.

We are a community of experienced, caring project professionals with one shared purpose: to make project delivery better. We work shoulder to shoulder with our clients to deliver rapid, measurable and lasting improvements, and we draw on one of the strongest professional networks in project and programme controls. Our values – integrity, unwavering drive, empathy, community, adaptability and loyalty – shape how we work with clients and with each other.

As part of the Reply Group, we pair the agility and personality of a specialist consultancy with the reach, investment and career opportunities of a global network. This is a place where great people do their best work on programmes that matter.

Role description

We are looking for an Associate Director to lead planning and project controls engagements across complex programmes, and to help grow our Project Controls & PMO practice. This is a full-time hybrid role with an office base in London or Manchester.

At Associate Director level you will balance delivery and leadership. You will lead one or more client engagements simultaneously, shaping project controls frameworks, integrated schedules, cost and risk management, and governance and reporting that give senior stakeholders a clear view of performance. You will use data-driven insight to monitor progress, identify variances early and recommend corrective action, working closely with project directors, finance teams and client leadership.

You will hold key client relationships, anticipating client needs and developing new solutions and commercial opportunities for Movar Reply. You will contribute to proposals and bids, help shape our Digital PMO propositions, and play an active part in growing existing accounts and winning new work.

You will also be accountable for the performance and development of your team – assessing, prioritising and allocating work, coaching and mentoring consultants, supporting hiring, and creating the conditions for high-quality delivery. You will champion continuous improvement in our tools, methods and ways of working, and act as a role model for our values.

What you’ll bring

• Proven experience leading project planning and controls on large, multi-stakeholder programmes – scheduling, cost control, earned value, risk management and performance reporting.
• Experience in cost and financial control within projects or programmes, including budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex data sets, identify trends and translate insight into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Knowledge of governance, assurance and audit principles to ensure the integrity of project data and processes.
• Understanding of programme-level risk and the ability to integrate risk considerations into plans, forecasts and decision-making.
• Experience building and maintaining senior client relationships, with evidence of identifying or developing new opportunities.
• Experience leading or managing teams, with a collaborative style and a commitment to coaching, developing and knowledge sharing.
• Proficiency with project and portfolio management tools and data analytics or BI platforms.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, presenting complex information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Degree in engineering, finance, business, project management or a related discipline, and/or relevant professional certification (e.g. APM, PMI, ACostE).

What we offer

A genuine opportunity to shape a growing practice, work on some of the UK’s most significant programmes, and progress on a clear career path within the Reply network – with the support of a close-knit team that cares about doing the job well.