Project Control Manager

The Project Controls Manager is responsible for the leadership, management, and continuous improvement of project controls functions across multiple EPC projects. This position provides strategic oversight of cost management, forecasting, earned value management, progress measurement, productivity analysis, quantity tracking, reporting, change management, and project controls governance.

The Project Controls Manager leads a team of Project Controls Leads, Analysts, and Specialists, ensuring consistency in project controls processes, reporting standards, forecasting methodologies, and performance measurement practices throughout the project portfolio.

This role serves as the primary advisor to Project Managers, Business Unit Leadership, and the EPC Controls Director regarding project performance, risk exposure, resource planning, forecasting accuracy, and organizational project controls maturity. The Project Controls Manager drives accountability, standardization, and data-driven decision-making to improve project outcomes and financial performance.

Core Competencies

Leadership & Team Development

• Leads, mentors, and develops project controls personnel across multiple projects.
• Creates a high-performance culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.

Strategic Thinking

• Evaluates portfolio-level performance trends and develops proactive solutions.

Analytical Skills

• Interprets complex project data and converts information into business intelligence.

Executive Communication

• Communicates project performance and business implications to senior leadership.

Financial Acumen

• Strong understanding of project finance, forecasting, budgeting, and profitability.

Organizational Leadership

• Establishes structure, priorities, and resources to support multiple simultaneous projects.

Continuous Improvement

• Drives process standardization, automation, and reporting efficiency initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Project Controls Management & Governance

• Establish and maintain project controls policies, procedures, standards, and best practices.
• Ensure consistent application of project controls methodologies across all assigned projects.
• Develop project controls execution plans and implementation strategies.
• Conduct project controls reviews, audits, and compliance assessments.
• Manage project controls staffing, workload balancing, and resource allocation.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives across project controls functions.

Portfolio Cost Management

• Oversee cost control performance across the project portfolio.
• Review project budgets, control accounts, forecasts, and financial performance metrics.
• Monitor cost trends and identify emerging financial risks.
• Validate Estimate-at-Completion (EAC) and Estimate-to-Complete (ETC) forecasts.
• Ensure consistent application of cost management practices.
• Support executive leadership in project profitability assessments.

Forecasting & Performance Management

• Direct forecasting activities across engineering, procurement, construction, and project controls functions.
• Review and challenge project forecasts to improve accuracy.
• Develop portfolio-level forecasts and performance projections.
• Analyze performance trends and recommend corrective actions.
• Provide executive-level analysis of project risks and opportunities.
• Support organizational planning and business forecasting initiatives.

Earned Value & Progress Measurement

• Establish earned value management standards and reporting requirements.
• Ensure accurate quantity-based progress measurement methodologies.
• Monitor CPI, SPI, productivity, and performance indicators.
• Review project progress validation processes.
• Ensure consistency in earned value reporting across projects.
• Drive adoption of best practices in progress measurement.

Change Management Oversight

• Govern project change management processes across the organization.
• Review major change orders and trend impacts.
• Evaluate cost and commercial implications of project changes.
• Support contract management and claim avoidance efforts.
• Ensure approved changes are reflected in forecasts and budgets.
• Monitor change management performance metrics and reporting.

Executive Reporting & Business Intelligence

• Develop and maintain portfolio-level dashboards and KPI reporting.
• Provide executive leadership with performance analysis and recommendations.
• Lead monthly project controls reviews and forecast reviews.
• Develop automated reporting solutions and business intelligence tools.
• Ensure consistency, quality, and accuracy of project reporting.
• Support client, executive, and board-level reporting requirements.

Leadership & Personnel Development

• Manage recruitment, onboarding, training, and professional development of project controls personnel.
• Establish performance objectives and conduct evaluations.
• Mentor Project Controls Leads and Analysts.
• Support succession planning within the department.
• Promote continuous learning and professional certifications.
• Foster collaboration between project disciplines.

Qualifications

Education

• High School Diploma or GED with 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in Project Controls, Cost Engineering, EPC Project Management, or Construction Management; OR
• Associate Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business Administration, Finance, or related field with 12+ years of relevant experience; OR
• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Project Management, Business, Finance, or related field with 10+ years of Project Controls experience.

Experience

Required:

• 10+ years of Project Controls experience supporting EPC or industrial capital projects.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing project controls teams.
• Experience managing project controls on projects exceeding $100 million.
• Experience developing EACs, ETCs, forecasting models, and earned value systems.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Preferred:

• Experience supporting EPC projects exceeding $500 million.
• Experience developing project controls organizations and standards.
• Experience implementing enterprise reporting and business intelligence solutions.
• Experience managing client-facing project controls functions.

Technical Competencies

• Portfolio Cost Management
• Cost Engineering
• Forecasting & Trend Analysis
• Estimate-at-Completion (EAC)
• Estimate-to-Complete (ETC)
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Quantity-Based Progress Measurement
• Productivity Analysis
• Financial Analysis
• Change Management
• Risk Management
• Executive Reporting
• Business Intelligence
• Data Analytics
• Resource Planning
• Performance Management

Software Proficiency

Preferred experience with:

• InEight
• Viewpoint Vista
• Primavera P6
• Power BI
• Microsoft Excel (Advanced)
• Power Query
• SharePoint

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Portfolio Forecast Accuracy
• Project Margin Performance
• EAC Accuracy
• Cost Performance Index (CPI)
• Productivity Performance
• Change Recovery Rate
• Reporting Timeliness
• Project Controls Audit Compliance
• Dashboard Availability and Accuracy
• Resource Utilization
• Risk Identification Effectiveness
• Client Satisfaction
• Project Controls Process Compliance

Success Profile

A successful Project Controls Manager is a strategic leader who transforms project data into organizational business intelligence. They establish project controls excellence across the EPC portfolio by developing high-performing teams, implementing consistent methodologies, and delivering reliable forecasting and performance reporting. Through leadership, governance, and analytical expertise, they enable proactive decision-making, improve project predictability, protect project profitability, and ensure successful execution of EPC projects.

UPS Industrial Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or physical or mental disability.