Senior Project Controls Manager

A Senior Project Controls Manager is required to lead project controls across major infrastructure and construction programmes in the South West and wider UK.

This role is ideal for experienced project controls professionals with strong cost, planning, risk, change and reporting experience, combined with the ability to manage teams and influence senior stakeholders.

Project Details

This Senior Project Controls Manager role will focus on major infrastructure, construction, utilities, aviation, rail, energy, defence and nuclear-related programmes.

Projects may include major programmes connected to Sizewell C, HS2, Thames Water, Heathrow aviation projects, Network Rail, National Grid, dockyard and MOD projects, as well as other nationally significant infrastructure schemes.

The successful candidate will lead project controls activities that help major projects and programmes remain on schedule, within budget and under effective governance. This will include managing the integration of cost, schedule, risk, change and reporting information to support strategic decision-making and successful project delivery.

Responsibilities and Duties

As Senior Project Controls Manager, you will lead the project controls function on major infrastructure or construction programmes. You will be responsible for ensuring project controls processes are robust, aligned and effectively implemented across multidisciplinary project teams.

This Senior Project Controls Manager role will suit an experienced project controls professional who can provide technical leadership, manage project controls outputs, support team development and advise senior project stakeholders on performance, risk, change and delivery strategy.

• Lead the project controls function across major infrastructure and construction programmes
• Establish, manage and assure the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB)
• Implement, manage and improve Earned Value Management (EVM) systems
• Lead the collation, analysis and reporting of KPIs relating to time, cost, risk, change and quality
• Oversee periodic and ad-hoc project controls reporting cycles
• Lead the production and review of monthly project review packs and project performance reports
• Interpret project health data and provide clear recommendations to support senior decision-making
• Develop, implement and manage change control processes across major projects and programmes
• Chair or facilitate change forums and ensure key decisions are escalated appropriately
• Integrate risk assessments into project controls reporting, forecasting and performance reviews
• Ensure strong alignment between planning, cost, risk, change, commercial and project management functions
• Lead forecasting activity, identify trends and highlight potential time, cost or delivery issues early
• Manage and mentor project controls professionals, including junior and developing team members
• Set objectives, review performance and provide constructive feedback to project controls team members where required
• Support the development of project controls capability, processes, reporting standards and governance
• Liaise with senior leadership, clients, consultants, contractors and supply chain partners
• Support programme and project managers with strategic project controls insight
• Promote continuous improvement in project controls processes, data quality, reporting and governance
• Use and oversee project controls software such as Primavera P6, MS Project and relevant cost, risk and reporting tools
• Help foster a collaborative, high-performance and professional project controls culture

Desired Skills and Experience

The ideal Senior Project Controls Manager will have strong experience in project controls, planning, scheduling, cost management, risk or change management within construction, infrastructure, engineering or major programme environments. Major project experience is strongly preferred.

• Strong project controls experience within major infrastructure, construction, engineering or complex programme environments
• Experience leading or managing project controls activities on sizeable projects or programmes
• Strong knowledge of cost, schedule, risk and change management
• Practical experience establishing and managing project baselines
• Good working knowledge of Earned Value Management and performance measurement
• Experience leading project controls reporting cycles and monthly project review packs
• Experience interpreting project performance data and advising senior stakeholders
• Good understanding of change control, risk management and project governance processes
• Experience coordinating planning, cost, risk, commercial and project management functions
• Experience managing, mentoring or supporting the development of project controls professionals
• Ability to work with senior leadership, clients and supply chain partners
• Proficiency in project controls software such as Primavera P6, MS Project and cost or reporting tools
• Strong analytical, reporting and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work in fast-moving, complex and high-profile project environments
• Candidates must be able to attend the Bristol office as required
• Candidates should live within the South West region, including Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, Devon or Cornwall

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• A degree or equivalent qualification in construction management, engineering, quantity surveying, project management, cost management or a related subject would be preferred
• APM, PMI or similar project management or project controls qualifications would be advantageous
• Membership of a relevant professional body would be desirable
• Candidates working towards further project controls, project management or commercial qualifications will be considered favourably

Employing Company Overview and Profile

Maxim Recruitment is working with a leading design, engineering and project management consultancy that supports major infrastructure, energy, transport, defence, nuclear and built environment programmes. 

This is an excellent opportunity for a Senior Project Controls Manager to join a professional consultancy environment and take a leading role on nationally significant projects. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to lead project controls activity, develop junior team members and contribute to the successful delivery of complex UK infrastructure programmes.

A full client overview will be given to shortlisted candidates.

Additional Benefits Package and Incentives

• Salary up to circa £70,000 per annum
• Bristol office base with attendance required as needed
• Opportunity to work on major UK infrastructure and construction programmes
• Management and leadership responsibilities within project controls
• Career development support
• Support towards relevant APM, PMI or similar qualifications may be available
• Exposure to senior-level project controls, planning, cost, risk and change management work