Job Description:

Position Summary

The Senior Project Controls Manager – Utility Compounds is responsible for establishing and leading all project controls functions (planning, scheduling, cost control, risk, change, and reporting) across one or more utility compounds and associated infrastructure works. This role provides strategic oversight and assurance that scope, schedule, and budget objectives are achieved, while maintaining robust governance, transparent reporting, and proactive risk management for complex, multi‑contract utility developments.

Key Responsibilities

Project Controls Leadership

• Lead the project controls strategy and implementation for utility compound programs.
• Develop and maintain integrated project controls plans, aligning schedule, cost, risk, change, and reporting processes with corporate and client requirements.
• Provide expert guidance to project managers, engineers, and commercial teams on project controls best practices.
• Ensure consistency and standardization of project controls procedures across all contracts and work packages.

Planning & Scheduling

• Establish, review, and approve baseline schedules in collaboration with planning engineers and project leads.
• Integrate multiple contractor and internal schedules into a single program-level master schedule.
• Monitor schedule performance, analyze critical paths, float, and interfaces between utility compounds and wider network works.
• Lead schedule risk analysis and scenario planning to assess and mitigate potential delays.
• Review contractors’ recovery plans and assess their viability.

Cost Management & Forecasting

• Develop and manage project budgets, cash flow forecasts, and cost control frameworks for utility compounds.
• Oversee cost tracking, commitment control, and monthly cost/value reconciliations.
• Lead cost forecasting and estimate-at-completion reviews, ensuring alignment with schedule and risk.
• Identify cost variances, trends, and opportunities for savings; recommend corrective and optimizing measures.

Change & Risk Management

• Set up and manage robust change control processes, including impact assessments on scope, time, cost, and risk.
• Chair or support change control boards, ensuring timely review, approval, and documentation of changes.
• Establish and maintain project risk registers, facilitating risk identification, qualitative/quantitative assessment, and mitigation planning.
• Coordinate schedule and cost risk analyses and integrate results into forecasts and management reporting.

Performance Measurement & Reporting

• Implement earned value management or equivalent performance measurement techniques.
• Define and monitor KPIs for schedule adherence, cost performance, productivity, and change/risk effectiveness.
• Produce clear, concise monthly and ad‑hoc project controls reports for senior management, clients, and stakeholders.
• Provide early warning on emerging issues and propose data‑driven mitigation and recovery strategies.

Data, Systems & Governance

• Oversee configuration and use of project controls tools (e.g., Primavera P6, MS Project, cost management and reporting systems).
• Ensure data integrity, version control, and alignment between planning, cost, and reporting systems.
• Develop and maintain project controls procedures, templates, and standards tailored to utility compound delivery.
• Support internal and external audits, ensuring compliance with company governance and client requirements.

Stakeholder & Interface Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for project controls matters with clients, consultants, contractors, and internal leadership.
• Coordinate interfaces between utility compounds and related packages (transmission/distribution, MEP systems, building works, enabling works).
• Present project status, trends, and recommendations in steering committees, progress meetings, and executive reviews.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of planners, cost engineers, risk analysts, and reporting specialists.
• Allocate resources effectively across projects and phases, ensuring adequate coverage for critical milestones.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing within the project controls function.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Quantity Surveying, or a related field.
• 15 years experience in project controls with at least 5 – 10 years on major construction or infrastructure projects, with significant exposure to utilities or industrial compounds.
• Demonstrated experience leading project controls on complex, multi‑contract programs from initiation through closeout.
• Strong understanding of planning, cost control, risk management, change control, and EVM principles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Project Management, Engineering, or Business.
• Professional certification such as , , , , or equivalent.
• Experience in power / utilities (substations, utility hubs, process plants, or similar compound-type developments).
• Experience with standard forms of contract (FIDIC) and their implications for schedule and cost management.

Skills & Competencies

• Advanced proficiency in project planning software (e.g., Primavera P6, MS Project) and cost management tools.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with the ability to interpret complex datasets and derive actionable insights.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, able to convey complex project controls information to non‑specialists.
• Proven leadership, team management, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• High level of commercial awareness and understanding of how project controls influence contractual and commercial outcomes.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.

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