Project Controls Manager

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Project Controls Manager to lead and develop the project controls function within a complex engineering and manufacturing environment to work on a permanent basis in the Chorley area/Hybrid.

Salary is negotiable plus 25 days’ holiday and bank holidays, pension, healthcare etc.

About the Project Controls Manager role:

You will be responsible for establishing and maintaining an integrated project controls framework covering planning, scheduling, cost management, forecasting, risk, change control and performance reporting. Working closely with project leadership and delivery teams, you will ensure projects are effectively monitored, risks and variances are identified early, and accurate management information is available to support commercial performance and strategic decision-making.

This is a senior role requiring strong technical project controls expertise, leadership capability and the confidence to challenge project performance and drive continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities for the Project Controls Manager:

• Lead and coordinate the project controls function, ensuring consistent standards, processes and reporting across the project portfolio.
• Establish and maintain integrated project controls systems covering scope, schedule, cost, resources, risk and change management.
• Oversee the development, approval and maintenance of project baselines, ensuring changes are properly assessed, controlled and recorded.
• Manage project forecasting, cost performance, resource planning and schedule performance, challenging variances and emerging trends.
• Ensure robust reporting of project progress, key performance indicators, risks, opportunities and forecast outcomes to senior management.
• Provide critical analysis of project schedules, critical paths, dependencies and delivery risks, recommending corrective actions where required.
• Oversee change control processes, assessing the impact of changes on project scope, programme, cost and resources.
• Ensure project controls activities align with contractual obligations, business procedures and governance requirements.
• Work closely with Project Managers, Commercial, Engineering and Operations teams to maintain accurate and consistent project information.
• Lead, support and develop project controls personnel, promoting best practice, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Ensure project records, reporting and performance data are maintained to a high standard and are fully auditable.
• Provide senior-level project controls advice to support effective planning, delivery assurance and business decision-making.

Essential Experience and Skills for the Project Controls Manager role:

• Significant experience in project controls within an engineering, manufacturing or similarly complex technical environment.
• Proven experience leading or managing project controls activities across multiple projects or a project portfolio.
• Strong knowledge of integrated planning, scheduling, cost control, resource management, forecasting and performance reporting.
• Extensive experience using Primavera P6, including schedule development, baseline management, critical path analysis and programme updates.
• Strong understanding of project change control, risk management and the relationship between programme, cost and resource performance.
• Experience with earned value management, performance indicators, variance analysis and estimate-at-completion forecasting.
• Ability to interrogate and challenge project data, identify emerging issues and communicate clear recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Experience managing, coordinating or mentoring project controls professionals.
• Strong understanding of project governance, reporting standards and maintaining accurate, auditable records.
• Excellent communication, analytical, organisational and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement, problem-solving and delivery assurance.

Desirable

• Experience working with NEC3 or NEC4 contracts.
• Experience within nuclear, highly regulated manufacturing or other high-integrity engineering environments.
• Knowledge of cost and resource integration across complex project portfolios.
• Experience with Microsoft Project and advanced Microsoft Excel.
• Relevant project management, planning or project controls qualifications.
• Ability to meet the security clearance requirements associated with the role.