Project Controls Lead

Wasael Property Management; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 420,000 - 660,000; Full time

Job summary

Wasael Property Management is seeking a seasoned Project Controls Lead to steer planning, scheduling, cost control, forecasting, and performance reporting across complex development projects in Abu Dhabi.

You will develop integrated programmes, monitor progress against milestones, manage change and risk, and lead a team to ensure delivery within approved budgets and timelines. This role requires deep expertise in Primavera P6 and advanced Excel proficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline.
• Professional certification such as PMP, PMI-SP, AACE, or equivalent would be an advantage.
• Minimum 10–12 years of relevant project controls experience, including significant experience on large-scale and complex projects.
• Strong experience within real estate development, construction, infrastructure, or major project environments.
• Extensive experience in project planning, scheduling, cost control, forecasting, progress measurement, and performance reporting.
• Advanced knowledge of project controls and scheduling tools such as Primavera P6, with strong proficiency in Excel and reporting systems.
• Strong understanding of critical path analysis, earned value principles, change control, risk management, and cost/schedule integration.
• Experience reviewing contractor programmes and supporting delay, EOT, and recovery programme assessments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and management of project controls processes, systems, procedures, and reporting requirements.
• Develop and maintain integrated project programmes, schedules, cost plans, forecasts, and performance baselines.
• Monitor project performance against approved scope, budget, schedule, milestones, and key performance indicators.
• Lead planning and scheduling activities and ensure programmes submitted by consultants and contractors are appropriately reviewed and monitored.
• Monitor actual project progress against planned progress and identify schedule delays, critical path impacts, and emerging delivery risks.
• Coordinate cost control activities including budget monitoring, commitments, expenditure, forecasts, and Estimate at Completion (EAC).
• Develop and maintain project dashboards, progress reports, performance metrics, and executive-level project controls information.
• Establish effective progress measurement methodologies and ensure consistent reporting across projects and contractors.
• Conduct schedule and cost variance analysis and recommend corrective or recovery actions where required.
• Support project teams in the development and assessment of recovery programmes and mitigation strategies.
• Manage project change control processes and assess the potential impact of changes on cost, schedule, and overall project performance.
• Support the assessment of Extension of Time claims, delays, and programme impacts in coordination with Contracts, Claims, and Commercial teams.
• Integrate project risk information into cost and schedule forecasting and project controls reporting.
• Coordinate with Project Management, Commercial, Contracts, Risk, Procurement, Technical, and Construction teams to ensure accurate and consistent project information.
• Review contractor and consultant progress reports, schedules, forecasts, and project controls submissions.
• Conduct periodic schedule reviews, trend analysis, and performance assessments to identify potential issues at an early stage.
• Prepare regular project controls reports and presentations for project leadership and senior management.
• Ensure appropriate project controls records, baselines, approvals, and audit trails are maintained.
• Lead and mentor planning, cost control, and project controls team members and promote consistent project controls standards across projects.

Skills

Project Controls

Planning & Scheduling

Primavera P6

Cost Control & Forecasting

Progress Measurement

Performance Reporting

Change Control

Schedule Analysis

Risk Integration

Earned Value Management

Analytical Thinking

Stakeholder Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline

Tools

Primavera P6

Excel

Job description

Job Purpose

To lead and manage project controls activities across assigned projects, ensuring effective planning, scheduling, cost control, forecasting, progress measurement, and performance reporting to support successful delivery within approved budgets and timelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and management of project controls processes, systems, procedures, and reporting requirements.
• Develop and maintain integrated project programmes, schedules, cost plans, forecasts, and performance baselines.
• Monitor project performance against approved scope, budget, schedule, milestones, and key performance indicators.
• Lead planning and scheduling activities and ensure programmes submitted by consultants and contractors are appropriately reviewed and monitored.
• Monitor actual project progress against planned progress and identify schedule delays, critical path impacts, and emerging delivery risks.
• Coordinate cost control activities including budget monitoring, commitments, expenditure, forecasts, and Estimate at Completion (EAC).
• Develop and maintain project dashboards, progress reports, performance metrics, and executive-level project controls information.
• Establish effective progress measurement methodologies and ensure consistent reporting across projects and contractors.
• Conduct schedule and cost variance analysis and recommend corrective or recovery actions where required.
• Support project teams in the development and assessment of recovery programmes and mitigation strategies.
• Manage project change control processes and assess the potential impact of changes on cost, schedule, and overall project performance.
• Support the assessment of Extension of Time claims, delays, and programme impacts in coordination with Contracts, Claims, and Commercial teams.
• Integrate project risk information into cost and schedule forecasting and project controls reporting.
• Coordinate with Project Management, Commercial, Contracts, Risk, Procurement, Technical, and Construction teams to ensure accurate and consistent project information.
• Review contractor and consultant progress reports, schedules, forecasts, and project controls submissions.
• Conduct periodic schedule reviews, trend analysis, and performance assessments to identify potential issues at an early stage.
• Prepare regular project controls reports and presentations for project leadership and senior management.
• Ensure appropriate project controls records, baselines, approvals, and audit trails are maintained.
• Lead and mentor planning, cost control, and project controls team members and promote consistent project controls standards across projects.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline.
• Professional certification such as PMP, PMI-SP, AACE, or equivalent would be an advantage.
• Minimum 10–12 years of relevant project controls experience, including significant experience on large-scale and complex projects.
• Strong experience within real estate development, construction, infrastructure, or major project environments.
• Extensive experience in project planning, scheduling, cost control, forecasting, progress measurement, and performance reporting.
• Advanced knowledge of project controls and scheduling tools such as Primavera P6, with strong proficiency in Excel and reporting systems.
• Strong understanding of critical path analysis, earned value principles, change control, risk management, and cost/schedule integration.
• Experience reviewing contractor programmes and supporting delay, EOT, and recovery programme assessments.

Key Competencies

Project Controls

• Planning & Scheduling
• Primavera P6
• Cost Control & Forecasting
• Progress Measurement
• Performance Reporting
• Change Control
• Schedule Analysis
• Risk Integration
• Earned Value Management
• Analytical Thinking
• Stakeholder Management