Principal Advisor (Project Controls)

Department of Transport and Main Roads; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Transport and Main Roads in Brisbane seeks a Principal Advisor (Project Controls) to lead the controls function on the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail project, working with commercial, finance and leadership teams to critically analyse contractor performance.

You will deliver integrated schedule, cost, risk and change analysis, coordinate governance reports, manage budgets and drive continual improvement of project controls processes.

Qualifications

• Experience in project controls and governance reporting.
• Ability to analyse budget, schedule, cost, risk and change performance.
• Strong communication and ability to coordinate with senior project leaders.

Responsibilities

• Deliver integrated analysis of schedule, cost, risk, change and quality performance and recommend corrective actions.
• Coordinate performance reports, forecasts and governance submissions for senior project leaders.
• Manage project budgets and cost control activities including budgeting, scheduling, progress measurement and forecasting.
• Lead development and improvement of project controls plans, processes and tools.
• Maintain and improve project controls systems and data accuracy.
• Collaborate with RIDO Finance and commercial teams on budget, financial, procurement and commercial activities.
• Promote a proactive performance-focused culture and participate in performance conversations.

Job description

The purpose of the Principal Advisor (Project Controls) is to lead the controls function on the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail project. The role works closely with commercial, finance, governance and leadership teams to critically analyse contractor performance.

In the role of Principal Advisor (Project Controls) some of your responsibilities will include:

• Support the Manager (Project Controls Office) by delivering integrated analysis of schedule, cost, risk, change and quality performance, identifying emerging variances, such as trend and critical path analysis, and recommending targeted corrective actions.
• Coordinate and quality assure accurate, timely and decision-ready performance reports, forecasts, governance submissions and supporting materials for senior project leaders and governance forums.
• Deliver project budget management and cost control activities, including budget development, estimating, scheduling, progress measurement, forecasting, earned value analysis and end-of-month reporting.
• Demonstrated experience in project budget management and cost control, conducting budget variance analysis and preparing high-quality reports for senior project leaders and governance forums.
• Lead the development, implementation and continual improvement of project controls management plans, processes and tools, ensuring alignment across governance, reporting, schedule, cost, risk and change management functions.
• Maintain and improve project controls systems, processes and data, working with delivery teams to validate information, track agreed actions and ensure performance reporting is reliable, traceable and aligned with TMR requirements.
• Work closely with RIDO Finance and commercial teams to coordinate project budget, financial, procurement and commercial activities, supporting seamless delivery and effective project controls.
• Encourage and actively promote a proactive, performance focused culture within the team. Actively participate in performance conversations to build and support an environment of continual improvement.

Job Ad Reference: QLD/706739/26
Closing Date: Friday, 20 November 2026

Occupational group Project Management