Defence Project Controls Lead – Senior Program Manager

Turner & Townsend; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking a Senior Project Controls Manager to lead cross-discipline teams on high-value defence projects in the UK. You will define scope, establish baselines, and manage change across complex programmes, ensuring cost, schedule and risk alignment.

The role requires a strong background in Project Controls across the lifecycle, with experience in Earned Value Management and collaboration with suppliers.

Qualifications

• Proven track record delivering projects in highly regulated sectors such as defence or infrastructure.
• Experience across the whole Project lifecycle.
• Experience applying two or more Project Controls disciplines (Planning and Scheduling, Cost Estimation, Cost Control, Risk Management or Performance Reporting) and their software/tools.
• Experience establishing Project Controls organisations and building teams.
• Advanced understanding of how Integrated Project Controls operates across models.
• Ability to assess maturity and ways of working within organisations.
• Proactive, curious and can-do attitude; comfortable in uncertain environments.
• Strong communicator and leader with ability to influence and develop teams inclusively.
• Undergraduate degree in a technical/management field; professional body membership.
• Ability to make risk-based decisions in unclear contexts.
• Proficient in the software needed for the role.
• Desire to work across sectors and clients.

Responsibilities

• Set up and lead cross-discipline Project Controls teams on high-risk, high-complexity projects.
• Define scope with exclusions, assumptions, interfaces and dependencies; develop a Work Breakdown Structure.
• Establish a robust Performance Measurement Baseline and manage change control.
• Collaborate with suppliers to integrate performance data per contractual requirements.
• Ensure scope, cost, risk and schedule integration and alignment.
• Analyse performance data, including Earned Value Management, to guide delivery decisions.
• Coordinate with Finance to generate Cost and Cash estimates and EAC profiles.
• Maintain effective risk management and quantitative analysis practices.
• Support resource deployment aligned with resource-loaded schedules.
• Establish governance for auditable decision making.
• Mentor and coach team members to improve capability.
• Contribute to regional growth via proposals, recruitment and succession planning.
• Oversee running of Project Controls function and embed standards.

Skills

Project Controls

Planning & Scheduling

Cost Estimation

Cost Control

Risk Management

Performance Reporting

Leadership

Communication

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant field

Job description

Turner & Townsend is seeking a Senior Project Controls Manager to lead cross-discipline teams on high-value defence projects in the UK. You will define scope, establish baselines, and manage change across complex programmes, ensuring cost, schedule and risk alignment.

The role requires a strong background in Project Controls across the lifecycle, with experience in Earned Value Management and collaboration with suppliers.