Head of Project Controls

Carrington West; Bletchley; Hybrid; GBP 122,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

Carrington West is recruiting a Head of Project Controls in Milton Keynes. Hybrid role with 2 days work from home, leading a 25-35 strong team across cost, planning, risk and estimating on a major infrastructure programme.

You will report to the Project Director, drive performance data, challenge JV partners, and present updates to senior leaders while ensuring NEC contract alignment and robust EVM and scheduling practices.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience leading large project controls teams on complex infrastructure projects.
• Strong NEC contract knowledge, EVM (Earned Value Management), and scheduling proficiency.
• Experience presenting to executive stakeholders and tailoring complex data for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead and Inspire: Manage a large, geographically dispersed team, setting objectives and driving performance.
• Be an Active Client: Confidently challenge joint venture partners and ensure alignment with the programme.
• Manage Key Interfaces: Oversee NEC submissions, EVM data, and weekly reports.
• Influence at the Top: Prepare and present updates to senior executives.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Cost control

Risk management

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

Are you a director‑level project controls leader looking to make your mark on a project that is already exceeding its goals?

Role: Head of Project Controls

Location: Milton Keynes (Hybrid 2 days WFH)

Salary: £122,000 - £132,000

This is an opportunity for a Head of Project Controls to lead a 35‑strong team on the EKFB section of HS2‑the largest, most dynamic, and highest‑performing area of the project, with a £2 billion annual spend. This is not a recovery role, you will be joining a team that is smashing its targets and working with an intelligent, data‑driven contractor.

As the Head of Project Controls, you will be the day‑to‑day leader for a multi‑disciplinary team of 25 ‑35 specialists in cost, planning (P6), risk, and estimating. Reporting directly to the Project Director, you will:

• Lead and Inspire: Manage a large, geographically dispersed team, setting objectives and driving their performance.
• Be an Active Client: Embody our "eyes on, hands-on" approach, confidently challenging our joint venture partners and ensuring project‑level work aligns with the overall programme.
• Manage Key Interfaces: Oversee the flow of critical performance data, including NEC contractual submissions, earned value (EVM), and weekly quantity reports.
• Influence at the Top: Prepare and present performance updates to senior executive stakeholders, including the Chief Programme Officer.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven Leadership: Demonstrable experience leading large project controls teams (25-30+ people) on complex, major infrastructure projects (e.g., heavy civils, nuclear, major transport).
• Technical Expertise: A strong background in project controls, with deep knowledge of NEC contracts, Earned Value Management (EVM), and scheduling tools like P6 (Primavera).
• Stakeholder Management: Experience presenting to executive-level stakeholders and the ability to tailor complex information for different audiences.
• Collaborative Mindset: A background from a client, contractor, or consultancy environment is welcome; a blend is ideal but not essential.