Head of Project Controls Rail

Carrington West; London; Hybrid; GBP 92,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading project management firm in London seeks a Head of Project Controls for a senior leadership role in a major rail development programme. The candidate will oversee project controls across a £19bn portfolio, driving strategic insights and leading a high-performing team. Essential qualifications include significant experience in project controls and strong stakeholder engagement skills. The position offers hybrid flexibility with three days in the office.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in leading large project controls functions.
• Knowledge of schedule, cost, risk, and change management.
• Strong communication skills with board-level engagement experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and integration of baselines for project controls.
• Provide strategic insights on performance trends.
• Manage and inspire a high-performing project controls team.

Skills

Significant experience leading large project controls functions on major rail or infrastructure programmes

In-depth knowledge of schedule, cost, risk and change management

Strong communication and influencing skills

Proficiency in project controls systems (Primavera P6, Prism, CEMAR)

Ability to provide strategic analysis

Strong leadership and team development skills

Job description

Do you have experience leading large project controls teams on major infrastructure programmes?

Are you confident in driving baseline integration and providing strategic insights at the highest levels of government and industry?

Salary: £109,200 £(phone number removed)
Job Title: Head of Project Controls
Location: London Euston (3 days per week in office, hybrid flexibility)

This is a senior leadership role within one of the UK s most complex and nationally significant rail development programmes, responsible for overseeing project controls across a portfolio valued at over £19bn.

The successful candidate will lead the development and integration of baselines (scope, time, cost, risk and quality), provide strategic insights on performance trends, and ensure best practice in project controls across a multi-disciplinary supply chain. They will also manage and inspire a high-performing team of project controls professionals, ensuring accuracy, assurance and consistency across reporting and delivery.

The role is central to enabling Parliamentary processes and future delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail and associated works. It requires gravitas, credibility and proven leadership in complex, high-value programmes.

Requirements

• Significant experience leading large project controls functions on major rail or infrastructure programmes.
• In-depth knowledge of schedule, cost, risk and change management.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with board-level stakeholder engagement experience (government/departmental exposure desirable).
• Proficiency in project controls systems (Primavera P6, Prism, CEMAR or similar).
• Proven ability to provide strategic analysis and support executive-level decision-making.
• Strong leadership and team development skills, ideally with experience of managing teams of .
• Background could be from rail, nuclear, defence, infrastructure, or other major projects with Parliamentary or consenting experience.

Interview process: One-stage, via Teams.