Head of Project Performance and Controls

Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd; Swansea; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A major construction firm in the UK is seeking an experienced project controls leader to provide strategic direction and lead a multi-disciplinary project controls team. The role requires deep expertise in planning and cost control within large-scale infrastructure projects, coupled with strong analytical and communication skills. The ideal candidate will ensure clear governance and provide timely performance insights to senior stakeholders, contributing to complex multi-million-pound programmes. Competitive benefits and opportunities for growth are included.

Benefits

Flexible benefits

Performance progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven senior leadership experience in project controls on large-scale UK infrastructure projects.
• Deep technical expertise in planning, cost control, forecasting, and risk management.
• Strong analytical capability with commercial acumen.

Responsibilities

• Establish and improve the project controls framework across multiple disciplines.
• Lead a high-performing project controls team and manage contractors effectively.
• Provide performance insights to stakeholders through structured reports.

Skills

Strategic direction

Project controls management

Analytical capability

Communication skills

Influencing decision-making

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

You will provide strategic direction and hands-on leadership to a multi-disciplinary project controls team, as well as manage specialist contractors, ensuring clear governance and transparent, Real Time insight across cost, programme, risk, and change. Through disciplined performance management and collaborative leadership, you will play a key role in ensuring the project is delivered.

• Establish, lead, and continuously improve the project controls framework across cost, programme, risk, change, document control, and performance reporting, providing clear governance and assurance.

• Lead a high-performing, multi-disciplinary project controls team and manage specialist contractors, delivering accurate forecasting, earned value, schedule control (Primavera P6), and robust risk and opportunity management.

• Provide clear, timely performance insight to senior stakeholders through structured reporting, dashboards, and variance analysis, while supporting procurement, governance forums, audits, and tender submissions.

  Proven senior leadership experience in project controls on large-scale UK infrastructure, industrial, or energy projects, with accountability for complex, multi-million-pound programmes.

• Deep technical expertise in planning, cost control, forecasting, EVM, risk management, and document control, with strong working knowledge of NEC and FIDIC contracts.

• Strong analytical capability and commercial acumen, coupled with the credibility and communication skills to influence decision-making at executive and board level.

  We invest in your growth with wide-ranging, performance-related progression opportunities. Our competitive rewards package includes flexible benefits designed to suit your lifestyle and priorities.