Project Controls Lead

Copello; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A support company for defence technology is seeking a Project Controls Lead based in London. In this role, you will oversee the project controls team and implement project controls to enhance profitability and ensure successful delivery. The ideal candidate has significant experience in project controls and must be proficient in EVMS and Oracle Primavera P6. You will foster a culture of excellence and continuous improvement within the team.

Qualifications

• Significant Project Controls experience in defence or regulated industries.
• Strong commercial operations awareness.
• Expert user of EVMS processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the project controls team.
• Drive improvements across project controls disciplines.
• Champion EVMS application across projects.
• Utilise expertise in project controls systems.
• Ensure compliance with project standards.

Skills

Project Controls

Planning

Cost Management

EVMS

Oracle Primavera P6

Tools

Primavera P6

Deltek Cobra

ERP systems

Job description

Copello are supporting a Defence technology client in their search for a Project Controls Lead. As a Project Controls Lead you will be responsible for overseeing the project controls team, ensuring the operating of effective project controls across the entire portfolio.

You will be responsible for fostering a culture of excellence within the project controls team and implementing robust project controls to mitigate risks, enhance profitability, and ensure successful project delivery. You will shape and embed departmental procedures to ensure the maintenance, execution and control of project performance measurement baselines within a robust project controls environment to ensure delivery of best value to our customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and mentor a talented project controls team—fostering collaboration, growth, and excellence.
• Drive continuous improvement across all project controls disciplines, including scheduling, estimating, cost control, resourcing, and performance reporting.
• Champion the application of EVMS (ANSI/APM standards preferred) and ensure consistent performance measurement.
• Utilise advanced expertise in Primavera P6, Deltek Cobra, and ERP systems to assure high-quality project controls outputs.
• Ensure compliance with project controls standards and governance across all programmes.
• Support bid activity with credible, robust plans, estimates and risk assessments.
• Engage confidently with senior leaders, customers, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Provide training, coaching, and support to develop capability across the wider project community.

We are looking for

• Significant, demonstrable Project Controls, Planning and/or Cost Management experience in the defence or other regulated industry, managing controls throughout the entire project lifecycle.
• Strong awareness of commercial operations, and/or prime contract experience with, ideally in a SSRO QSC/CAAS reporting environment.
• Expert knowledge and application of EVMS processes within an EVM system.
• Expert user of Oracle Primavera P6.
• Significant experience using cost management and finance systems.
• A strong disposition for professionally maintaining project-wide adherence and compliance to processes, and procedures, sometimes in the face of adversity.
• Providing training and/or mentoring within a cohesive team environment.