Project Controls Department Manager

DPS Group Global; Cork; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consultancy firm based in Cork is seeking an experienced Project Controls Department Manager to establish and manage the Project Controls function across all projects. This role entails overseeing cost management, reporting, and scheduling for high-value industrial projects. The ideal candidate will have at least 10–15 years in engineering design consultancy, particularly in Pharma or Life Sciences, with strong leadership and analytical skills.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years’ experience in engineering design consultancy.
• Proven experience on industrial projects valued at €100m+.
• Demonstrated industry experience in the Pharma or Life Sciences sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Project Controls team to foster collaboration.
• Oversee Project Cost Control functions, including change management.
• Direct the creation of integrated Master Project Schedules for large projects.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Degree in relevant discipline or equivalent experience

Tools

Primavera P6

Deltek

Job description

Project Controls Department Manager

Arcadis is the world’s leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets. We are more than 36,000 people, in over 70 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.

Role description

Based in our Cork office, this position is a key leadership role responsible for establishing, managing, and continually improving the company’s Project Controls function across all projects. This role ensures projects are delivered within approved budget, on schedule, and in accordance with contractual requirements, while providing accurate and timely data for management decision-making. A focus on continuous improvement, digitalisation, and stakeholder collaboration is at its Core. You will collaborate closely with clients, the Business/Operations Director, Project Managers, Engineering Discipline Managers, and Construction Management Teams to ensure successful project outcomes.

Key areas of project controls responsibility:

Departmental Leadership & Management

• Lead and develop the Project Controls team (Schedulers, Cost Engineers/Analysts, Estimators, Contract administrators), fostering a culture of excellence, accuracy, and collaboration.
• Establish, implement, and maintain standardised Project Controls procedures, systems, and tools (e.g., Primavera P6, Deltek & specialist cost management software) across all projects, ensuring compliance with company and client requirements.
• Manage resource allocation for the Project Controls team across the portfolio of live and tender projects, ensuring appropriate staffing levels and technical capability.
• Act as the primary point of contact for all Project Controls matters with senior management, project directors, clients, and external stakeholders.

Cost Management & Reporting

• Oversee the Project Cost Control function, including change management, expenditure tracking, forecasting, accruals, and earned value analysis (EVA).
• Direct the preparation and delivery of detailed Project measurement Reports (PMR) reports, cash flow projections, and final cost forecasts.
• Lead the development of project estimates during all design phases (Conceptual, BOD, Detailed Design) and support the procurement process.
• Provide strategic financial analysis and recommendations to Project Directors and management to mitigate commercial risk and maximise cash position.
• Oversee all Contract administration.

Planning & Scheduling

• Direct the creation and maintenance of integrated Master Project Schedules (using tools like Primavera P6) for large-scale, multi-disciplinary EPC/EPCM projects, covering Design, Procurement, Construction, Commissioning, and Qualification (CQV).
• Ensure progress measurement systems and metrics to monitor physical progress against the baseline schedule.
• Analyse project performance, identify critical path activities, and advise Project Managers on schedule risks and corrective actions.

Risk and Change Management

• Own the Project Change Management process across the portfolio, ensuring all project changes (scope, cost, schedule) are rigorously documented, assessed, approved, and integrated into the project baseline.
• Oversee the development and management of Project Risk Registers, ensuring active monitoring and implementation of mitigation strategies for all identified threats and opportunities.
• Manage project contingency and allowance drawdown, providing rationale and justification to senior stakeholders.

Client & Stakeholder Interface

• Interface directly with clients to align on Project Controls processes, reporting formats, and performance indicators.
• Ensure clarity and alignment between the Project Controls function and all internal departments, including Engineering Disciplines, Project Management, Procurement, and Construction Management.

Qualifications & Experience:

• A passion for improving quality of life and a commitment to teamwork.
• Degree qualified in a relevant discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• Minimum of 10–15 years’ experience within an engineering design consultancy environment.
• Proven experience on industrial projects valued at €100m+.
• Demonstrated industry experience in the Pharma or Life Sciences sectors.
• Strong ability to convey complex information clearly to diverse stakeholders.
• Advanced analytical skills to assess project performance, identify trends, and drive corrective actions.
• Demonstrated leadership, organisational, and communication skills.
• Familiarity with contract types (e.g., FIDIC, NEC) and their commercial implications.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We believe that by working together diverse people with different experiences develop the most innovative ideas. Equality, diversity, and inclusion is at the heart of how we improve quality of life, and we work closely with our people across six ED&I Workstreams: Age, Disability, Faith, Gender, LGBT+ and Race. A diverse and skilled workforce is essential to our success.