Director of Project Controls & Performance

Parsons; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 500,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons invites an experienced Project Controls Director to lead cost, schedule, risk, and change management across a complex development program. You will govern governance, forecasting, and reporting to ensure on-time delivery and financial control.

The role requires strong leadership, deep technical knowledge, and the ability to build high-performing teams of planners, schedulers, cost engineers, and risk specialists, driving continuous improvement and advanced analytics.

Responsibilities

• Establish, manage, and enforce the overall project controls strategy, systems, procedures, and reporting frameworks across the program.
• Develop project control plans, governance models, and performance measurement systems aligned with client and program objectives.
• Ensure integration of cost, schedule, risk, and change management across all phases of the project lifecycle.
• Implement best practices, policies, and standards for project controls across all project packages and delivery teams.
• Oversee the preparation, review, and approval of the integrated master schedule, ensuring alignment across engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover activities.
• Monitor schedule progress and performance, identifying delays, potential impacts, and mitigation strategies.
• Evaluate contractor schedules to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and project milestones.
• Implement advanced scheduling methodologies such as critical path analysis, schedule risk assessment, and resource-loaded scheduling.
• Provide schedule forecasts and recovery strategies to support proactive project management.
• Direct all cost engineering functions including cost estimating, cost control, cash flow forecasting, and budget monitoring.
• Establish project cost baselines and ensure accurate tracking of expenditures against approved budgets.
• Lead monthly cost reporting, forecasting, and variance analysis to ensure financial transparency and control.
• Analyze cost trends and recommend corrective actions to maintain financial performance.
• Ensure alignment with performance measurement frameworks such as Earned Value Management (EVM).
• Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive project risk management frameworks.
• Facilitate risk identification workshops, qualitative and quantitative risk assessments, and mitigation planning.
• Oversee schedule and cost risk modeling to support decision-making and contingency allocation.
• Monitor risk exposure, mitigation effectiveness, and escalation of critical risks to senior leadership.
• Maintain an active risk register and ensure proactive management of project uncertainties.
• Direct the management of project changes and variations to ensure proper evaluation, documentation, and integration into project baselines.
• Establish and maintain structured change control processes and governance.
• Facilitate Change Control Board (CCB) meetings and ensure transparent decision-making.
• Collaborate with commercial and contract teams in evaluating claims, entitlement assessments, and negotiation strategies.
• Ensure accurate tracking of project trends, early warning notices, and potential claims exposure.
• Oversee preparation of executive-level reports, dashboards, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Ensure consistent, transparent, and timely reporting of project performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Present complex project performance data in clear and actionable formats for executive leadership and stakeholders.
• Provide strategic insights to support informed decision-making at program level.
• Lead the evaluation, implementation, and optimization of project controls systems and digital platforms.
• Promote continuous improvement through automation, advanced analytics, and performance monitoring tools.
• Ensure data accuracy, consistency, and integrity across all project controls systems.
• Establish standardized processes and documentation practices to maintain audit readiness.
• Introduce innovative technologies and methodologies to enhance forecasting accuracy and reporting efficiency.
• Lead and manage a multidisciplinary project controls team including planners, schedulers, cost engineers, risk specialists, and reporting analysts.
• Build and maintain high-performing teams focused on collaboration, accountability, and technical excellence.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support professional development and training initiatives.
• Foster a culture o

Job description

Parsons invites an experienced Project Controls Director to lead cost, schedule, risk, and change management across a complex development program. You will govern governance, forecasting, and reporting to ensure on-time delivery and financial control.

The role requires strong leadership, deep technical knowledge, and the ability to build high-performing teams of planners, schedulers, cost engineers, and risk specialists, driving continuous improvement and advanced analytics.