Project Controls Director at Parsons

Parsons; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons is seeking a Project Controls Director to lead cost, schedule, risk, and change management across a complex development program. The role requires extensive leadership, governance, accurate forecasting, and transparent reporting to ensure schedule certainty and financial control.

The ideal candidate will manage a multidisciplinary team, implement advanced scheduling methods, and collaborate with engineering, procurement, and construction to optimize performance and value delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management or a related discipline.
• Master’s degree in Project Management, Engineering or Business Administration is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish and enforce the overall project controls strategy, systems, and reporting frameworks.
• Develop project control plans and governance models aligned with objectives.
• Ensure integration of cost, schedule, risk, and change management across all project phases.
• Lead the development and implementation of risk management frameworks and KPIs.

Skills

Leadership

Cost control

Scheduling

Risk management

Reporting

Education

Bachelor’s in Engineering/PM

Master’s in PM preferred

Tools

Primavera P6

Power BI

Tableau

Cost management software

Job description

Location

الرياض, S01, SA.

Contract Type

Full-time on site.

Job Description

Parsons is looking for an amazingly talented Project Controls Director to join our team! The Project Controls Director will lead all aspects of cost, schedule, risk, and change management across a complex development program. This role requires extensive experience, strong leadership capabilities, and deep technical knowledge of project controls best practices. The Director will ensure robust governance, accurate forecasting, transparent reporting, and high-performance execution to support successful project delivery while maintaining schedule certainty and financial control.

What You'll Be Doing

• 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 modelling 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 optimisation 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 standardised 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 of data accuracy, continuous improvement and operational discipline.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, construction, procurement, contracts, finance and operational teams to ensure alignment across the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate with senior stakeholders, project partners, contractors and consultants.
• Proactively identify and resolve project issues to ensure seamless integration of project controls strategies.
• Ensure effective cross-functional communication and coordination across all project delivery teams.

What Required Skills You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management or a related discipline.
• Master’s degree in Project Management, Engineering or Business Administration is preferred.
• Minimum 25 years of experience in project controls within major capital projects.
• At least 15 years in senior leadership roles managing large project controls teams.
• Extensive experience in cost control, planning & scheduling, risk management and performance reporting.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-contractor programs with significant budgets.
• Expert proficiency in Primavera P6, cost management systems and project performance analytics tools.
• Strong understanding of project lifecycle management, construction sequencing and design-development processes.
• Proven leadership capabilities managing large multidisciplinary teams.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent organisational and decision-making abilities.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, particularly in executive-level reporting.
• Comprehensive understanding of contract management, procurement processes and claims evaluation.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, PSP, CCP, EVP, PMI-SP, RMP or equivalent.
• Experience leading project controls functions on large, complex programmes.
• Expertise in digital project controls platforms and data visualisation tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
• Experience working under international contract frameworks such as FIDIC.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to interpret project performance data and guide strategic decisions.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, high-pressure environments with multiple stakeholders.

Parsons Equality & Inclusion

Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels no matter the race, colour, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information. We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest.

Fraud Notification

Parsons is aware of fraudulent recruitment practices. To learn more about recruitment fraud and how to report it, please refer to https://www.parsons.com/fraudulent-recruitment/.

Competitive Benefit Offerings

Financial Wellness

We care about your financial wellbeing. Parsons offers competitive pay and retirement plans to help you build wealth for the future while giving you the flexibility to diversify your investments.

Work Life Harmony

Balance in life is important and time away from the office is imperative to allow you to refresh and focus your attention on the things that matter to you. Parsons supports your time away by providing paid time off and paid flexible holidays.

Career Development

We are committed to fostering the personal and professional growth of our employees. Develop and advance yourself through our comprehensive training, educational and mentorship programmes.

Veteran Support

We provide Industry leading benefits to support veterans and active-duty members to provide security for you and your family by offering robust leave and benefits; including paid active-duty military leave and paid time off when transitioning back to civilian life.

Mind & Body

At Parsons we inspire healthier habits, healthier minds and a healthier you through our wellness programme. Participate in our weekly Meditation Mondays and Wellness Wednesdays. Wellness, at Parsons, is more than just your annual checkup.

Health

Health is not a one size fits all. At Parsons, we offer a robust Employee Assistance Programme as well as comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans through large, national carriers with the choice of regional PPO, HDHP or HMO networks.

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