Project Controls Director (Saudi National)

Parsons; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons is seeking a Project Controls Director to provide strategic leadership for planning, scheduling, cost management, risk management, and governance across a major landscape and infrastructure program in the Riyadh region. The role requires directing a multidisciplinary controls team, delivering executive reports, and aligning schedules with design, procurement, construction, and handover activities.

The candidate will build and mentor a high-performing PMO team, establish robust controls

Qualifications

• 20+ years in project controls, program management, or major projects.
• Senior leadership experience in PMO environments.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the Project Controls function across the program lifecycle.

Skills

Leadership in project controls

Planning & scheduling

Cost management

Risk management

Change control

Reporting & governance

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering/Construction Management/Project Management/Quantity Surveying

Master's degree in Engineering/Project Management/Construction Management/Business Administration

Tools

Primavera P6

Power BI

Job description

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next!At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what’s possible.

Job Description:

Parsons is looking to hire a high-caliber Project Controls Director. In this role you will provide strategic leadership for planning, scheduling, cost management, risk management, change control, progress measurement, performance reporting, and project governance.

The role is responsible for ensuring the successful implementation and maintenance of robust project controls processes, systems, and procedures that enable informed decision-making and effective program delivery.

Working closely with the Client, PMO leadership, designers, consultants, contractors, and key stakeholders, the PCD will establish an integrated controls framework to monitor project performance, identify emerging risks, and ensure alignment with approved budgets, schedules, and project objectives.

The selected candidate will lead a multidisciplinary Project Controls team and provide executive-level reporting and analysis to support the successful delivery of one of the region's most significant Landscape and Infrastructure programs.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Establish and lead the Project Controls function within the PMO across all phases of the program lifecycle.
• Develop and implement project controls policies, procedures, standards, and governance frameworks.
• Build, lead, and mentor an integrated team comprising planning, scheduling, cost, risk, reporting, and controls professionals.
• Provide strategic advice to PMO and executive leadership on project performance, risks, opportunities, and recovery strategies.
• Ensure consistent application of project controls processes across all projects, consultants, and contractors.
• Direct the development, review, integration, and maintenance of program and project schedules.
• Ensure alignment and integration of design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover schedules.
• Monitor critical paths, key milestones, interfaces, and dependencies across the program.
• Lead schedule performance reviews and recommend mitigation or recovery measures where required.
• Oversee schedule risk analysis and ensure robust planning practices are adopted across all workstreams.
• Lead the development and maintenance of program budgets, forecasts, and cost control systems.
• Monitor program expenditure, commitments, cash flow, and forecast final costs.
• Review and challenge cost forecasts and performance data to ensure accuracy and accountability.
• Ensure timely reporting of cost performance, variances, trends, and management actions.
• Support PMO leadership in the assessment of commercial risks, claims, changes, and contractual implications.
• Establish and maintain the program-wide risk management framework.
• Lead risk identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring activities.
• Facilitate risk workshops and ensure key threats and opportunities are actively managed.
• Oversee change management processes, ensuring proper evaluation, approval, and implementation of scope, schedule, and budget changes.
• Assess the impact of changes on program objectives and delivery commitments.
• Establish project controls dashboards, reporting frameworks, and performance metrics.
• Lead the preparation of weekly, monthly, and executive-level reports.
• Develop and maintain program-wide Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Analyse project performance trends and provide actionable recommendations to senior leadership.
• Ensure the integrity, consistency, and accuracy of project controls data and reporting systems.

Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary Project Controls interface between the PMO, Client, consultants, contractors, and external stakeholders.
• Support senior leadership in project reviews, governance meetings, and executive presentations.
• Ensure transparency and effective communication of project performance across all stakeholder groups.
• Foster collaboration and alignment between delivery teams to achieve program objectives.
• Lead and manage the PMO Project Controls team, setting clear objectives and performance expectations.
• Promote a culture of excellence, accountability, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.
• Identify resource requirements and ensure the Project Controls function is appropriately staffed throughout the program lifecycle.
• Support the development and succession planning of Project Controls personnel.

What Desired Skills You’ll Bring

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, or Business Administration is desirable.
• Minimum 20 years of experience in project controls, program management, or major project delivery, including at least 10 years in a senior leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience delivering large-scale infrastructure, landscape, civil, transportation, or mixed-use development programs.
• Proven experience within a PMO environment overseeing projects from design through construction and handover.
• Extensive knowledge of planning and scheduling, cost management, risk management, change control, reporting, and project governance.
• Strong understanding of international project controls standards and best practices.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary project controls teams on complex mega projects.
• Proficiency in Primavera P6, Power BI, cost management systems, and enterprise project controls platforms.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, PMI-SP, AACE, CCP, PSP, MRICS, or equivalent are highly desirable.

Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels no matter the race, color, 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—