Cost Controls Manager

ORCAS Project Controls; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Health insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

ORCAS Project Controls is seeking a Project Controls Manager to oversee large-scale biotech capital projects exceeding $500 million in Northern Los Angeles. This hybrid role necessitates strong project controls expertise in cost management, budgeting, change management, and risk analysis.

The ideal candidate will work closely with project managers and stakeholders to ensure effective cost management and contractual compliance. Responsibilities include developing project cost plans, managing budgets, and conducting variance analyses.

Benefits include health insurance, a 401(k) plan, and paid time off. Candidates should have 7-10 years’ experience in project controls within the biotech or construction sector.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years experience in project controls in biotech or construction.
• Demonstrated experience with Monte Carlo for risk management.
• Strong organization and prioritization skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain project cost management tools.
• Ensure proper change management throughout project phases.
• Provide target value design setup to manage design to cost.

Skills

Project controls expertise including cost management

Budgeting

Change management

Risk analysis

Cash flow planning

Cost controls

Proven interpersonal skills

Strong communication skills

Advanced Excel skills

SAP skills

Education

Relevant Construction Experience

Certification from PMI or AACE

Tools

Join.Build

Planisware

Job description

We are looking for a Project Controls Manager to support large‑scale biotech capital projects with values greater than $500M in Northern Los Angeles.

The Project Controls Manager is responsible for directly managing the project cost management, forecasting, reporting, and financial performance throughout the project lifecycle. This is a hands‑on technical role which encompasses budgeting, change management, risk analysis, cash flow planning, and cost controls while supporting project teams with data‑driven insights and decision‑making. The position works closely with project managers, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure accurate reporting, effective cost management, contractual compliance, and successful project delivery. Some management of other team members in project controls is expected, but this is not the primary focus.

Candidates should possess strong project controls expertise, including cost, estimating, scheduling, procurement, and reporting, with experience supporting large‑scale capital projects.

This is a hybrid position in Northern Los Angeles requiring 3 days per week on‑site.

Responsibilities

• Develop and adhere to the Project Controls Plan for Estimating, Funding, Procurement, and Cost.
• Develop and maintain project cost in the cost management tool according to control accounts guidelines.
• Manage original budget, current budget, current forecast, commitments, actuals, changes, earned value, productivity, CPI, SPI, staffing plans vs. actuals by name, risk, commitment curve, cashflow curve, and accruals based on work in place.
• Provide target value design setup and support to manage design to cost.
• Perform reconciliation of cost data from local accounting systems to the project controls system of record.
• Support the Project Manager on cost reporting, forecasting, and negotiation of contracts and change orders.
• Develop reports on actuals, variances, trends, and re‑forecast as necessary.
• Ensure proper change management throughout the project phases.
• Develop and maintain detailed cash flow and commitment flow throughout the project phases.
• Evaluate external costs and develop internal cost estimates in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Participate in the value engineering process.
• Analyze change orders for cost impact.
• Perform bid cost comparisons for proposal review teams.
• Provide costs and schedule impacts associated with identified project risks.
• Review and validate contractual compliance of project invoices.
• Assist in the financial project close‑out.
• Develop and ensure recording of the project’s historical cost information and "lessons learned" for future use.

Requirements

• 7-10 years experience working in cGMP, R&D, or office construction (both cC&S and fitout). Full understanding of cost control/management.
• Preferable to have biotech experience.
• Strong understanding of procurement and contracts.
• Demonstrated strong knowledge and experience in the various aspects of project controls, accounting, estimating, planning/scheduling, progress measurement, forecasting/reporting, and risk management.
• Demonstrated experience with Monte Carlo for risk management as it relates to construction.
• Strong organization and prioritization skills for accurate and largely self‑directed work.
• Advanced knowledge in the construction of civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation systems.
• 1-2 years experience with project estimating (ROM/concept estimating).
• Strong communication and presentation capabilities: written and verbal.
• Good interpersonal and collaborating skills.
• Demonstrate a team spirit and strong dedication to the success of the team.

Education and Training

• Relevant Construction Experience 10+ years
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and SAP
• Intermediate skills in Join.Build and Planisware
• Any certification from PMI or AACE is beneficial
• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Paid time off