Director, Project Controls

U.S. Engineering; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 153,000 - 216,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Engineering is seeking a Director of Project Controls to align estimating, virtual construction, scheduling, and operations.

Lead the strategy for cost control, scheduling, forecasting, risk management, and reporting to deliver projects on time and within budget with full visibility. The role emphasizes standardization, governance, and leadership of a team of cost engineers, schedulers, and analysts across multiple regions, driving continuous improvement and value realization for

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Finance, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 10–15+ years in project controls, construction management, or related discipline
• 5+ years in leadership role managing teams and multiple projects
• Experience in large-scale commercial, industrial, or mechanical construction projects
• Proficiency with Primavera P6 and MS Project
• Strong financial acumen including budgeting, cost analysis, and reporting

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the overall project controls strategy aligned with company growth objectives
• Develop standardized processes, tools, and governance for cost, schedule, and performance management
• Drive consistency across all projects, regions, and business units
• Partner with executive leadership to provide insights that inform business decisions and project pursuits
• Oversee project cost management processes, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost tracking
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting across all active projects
• Analyze cost performance, identify variances, and propose corrective actions
• Collaborate with finance and operations to improve margin predictability and profitability
• Lead the development and oversight of project schedules, including baseline schedules and progress updates
• Ensure proper use of scheduling methodologies (e.g., CPM) across projects
• Identify schedule risks and mitigation strategies to maintain timelines
• Support project teams in recovery planning and schedule optimization
• Develop and implement risk identification, assessment, and mitigation processes
• Ensure risks are quantified and incorporated into forecasts and contingencies
• Provide leadership visibility into key project risks and opportunities
• Establish standardized reporting frameworks, dashboards, and KPIs
• Deliver data-driven insights to executive leadership on project performance
• Leverage data analytics to improve forecasting accuracy
• Continuously improve reporting tools and systems for efficiency
• Partner with estimating and preconstruction teams to ensure accurate cost/baseline alignment
• Ensure smooth transition from estimating to project execution with clear baselines
• Support project teams throughout lifecycle with controls expertise
• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing project controls team
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations
• Drive professional development and succession planning
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Evaluate and implement project controls systems and tools
• Drive digital transformation and automation of project controls processes
• Promote best practices and lessons learned across the organization

Skills

Cost control

Forecasting

Scheduling (CPM)

Risk management

Executive communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree (construction management, engineering, finance)

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

ERP systems

Job description

The Director of Project Controls is responsible for leading the alignment between intercompany teams including estimating, virtual construction, scheduling, and project operations. Execute strategy, and development of project controls functions across the organization, including cost management, scheduling, forecasting, risk management, and reporting. This role ensures projects are delivered on time, within budget, and with full visibility into performance, while driving consistency, accuracy, and continuous improvement across all project controls practices.

Principal Duties and Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership

• Establish and lead the overall project controls strategy aligned with company growth objectives
• Develop standardized processes, tools, and governance for cost, schedule, and performance management
• Drive consistency across all projects, regions, and business units
• Partner with executive leadership to provide insights that inform business decisions and project pursuits

Cost Control & Financial Oversight

• Oversee project cost management processes, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost tracking
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting across all active projects
• Analyze cost performance, identify variances, and collaborate with project teams to implement corrective actions
• Collaborate with finance and operations to improve margin predictability and profitability

Scheduling & Planning

• Lead the development and oversight of project schedules, including baseline schedules and progress updates
• Ensure proper use of scheduling methodologies (e.g., CPM) across projects
• Identify schedule risks and mitigation strategies to maintain project timelines
• Support project teams in recovery planning and schedule optimization

Risk Management

• Develop and implement risk identification, assessment, and mitigation processes
• Ensure risks are quantified and incorporated into project forecasts and contingency planning
• Provide leadership visibility into key project risks and opportunities

Reporting & Analytics

• Establish standardized reporting frameworks, dashboards, and KPIs
• Deliver clear, data-driven insights to executive leadership on project performance
• Leverage data analytics to improve forecasting accuracy and decision-making
• Continuously improve reporting tools and systems for efficiency and clarity

Preconstruction & Project Lifecycle Integration

• Partner with estimating and preconstruction teams to ensure accurate project setup and baseline alignment
• Ensure smooth transition from estimating to project execution with clear cost and schedule baselines
• Support project teams throughout the lifecycle with controls expertise

Leadership & Team Development

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing project controls team (cost engineers, schedulers, analysts)
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations
• Drive professional development and succession planning within the team
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Process Improvement & Systems

• Evaluate and implement project controls systems and tools (e.g., productivity tracking, scheduling software, ERP integrations)
• Drive digital transformation and automation of project controls processes where applicable
• Promote best practices and lessons learned across the organization. Partner with operational training team to develop programs to train team members

Safety & Compliance

• Support and reinforce company safety culture across all project activities
• Ensure compliance with contractual requirements, company policies, and regulatory standards

Management Responsibility

Supervisor – responsible for hiring, performance management and pay administration for subordinates.

List supervised positions

project schedulers, project controls managers, data analysts

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Finance, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 10–15+ years of experience in project controls, construction management, or related discipline
• 5+ years in a leadership role managing teams and multiple projects
• Experience in large-scale commercial, industrial, or mechanical construction projects

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

Technical Expertise

• Deep knowledge of cost control, forecasting, scheduling (CPM), and risk management
• Proficiency with project controls and scheduling software (e.g., Primavera P6, MS Project)
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, cost analysis, and reporting
• Familiarity with ERP systems and data analytics tools

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making capabilities
• Excellent communication and executive presentation skills
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders
• High attention to detail with a focus on accuracy and accountability
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification
• PSP (Planning & Scheduling Professional) or CCP (Certified Cost Professional)
• Experience implementing or improving project controls systems and processes

Work Environment

• Combination of office and construction site environments
• Travel required based on project locations and business needs

Physical and/or travel demands

• Ability to visit and navigate active construction sites
• Ability to sit, stand, and work at a computer for extended periods

Benefits and Compensation

• The range for this position has been established at $153,120.00 - $216,280.00
  and is U.S. Engineering’s good faith and reasonable estimate at the time of the posting. The compensation offered to the finalist selected for this role will be based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training.
• Your total compensation will go beyond the number on your paycheck. Team members are eligible for a year-end bonus based on company and/or individual performance as well as paid time off. An industry-leading benefits package, including health, dental, and vision plans, matching retirement contributions, and matching 529 contributions all add to your bottom line.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without requiring future sponsorship for employment visa status. U.S. Engineering Construction is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and shall provide equal employment opportunities to all people in all aspects of employer-employee relations, without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status. U.S. Engineering Construction is compliant with the Drug Free Workplace Act, and all offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of a pre-employment drug screen. Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and job specifications required of employees so classified. U.S. Engineering reserves the right to revise as needed. The job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.