Engineering Project Cost Controls Manager (Capital Forecasting)

Dessert Holdings Inc.; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Dessert Holdings Inc. is seeking an Engineering Project Controls Manager to lead project controls, capital planning, and governance for the Engineering organization across its manufacturing network.

You will oversee forecasting, reporting, and controls standards to drive capital effectiveness while coordinating with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, Finance, and Supply Chain teams. The role includes developing dashboards, KPIs, and governance processes, supervising staff, and supporting

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field preferred; equivalent professional experience considered.

Responsibilities

• Lead project controls for capital projects across multiple manufacturing facilities, ensuring effective management of scope, schedule, budget, risk, and project performance.
• Develop and maintain project execution plans, schedules, budgets, forecasts, and risk mitigation strategies in partnership with Engineering leadership and project teams.
• Establish and drive standardized project controls processes, including change management, cost control, forecasting, reporting, and governance.
• Manage the enterprise capital portfolio, including project prioritization, resource planning, forecasting, performance tracking, and strategic capital allocation.
• Lead annual and long-range capital planning activities while supporting business case development, ROI analysis, and investment decision-making.
• Own project and portfolio financial controls, including cost tracking, forecasting, accruals, commitments, estimate-at-completion processes, and capitalization compliance.
• Analyze project and portfolio performance, identify risks and variances, and recommend corrective actions to ensure successful project delivery.
• Develop, maintain, and present executive dashboards, KPIs, portfolio reports, and project performance metrics to support leadership decision-making.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration among Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, Finance, Supply Chain, Quality, contractors, and OEM partners to achieve project objectives.
• Lead project controls governance, stage-gate reviews, reporting standards, PMO tools, templates, and documentation practices to ensure compliance and consistency.
• Supervise, coach, and develop project controls support staff while promoting accountability, standardization, and continuous improvement across the function.
• Direct project closeout activities, including financial reconciliation, asset capitalization, records management, lessons learned, audit readiness, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

MS Project

JIRA

Smartsheets

Primavera P6

Job description

Engineering Project Controls Manager

Desert Holdings is the leading premium dessert company in the world. We craft artisanal, scratch-made desserts at scale, combining culinary innovation with the finest real ingredients. With a rich heritage spanning seven distinctive brands, we bring unmatched expertise and tailored solutions to our Retail and Foodservice partners.

Reporting to the VP of Engineering & Reliability, the Engineering Project Controls Manager is responsible for leading project controls, capital planning, portfolio reporting, and governance processes for the Engineering organization. The role provides oversight of capital forecasting, project performance management, capital approval workflows, portfolio analytics, and project controls standards across Dessert Holdings' manufacturing network.

The position partners closely with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, and Finance to improve capital effectiveness, strengthen governance, and provide visibility into project execution performance. The role manages one direct report and is responsible for the continuous improvement of project controls processes, reporting tools, and capital planning practices that enable successful project delivery across multiple food manufacturing facilities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead project controls for capital projects across multiple manufacturing facilities, ensuring effective management of scope, schedule, budget, risk, and project performance.
• Develop and maintain project execution plans, schedules, budgets, forecasts, and risk mitigation strategies in partnership with Engineering leadership and project teams.
• Establish and drive standardized project controls processes, including change management, cost control, forecasting, reporting, and governance.
• Manage the enterprise capital portfolio, including project prioritization, resource planning, forecasting, performance tracking, and strategic capital allocation.
• Lead annual and long-range capital planning activities while supporting business case development, ROI analysis, and investment decision-making.
• Own project and portfolio financial controls, including cost tracking, forecasting, accruals, commitments, estimate-at-completion processes, and capitalization compliance.
• Analyze project and portfolio performance, identify risks and variances, and recommend corrective actions to ensure successful project delivery.
• Develop, maintain, and present executive dashboards, KPIs, portfolio reports, and project performance metrics to support leadership decision-making.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration among Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, Finance, Supply Chain, Quality, contractors, and OEM partners to achieve project objectives.
• Lead project controls governance, stage-gate reviews, reporting standards, PMO tools, templates, and documentation practices to ensure compliance and consistency.
• Supervise, coach, and develop project controls support staff while promoting accountability, standardization, and continuous improvement across the function.
• Direct project closeout activities, including financial reconciliation, asset capitalization, records management, lessons learned, audit readiness, and continuous improvement initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field preferred. Equivalent professional experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 5–10 years of experience in project controls, capital planning, engineering project management, project management office (PMO), manufacturing finance, or related disciplines.
• Experience supporting capital project portfolios within manufacturing and industrial environments, with prior experience in consumer packaged goods (CPG), food, beverage preferred
• Demonstrated experience in capital forecasting, project reporting, cost controls, schedule management, or project governance processes.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing stakeholders across multiple sites and functions.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or leading project support personnel is preferred.
• Proficiency in Excel, and exposure to project management software or tools such as MS Project, JIRA, Smartsheets, Primavera P6, or similar. Prior experience with ERP systems is preferred
• Ability to travel up to 15 to 25% within the U.S. and Canada

About Dessert Holdings

Desert Holdings is a collection of premium dessert companies and brands: The Original Cakerie, Lawler's Desserts, Atlanta Cheesecake Company, Steven Charles, Dianne's Fine Desserts, Kenny's Great Pies, and Willamette Valley Pie Company. Dessert Holdings is owned by Bain Capital, is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, employs more than 3,500 people across ten manufacturing facilities, and is continuing its journey of rapid growth.

EEO Statement

Dessert Holdings and its related entities provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristics protected by law.