Pharma Project Controls Lead

Blackfield Associates; Minnesota; On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Blackfield Associates seeks a Project Controller in Minnesota to support a large pharmaceutical capital project. The role emphasizes cost management, budgeting, forecasting, and schedule development using MS Project.

You will collaborate with project managers, engineering, procurement, and finance to keep the project on budget and on schedule, driving performance with disciplined controls and proactive issue resolution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Finance, Business, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of Project Controls or Project Controller experience supporting capital projects.
• Experience working on pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or regulated manufacturing projects.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Project for schedule development and maintenance.
• Strong experience in project cost control, forecasting, budgeting, and financial reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced project environment.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and update detailed project schedules using Microsoft Project (MS Project).
• Monitor project progress against baseline schedules and identify schedule risks and recovery opportunities.
• Lead all project cost control activities, including budget tracking, commitment management, forecasting, and cost reporting.
• Prepare weekly and monthly project control reports highlighting cost and schedule performance.
• Perform earned value analysis and provide variance explanations and corrective action recommendations.
• Track purchase orders, contracts, invoices, and change orders to ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Support project budgeting, estimate validation, and cash flow forecasting.
• Work closely with engineering, procurement, construction, validation, and finance teams to collect and verify project data.
• Facilitate project progress meetings and provide schedule and cost updates to project leadership.
• Maintain project documentation, logs, and reporting dashboards.
• Identify project risks impacting cost or schedule and assist in developing mitigation plans.
• Ensure project controls processes comply with company procedures and pharmaceutical industry standards.
• Support project closeout activities, including final cost reconciliation and reporting.

Skills

Microsoft Project

Cost control

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial reporting

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Finance, Business, or related

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Blackfield Associates seeks a Project Controller in Minnesota to support a large pharmaceutical capital project. The role emphasizes cost management, budgeting, forecasting, and schedule development using MS Project.

You will collaborate with project managers, engineering, procurement, and finance to keep the project on budget and on schedule, driving performance with disciplined controls and proactive issue resolution.