Pharmaceutical Project Controls Manager

Jobless; Pennsylvania; Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

mcfa is seeking a Pharmaceutical Project Controls Manager to support a life sciences client in a portfolio of approximately $100 million in capital work at a Montgomery County, PA facility. The role blends cost controls and scheduling, embedded on a client project team, with hybrid onsite/offsite requirements.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in project controls, experience leading pharmaceutical capital projects in GMP settings, and proficiency with Excel; familiarity with Primavera P6, MS

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, business, finance, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of project controls experience, including direct involvement with pharmaceutical manufacturing, life sciences, or other regulated facility construction projects.
• Proven experience as Project Controls lead on pharmaceutical capital projects within GMP-regulated environments.
• Working knowledge of project cost management or CPM scheduling; not required to be equal in both disciplines.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills; experience with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, and Power BI preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support scheduling by developing, updating, and analyzing project schedules; review contractor schedules, milestones, logic, critical paths, and near-term look-ahead.
• Track budgets, commitments, forecasts, invoices, change orders, cash flow, and cost variances.
• Prepare recurring project controls reports, dashboards, forecasts, schedule updates, and variance narratives for leadership.
• Coordinate with project managers, design teams, contractors, procurement, finance, and other stakeholders to maintain accurate project information.
• Participate in project and controls meetings; identify risks/trends and drive issues to resolution.
• Maintain organized project controls data in client systems and follow governance and documentation procedures.

Skills

Project controls leadership

Scheduling

Cost control

Stakeholder communication

Risk management

GMP/regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in CM/Engineering/Architecture/related field

Tools

Primavera P6

Microsoft Project

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Position Title: Pharmaceutical Project Controls Manager (Cost and/or Scheduler)

Location: Montgomery County, Pa (Hybrid: 3 Days onsite / 2 Days remote)

Job Type: Full-Time, Project Controls

Salary: $125,000-$150,000 DOE

About mcfa:

We are a professional services firm in the Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC)industry serving public and private sector clients in the Mid-Atlantic region. Our services include Strategy, Planning, Program Management & Construction Management. Our goal is to help every employee design a fulfilling career through aligning their individual passions/skills with the vision of the organization. Our mission is "Inspiring People and Places through Project Leadership and Project Development".

mcfa Core Values (LEADS):

• Love (each other, mission, work)
• Entrepreneurial (spirit of innovation)
• Accountability (to ourselves, our clients, each other)
• Delight (customers and teammates)
• Stretch (individual and collective growth mindset)

How you'll get to contribute:

mcfa is seeking a Project Controls Manager to support a life sciences client with an active portfolio of approximately $100 million in capital improvement work at a Montgomery County, PA facility. This full-time, hybrid position will be embedded within an established client project team and will focus on cost management, scheduling, or a combination of both, depending on the selected candidate’s experience. The ideal candidate is an early- to mid-career project controls professional who can collaborate effectively, learn the client’s processes, and contribute immediately without requiring a senior leadership role.

What you'll get to do:

• Serve as an integrated member of the client’s project team supporting capital projects in life sciences, R&D, and laboratory environments.
• Support project scheduling by developing, updating, and analyzing project schedules; reviewing contractor schedules, milestones, logic, critical paths, and near-term look-ahead.
• Support project cost controls by tracking budgets, commitments, forecasts, invoices, change orders, cash flow, and cost variances.
• Prepare recurring project controls reports, dashboards, forecasts, schedule updates, and concise variance narratives for project leadership.
• Coordinate with project managers, design teams, contractors, procurement, finance, and other stakeholders to maintain accurate and timely project information.
• Participate in project and controls meetings, document action items, identify emerging risks or trends, and help drive issues to resolution.
• Maintain organized project controls data in the client’s systems and follow established governance, reporting, and documentation procedures.
• Work onsite in Montgomery County three days per week and remotely the remaining two days, while maintaining flexibility based on project needs.

Who you are:

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, business, finance, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of project controls experience, including direct involvement with pharmaceutical manufacturing, life sciences, or other regulated facility construction projects.
• Proven experience serving as the Project Controls lead on pharmaceutical capital projects, including planning, scheduling, cost control, and reporting within GMP-regulated environments.
• Working knowledge of either project cost management or CPM scheduling; candidates do not need to be equally experienced in both disciplines.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills are required. Experience with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Power BI, or project cost management systems is preferred.
• Ability to understand construction documents, project budgets, schedules, procurement activities, invoices, change management, and forecasting processes.
• Strong communication, organization, analytical thinking, and follow-through, with the ability to fit seamlessly into an established team environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading Project Controls activities across multiple concurrent capital projects while managing schedules, budgets, risks, and stakeholder communications.
• Ability to work onsite in Montgomery County, PA three days per week. AACE, PMI-SP, PMP, or related credentials are valued but not required.

What's in it for you:

Annual Paid Time Off:

• Sick Leave: 5 Days (40 Hours)
• Vacation: 15 Days (120 Hours)
• Holidays: 11 Federal Holidays (88 Hours) observed in accordance with mcfa's Holiday Schedule

"mcfa way" Bonus Program:

• Following your first full quarter worked, you will qualify for a profit-share bonus that is distributed at the end of each quarter if company targets are hit.
• Incoming Growth Units: 10
• Growth Unit allotment may increase over time.

Healthcare & Insurance:

• Eligible to participate in mcfa’s family medical, dental and vision coverage; plan access begins on the first day of employment.
  • mcfa contributes up to 75% shared cost, not to exceed $700 per month.
• Company paid life insurance plan (up to $100,000 per employee).
• Company paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.

Retirement

• You are eligible to participate in Company retirement plan (401k) on first day of employment with mcfa.

References and/or work samples may be requested.

This position is subject to client review and approval.

mcfa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. mcfa does not discriminate against any applicant or employee with regard to hiring, tenure of employment, promotion, transfer, selection for training, or any other terms or conditions of employment because of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or national origin, status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran in accordance with applicable federal law, or on any ground protected by state or local law in each area in which mcfa maintains facilities.

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