Program Controls Manager

AECOM; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation offered

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Program Controls Manager to support the Water Business Line in Chicago, Illinois, overseeing a five-year, $3.9 billion CIP to improve water services. You will lead a Program Controls team to develop budgets, schedules, and cost management, and to report to the client on progress and performance.

You will drive master scheduling, WBS setup, contingency management, risk assessment, and EAC forecasting, while coordinating with PMO staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience leading other project controls professionals is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist PgM in developing program control delivery; collaborate with task leadership; manage client relationships.
• Lead sub-task managers in delivering program services including capital cost, service cost, funding, scheduling, and reporting.
• Identify opportunities for resource optimization, change management, standardized processes, and tool innovations.
• Monitor performance metrics, client satisfaction, and financial performance vs. budgets/plans.
• Establish task-level KPIs and advise on corrective actions for issues in task execution.
• Develop delegation strategies and maintain functional task teams for service delivery.
• Lead technology adoption, innovation, and quality of deliverables.
• Oversee issue resolution and action tracking; review tasks at gates and perform root cause analyses.

Skills

Program controls

Scheduling

Cost management

Leadership

PMO

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Project management software

Job description

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

AECOM is seeking a Program Controls Manager to support our Water Business Line and five-year, $3.9 billion Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to improve Chicago’s water services efforts in Chicago, Illinois.

In this role you will provide leadership to a Program Controls team within a large, complex water program with multi-billion dollars capital improvements. You will lead the team developing the budget and schedule of the Capital Improvement Plan as well as the cost management of the Program Management Office (PMO). You will be directing the team developing and maintaining the master schedule and acquiring, disbursing, tracking and reporting on the usage of funds. You will be preparing various program reports for the client delivery.

You will be responsible for managing, controlling, forecasting and reporting cost and schedule performance for projects throughout the organization. Services include setting up and managing project controls systems (including setup of work breakdown structure), capturing to-date progress and expenditure data, analyzing to-date performance data, forecasting at-completion performance data (EAC costs, hours), analyzing project risks (contingency management), managing change and incorporating scope variations into schedule and cost deliverables, and preparing associated reports.

Responsibilities and Competencies may include but are not limited to:

• Assist Program Manager (PgM) in developing and managing program control delivery responsibilities; active collaboration with other program task leadership; and establishes and maintains client relationships.
• Responsible to lead and manage sub-task managers in delivering program services including capital cost; program services cost; loan and grant funding; scheduling; and program progress/performance reporting.
• Continually identify strategic program improvements in resources (staff capacity and skills); change management; standardized work processes; and technical tools and innovations.
• Continuously monitor program performance metrics achievements including client satisfaction with fulfillment of agreed scope of services, and overall financial performance of contract to budgets and plans.
• Establish task-level key performance indicators, monitor performance against those indicators, and advise operational management on proposed corrective actions where issues within the task execution occur.
• Develop a delegation strategy by maintaining functional task teams to deliver the respective program services.
• Lead appropriate technology adoption, innovation and quality of task deliverables.
• Overseeing and coordinating the resolution of issues and actions.
• Review task-level functions at set stage gates, conduct root cause analyses; and providing approval or corrective action.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead the project controls function on a large/complex project.
• Possesses proven knowledge of scope control and change management.
• Oversees the production and maintenance of accurate project schedules. Expert understanding of schedule resource loading and leveling.
• Expertise in scheduling, critical path analysis, resource loading and leveling.
• Demonstrated knowledge in using Project Management Information Systems and other applied technologies; ability in reviewing and assessing raw data that comes from project automated systems; and maximizing the resources to deliver Program Controls Manager responsibilities.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications

• 15 years or more of relevant large program controls experience
• 5 years of more of experience in managing other project controls professionals

Additional Information

• All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
• Relocation is offered for this opportunity.
• Sponsorship is not offered for this position now or in the future.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

Offered rate of compensation will be based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. The range for this position is $180000 to $210000.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community—where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

ReqID

J10159475

Business Line

Water

Business Group

DCS

Strategic Business Unit

West

Career Area

Program & Project Management

Work Location Model

Hybrid

Compensation

USD 180000 - USD 210000 - yearly