Project Controller

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

We are seeking a highly motivated and hands-on Project Controller to support the successful execution of a large pharmaceutical capital project in Minnesota. This role is responsible for providing comprehensive project controls, with a primary focus on cost management, budgeting, forecasting, progress measurement, and schedule development and maintenance using Microsoft Project.

The ideal candidate will work closely with the Project Manager, engineering, construction, procurement, and finance teams to ensure the project remains on budget and on schedule. This is a highly interactive role requiring a proactive individual who is comfortable working directly with project teams, contractors, and stakeholders to resolve issues and drive project performance.

Key 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.

Required 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting EPC, design‑build, or owner's representative project teams.
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical validation and commissioning activities.
• Familiarity with change management and earned value management (EVM).
• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle.
• PMP, PSP, CCP, or other project controls certifications are a plus.
• Hands‑on approach to project controls and problem solving.
• Strong attention to detail and financial accuracy.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.
• Proactive decision‑making and risk identification.
• Strong planning, organization, and time management skills.
• Full‑time, on‑site position based in Minnesota.
• Frequent interaction with engineering, construction, procurement, finance, and project leadership teams.
• May require occasional travel to vendors or supporting project locations.

Success Measures

Success in this role will be demonstrated by:

• Accurate and timely cost forecasting.
• Reliable and well‑maintained project schedules.
• Effective control of project budgets and change management.
• High‑quality reporting that enables informed project decisions.
• Early identification and mitigation of cost and schedule risks.
• Strong collaboration with project stakeholders to achieve project milestones safely, on time, and within budget.