Project Controls Lead

ZP Group; Clayton (NC); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Piper Companies seeks a Project Controls Lead for an onsite contract in Clayton, NC. You will oversee cost management for a large-scale capital expansion and help raise project controls standards across a broader portfolio.

You will partner with project managers, engineering, procurement, construction, and finance to validate forecasts, maintain cost data, and implement standardized tools and reporting templates to improve cost visibility.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in project controls, cost controls, or project finance overseeing major capital projects.
• Proven skills in budgeting, forecasting, earned value concepts, cost analysis and change management.
• Experience providing owner-side project controls support in pharma/manufacturing/industrial sectors.
• Strong analytical and stakeholder management abilities; translate data into actionable recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost management including budgeting, forecasting, accrual tracking, cost reporting and EAC analysis for a major capital project.
• Monitor financial performance, evaluate variances, track contingency usage and identify budget risks needing action.
• Collaborate with project managers, engineering, procurement, construction, finance, and scheduling teams to validate forecasts and cost data.
• Support change management by assessing financial impacts and maintaining cost baseline integrity.
• Develop standardized project controls tools, reporting templates, and best practices to improve cost visibility across projects.

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Earned value management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

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

Job description

Piper Companies is seeking a Project Controls Lead to join a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing organization for an onsite contract position based in Clayton, NC. The Project Controls Lead will oversee cost management activities for a large-scale capital expansion project while helping enhance project controls processes and reporting standards across a broader portfolio of projects.

Responsibilities of the Project Controls Lead include:

• Lead cost management efforts including budgeting, forecasting, accrual tracking, cost reporting, and estimate-at-completion analysis for a major capital project.
• Monitor project financial performance, evaluate variances, track contingency usage, and identify potential budget risks requiring corrective action.
• Partner with project managers, engineering, procurement, construction, finance, and scheduling teams to validate forecasts and maintain accurate cost data.
• Support change management processes by assessing financial impacts, incorporating approved changes, and maintaining cost baseline integrity.
• Develop and implement standardized project controls tools, reporting templates, and best practices to improve cost visibility and consistency across projects of varying sizes.

Qualifications for the Project Controls Lead include:

• 8+ years of experience in project controls, cost controls, or project finance supporting major capital projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in budgeting, forecasting, earned value concepts, cost analysis, and change management.
• Experience delivering owner-side project controls support within pharmaceutical, biotech, manufacturing, industrial, or large construction environments.
• Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to translate financial data into actionable recommendations.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, Accounting, Project Management, or a related discipline preferred.

Compensation for the Project Controls Lead:

Salary Range: $150,000-$180,000/year (USD)

Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, sick leave if required by law, and 401K

This job opens for applications on 10/2/26. Applications for this job will be accepted for at least 30 days from the posting date.

Keywords: project controls, cost controls, capital projects, project forecasting, budget management, cost analysis, estimate at completion, estimate to complete, financial reporting, accruals, change management, contingency management, project budgeting, project finance, earned value management, project controls lead, cost forecasting, project risk management, construction management, capital expansion, project execution, procurement, engineering, project monitoring, schedule integration, financial planning, project governance, reporting dashboards, process improvement, PMO, industrial construction, pharmaceutical manufacturing, cost performance, financial analysis, resource planning, stakeholder management, project tracking, project controls systems, portfolio management.

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