Project Controls Lead

Zachary Piper Solutions; Clayton (NC); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision coverage

401K

Job summary

Piper Companies seeks a Project Controls Lead to join a pharmaceutical manufacturing organization in Clayton, NC on an onsite contract basis. You will oversee cost management for a major capital expansion and help implement standardized controls across projects.

Responsibilities include budgeting, forecasting, EAC analyses, and cost reporting, plus collaboration with engineering, procurement, and construction teams to ensure accurate cost data and timely forecasts.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in project controls, cost controls, or project finance for major capital projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost management: budgeting, forecasting, accrual tracking, cost reporting, and EAC analysis.
• Monitor financial performance, variances, contingency usage, and budget risks.
• Collaborate with PMs, engineering, procurement, construction, finance, and scheduling teams.
• Support change management and maintain cost baseline integrity.
• Develop standardized project controls tools and templates for consistent reporting.

Skills

Cost controls

Budgeting

Forecasting

Earned value

Change management

Stakeholder management

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Finance/PM

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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