Project Controls Manager - Life Sciences Capital Construction

AcceleratedPM; Kankakee (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Paid time off

Company holidays

Simple IRA Plan with employer contrib

Job summary

AcceleratedPM is seeking an experienced Project Controls Manager to support a major life sciences manufacturing expansion in Kankakee, IL. The role will lead and coordinate controls across cost, scheduling, forecasting, and reporting, with a strong onsite presence and collaboration with project leadership, contractors, and field teams.

The ideal candidate brings 15+ years in project controls, proficiency in Earned Value Management, Primavera platforms, and strong leadership and communication

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive project controls experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading integrated cost, schedule, forecasting, change control, progress measurement, risk, and reporting functions.
• Strong working knowledge of Earned Value Management and forecasting.
• Experience with multi-contractor construction projects in field and turnover interfaces.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and project controls tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate project controls across cost, schedule, forecasting, and reporting.
• Establish and maintain integrated work and cost breakdown structures.
• Oversee budgets, commitments, actual costs, accruals, forecasts, and EAC/ETO reporting.
• Lead earned value and progress measurement processes and variance analysis.
• Develop dashboards and executive-level presentations communicating performance and risks.

Skills

Earned Value Management

Excel

Project controls

Forecasting

Leadership

Stakeholder communication

Onsite leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Oracle Primavera Cloud

Primavera P6

CMiC

Power BI

Job description

Job Title: Project Controls Manager - Life Sciences Capital Construction

Company: Accelerated PM

Job Type: Project-site-focused; substantial onsite presence and local availability required

Job Location: Kankakee, IL

Salary: $180,000-$200,000 annually, depending on experience and employment arrangement

AcceleratedPM is seeking an experienced Project Controls Manager to support the construction management team on a major life sciences manufacturing expansion in the Kankakee, Illinois area. The role will lead and coordinate project controls activities across cost management, scheduling, earned value, forecasting, change control, progress measurement, risk, and executive reporting.

This is a hands-on, field-facing leadership position supporting active construction execution. The successful candidate will work closely with project leadership, superintendents, discipline teams, contractors, and project controls personnel to establish reliable performance information, identify emerging issues, and drive practical corrective actions.

The position requires a substantial and consistent onsite presence. Candidates should expect to work from the project site for the majority of the workweek, with the specific schedule driven by project needs. Limited remote flexibility may be available when responsibilities and project conditions permit, but this should not be viewed as a remote or traditional hybrid role. Candidates who are not within reasonable commuting distance should be prepared to relocate or establish a local presence for the duration of the assignment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate project controls support across cost, schedule, progress, change, risk, forecasting, and performance reporting.
• Support the construction management team in implementing project controls processes that align with owner requirements, project procedures, and reporting expectations.
• Establish and maintain integrated work breakdown, cost breakdown, coding, and reporting structures across project scopes, contracts, work packages, and construction areas.
• Oversee project budgets, commitments, actual costs, accruals, forecasts, estimate-to-complete, and estimate-at-completion reporting.
• Lead earned value and progress measurement processes, including performance measurement baselines, status validation, variance analysis, and corrective-action reporting.
• Analyze cost and schedule performance using earned value indicators, trends, productivity information, and forecast data.
• Coordinate with planning and scheduling personnel to ensure schedule information is integrated with cost, progress, change, and forecasting processes.
• Review contractor and subcontractor cost reports, schedules, progress submissions, forecasts, and change documentation for completeness, consistency, and credibility.
• Lead project change management and cost-trending processes, including identification, evaluation, documentation, and reporting of potential changes.
• Support cash-flow forecasting, contingency tracking, risk evaluation, and scenario analysis.
• Develop dashboards, project reports, and executive-level presentations that clearly communicate current performance, emerging risks, and required management actions.
• Facilitate routine project controls reviews with project leadership, construction teams, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Maintain a visible field presence and perform progress validation to confirm that reported performance reflects actual construction conditions.
• Identify gaps in project controls data, systems, or processes and implement practical corrective actions.
• Manage, coordinate, and mentor project controls personnel assigned to the project.
• Promote consistent project controls practices and continuous improvement throughout project execution.

Qualifications & Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive project controls experience supporting major capital construction programs.
• Demonstrated experience leading integrated cost, schedule, forecasting, change control, progress measurement, risk, and reporting functions.
• Strong working knowledge of Earned Value Management, including performance measurement baselines, progress measurement, variance analysis, and performance forecasting.
• Experience supporting complex, multi-contractor construction projects with significant field, procurement, engineering, and turnover interfaces.
• Strong understanding of construction execution and the relationship between field progress, schedule performance, cost performance, and forecasting.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex project information and translate findings into clear recommendations for project leadership.
• Experience managing or coordinating project controls teams and working directly with construction management personnel and trade contractors.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and project controls reporting tools.
• Strong written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound professional judgment, and operate effectively in a fast-moving construction environment.
• Ability and willingness to maintain a substantial onsite presence in the Kankakee, Illinois area, including relocation or establishment of a local residence when necessary.

Preferred but Not Required Skills

• Project controls experience within pharmaceutical, life sciences, or similarly complex process-manufacturing construction environments.
• Experience supporting mega-projects or capital programs of comparable scale and complexity.
• Experience working for or alongside a construction manager, owner representative, EPC contractor, or major general contractor.
• Hands-on experience with Oracle Primavera Cloud, Primavera P6, or comparable enterprise scheduling platforms.
• Experience with Contruent, CMiC, Power BI, or similar cost management and business intelligence tools.
• Experience developing project controls procedures, coding structures, reporting frameworks, and governance processes during project mobilization.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, business, finance, or a related discipline.
• Relevant professional certification through AACE, PMI, or a comparable project controls organization.
• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance options for eligible W-2 employees.
• Simple IRA Plan with employer contribution.
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Relocation or temporary transition support may be considered based on candidate circumstances, project needs, and the final employment arrangement.