Senior Director, Project Controls

QTS Realty Trust; Irving (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

QRest Sabbatical

Employee Stock Purchase

QTS scholarship for dependents

Paid volunteer days

Tuition assistance

Job summary

QTS Realty Trust is seeking an experienced Senior Director, Project Controls to oversee preconstruction estimating and onsite cost-control teams for large-scale data center developments. You will drive financial discipline, forecast accuracy, and alignment with strategic objectives, partnering with finance, accounting, and project leadership.

The role requires leading multi-disciplinary teams, managing vendor relationships, and driving cost-effective controls across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field and professional experience.
• Deep expertise in project controls, cost estimating, and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor preconstruction cost estimating teams and onsite cost groups.
• Oversee project budgets and schedules across large-scale construction projects.
• Ensure compliance with contract documents and change management practices.
• Provide actionable cost and schedule insights to senior leadership.
• Manage third-party cost auditors and schedule consultants as needed.
• Report project performance to executives and stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Project Controls

Budgeting

Forecasting

Vendor Management

Change Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in construction management, financing, or accounting

Tools

Workday

e-Builder

Autodesk Construction Cloud

P6

Oracle

Job description

Who we are:

As a global leader in digital infrastructure, QTS designs, builds and operates advanced data centers that support strategic AI, cloud and digital transformation initiatives. We are driven by a mission to connect the world for good and our people make it possible. Every single day, the creativity, dedication and genuine care for our communities are what push us forward and make this a truly special place to be. Who We Are: It's exciting to find yourself standing in a pivotal moment in time. It’s even more exciting to be out front leading it. At QTS, our world-class data centers are supporting our customers most strategic growth initiatives, positioning us at the forefront of today’s dynamic digital transformation. As AI and cloud drive the demand for increased speed, capacity and capability, QTS has emerged as the global digital infrastructure leader, committed to connecting the world for good. Driven by purpose and fueled by a spirit of innovation, QTS designs, builds and operates some of the world’s most advanced, forward-thinking data centers. QTS is a portfolio company of Blackstone. QTS is Powered by People. People who play a vital role in our company’s culture, innovation and growth. People who are committed to contributing to the communities where we operate and work. People who are knowledgeable, resourceful and mission driven. Together, we do great things.

Who You Are:

An experienced Senior Director, Project Controls will oversee a preconstruction estimating team and multiple onsite cost control teams in managing large-scale construction and infrastructure project budgets from inception to completion. This senior-level position will be responsible for ensuring financial discipline, effective projects control for cost, schedule, and risk, and alignment with project and organizational objectives. This position will work closely with internal and external project teams and executives, development, finance, and accounting teams to ensure project costs and schedules are accurately forecasted, tracked, and maintained. This role will manage disputes with vendors and cost consultants, escalating when necessary. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of project controls, preconstruction cost estimating, construction contracts, construction schedules, change management processes, and financial systems, along with the ability to lead teams and drive cost-effective solutions across multiple complex projects.

What You Will Do:

Leadership & Team Development: Lead and mentor preconstruction estimating team responsible for setting site-specific and customer-specific development cost budgets, and multiple onsite cost teams responsible for adherence to approved project budgets. Provide direction for strict adherence to project control processes and ensure alignment across the portfolio. Promote a collaborative environment and offer practical training to facilitate the implementation of project control strategies and guide each team member to develop their skillset to align with the organization’s goals. Oversight of Project Controls Team: Oversee the accurate creation and validation of project budgets for large-scale construction and infrastructure projects. Monitor financial performance at all stages of the project lifecycle, ensuring compliance with cost management procedures and company policies, and identify and implement strategies to enhance accuracy and achieve cost savings. Contract Compliance for Portfolio: Ensure project controls team enforces strict compliance with construction contract documents. Oversee project controls team in implementing change management practices to maintain fairness across various locations and address recurring issues as necessary. Enhance the change management workflow for timely resolution. Cost Estimating & Forecasting: From project inception through completion, oversee teams in estimating costs and projected timeframes, including actionable insights to senior leadership to ensure financial alignment and project success. Vendor & Subcontractor Management: Report to senior leadership on the performance of vendors, subcontractors, and contractors regarding financial risks, compliance with the project budget and schedule, and adherence to contractual terms. Recommend corrective actions as necessary. Collaboration & Stakeholder Communication: Serve as a senior leader in ensuring consistent application of project control practices across various projects and holding teams accountable. Facilitate regular communication with development leadership, accounting department, financing department, project executives, and other stakeholders. Project Reporting & Documentation: Prepare project templates for financial reporting and schedule adherence to assist teams in decision making, including preconstruction cost estimates, cost to complete estimates, cash flow analysis, schedule analysis and monthly project reviews. Support the finance team in the monthly loan draw process by ensuring that the cost control team acquires all necessary documentation and maintains accuracy. Risk Management & Compliance: Lead project controls team to assess risk and advise on risk mitigation strategies from project inception through project completion, maintain a risk mitigation log and regularly inform deal leads, project teams, and senior leadership, ensuring all project costs remain within the approved budget and projects maintain critical path schedule. Ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations, internal policies and construction and vendor contract terms and facilitate any corrective actions. Mentorship & Knowledge Transfer: Share best practices, lessons learned, and industry insights to promote continuous improvement in cost management processes within project controls team as well as broader development teams. Third-Party Relationships: Support project controls teams by maintaining third-party cost auditing, change management, and schedule consultant relationships, ensuring consistent application of company policies across the portfolio and within contract terms.

What You Will Need to Be Successful:

Bachelor’s degree in construction management, financing, or accounting; or relevant professional experience. Deep expertise in project controls, construction contract documents, change management, and budget and schedule control processes. Advanced proficiency in financial and project management software (e.g., Workday, e-Builder, Autodesk Construction Cloud, P6, Oracle). Proven ability to lead teams in providing detailed and accurate financial forecasts, track project costs, and manage budgets through all stages of a project lifecycle. Experience establishing new processes and policies across broad portfolio and cross-functional teams. Ability to analyze complex financial data and present recommendations clearly to senior stakeholders. Eight or more years of experience in project controls, construction, or project management with prior experience in a senior or leadership role. Five or more years of experience in a leadership or management role.

Nice To Have:

Master’s degree or professional certifications such as PMP, CCP, or similar are a plus. Tem or more years of experience in project controls, construction, or project management preferably overseeing large-scale construction, data centers, or infrastructure projects. Ten or more years of experience in a leadership or management role. Advanced knowledge of industry-specific regulations and best practices in project controls.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities You Will Need:

Strong leadership skills with a track record of managing managers to lead teams, fostering collaboration, and driving performance improvement. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams, contractors, and third-party consultants. Strong problem solving and decision-making capabilities in fast paced environment.

The Perks (and these are just a few!):

• QRest Sabbatical
• Employee Stock Purchase
• QTS scholarship for dependents
• Eagle Club award trip eligibility
• Paid volunteer days
• Tuition assistance, parental leave and military leave assistance
• Total Rewards
• This role is also eligible for a competitive benefits package that includes: medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; flexible spending and HSA accounts; paid holidays; paid time off; paid volunteer days; employee assistance program; tuition assistance; parental leave; military leave assistance; QTS scholarship for dependents; wellness program, and other company benefits.
• This position is Bonus eligible.
• #LI-SM1
• Roth and Traditional 401(k) matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Every employee is bonus or commission eligible
• Generous PTO
• Paid Volunteer Days Plus Floating Holidays
• Stock Purchase Plan (SPP)
• 11 paid Holidays Annually/Holiday compensation when worked
• Pet and Legal Insurance
• Q-Rest Sabbatical Program
• Q-Anniversary Service Award Program
• Parental Leave
• Military Benefits Package
• QTS Charitable Matching Gift Program
• QTS Scholarship for Employee Dependents
• QTS Crisis Fund Wellness Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• QTS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled We conform to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information & Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint or discrimination claim. The "Know Your Rights" Poster is included here: Know Your Rights (English) Know Your Rights (Spanish) The pay transparency policy is available here: Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Poster-Formatted QTS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.