Senior Project Controls Leader - Construction

Pmaconsultants; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Pmaconsultants is seeking a seasoned Project Controls Leader to support engineering, construction, and capital projects in Chicago. This role oversees cost management, scheduling, forecasting, risk analysis, and reporting, and leads project controls professionals across programs.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in project controls with Primavera P6 expertise, strong EVM/CPM knowledge, and a track record of delivering complex projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in project controls, cost engineering, scheduling, or project management supporting engineering, construction, infrastructure, or capital projects.
• Demonstrated experience leading project controls efforts on complex projects and managing multiple stakeholders.
• Expertise in Primavera P6 scheduling for construction and capital projects.
• Experience developing and analyzing project schedules, cost forecasts, estimates, critical path analyses, and performance reports.
• Strong knowledge of earned value management (EVM), critical path method (CPM), forecasting methodologies, risk analysis, and change management processes.
• Proficiency with cost management systems, project controls reporting tools, and advanced Microsoft Excel functions.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem‑solving, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing project controls teams and supporting project delivery objectives.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, PE, CCP, or PSP are strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead project controls activities including cost control, scheduling, forecasting, earned value management, risk management, and change management.
• Develop, implement, and maintain project controls procedures, systems, and best practices.
• Establish project controls standards and ensure consistent application across projects and programs.
• Provide strategic project controls support to project managers and leadership teams throughout all phases of project delivery.
• Support the development and maintenance of work breakdown structures (WBS), reporting frameworks, project controls plans, and performance measurement systems.
• Oversee schedules using Primavera P6 and monitor critical path, milestones, and resource loading.
• Communicate project status, cost and schedule performance, risks, and recovery recommendations to leadership.
• Foster strong client, contractor, consultant, and internal team relationships.

Skills

Project leadership

Scheduling

Cost management

Advanced Excel

Communication

Risk analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Excel

Cost management systems

CPM

Job description

Pmaconsultants is seeking a seasoned Project Controls Leader to support engineering, construction, and capital projects in Chicago. This role oversees cost management, scheduling, forecasting, risk analysis, and reporting, and leads project controls professionals across programs.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in project controls with Primavera P6 expertise, strong EVM/CPM knowledge, and a track record of delivering complex projects.