Job Description

Roles & Responsibilities

Overview

The Project Controls & Planning Manager is responsible for leading project controls functions for complex, high-value programmes. The role requires advanced expertise in planning, scheduling, cost control, performance analytics, and stakeholder management. The position acts as a specialist advisor, leading teams, guiding clients, resolving issues, and ensuring high-quality delivery across programmes.

The Project Controls & Planning Manager will manage client engagements, lead multidisciplinary project control teams, drive best practices, and ensure governance and compliance across the project lifecycle.

Planning & Scheduling

• Develop, lead and manage comprehensive project schedules using Primavera P6, ensuring compliance with the Client /Region specific guidelines/standards.
• Plan and sequence project activities across all phases, including design, procurement, and construction.
• Conduct Critical Path Analysis (CPA) and propose mitigation measures to maintain project timelines.
• Prepare detailed 4-week and 8-week lookahead programs and integrate them into the master schedule.
• Perform regular updates and integrity checks on project schedules, ensuring alignment with Client /Region specific Scheule Management Manual & DCMA criteria.
• Identify key dependencies and assess project risks to develop mitigation strategies.
• Ensure integration of cost, schedule, and resource plans.
• Track milestones and ensure adherence to key delivery timelines.
• Identify schedule variances and recommend corrective actions.
• Guide team in preparation of S-curves, EV reports, dashboards, and schedule analytics.
• Support project teams with cost-loaded schedules and conduct Earned Value Analysis (EVA) to track project performance.
• Identify potential schedule risks and incorporate risk mitigation strategies, including quantitative risk analysis (e.g., Monte Carlo simulations).
• zmplement and manage change control processes as per NH guidelines to adjust Performance Measurement Baselines (PMB) for scope or schedule variations.
• Provide strategic input in meetings, addressing technical planning challenges.
• Support delay analysis, impact assessment, and time extension claims.
• Collaborate with planning engineers to improve planning methodologies.

Cost Management & Controls

• Develop, lead and manage budgeting, forecasting, cost monitoring, and financial reporting activities.
• Establish and manage Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS) aligned with the WBS.
• Provide detailed cost reports that highlight any discrepancies between actual costs and forecasted budgets, ensuring that project stakeholders are informed promptly.
• Analyze cost variances and trends to recommend corrective actions.
• Prepare earned value assessments and monthly cash flow forecasts.
• Standardize and automate tools for pricing, estimation, and cost tracking.
• Generate financial dashboards and visual reports to present cost trends, highlighting cost savings, potential risks, and areas requiring attention.
• Ensure compliance with organizational cost governance processes.
• Support early warnings, change orders, and client negotiations.

Performance Reporting & Analytics

• Produce and review weekly, monthly, and ad-hoc project performance reports.
• Create and present accurate reports, including Schedule Narratives, Key Milestone Variance Reports, and Program Review Reports (PRR).
• Develop, track, and report KPIs across cost, schedule, quality, and risk.
• Ensure high-quality, consistent reporting standards across all deliverables.
• Generate Power BI dashboards for progress visualization and stakeholder communication.
• Preparation and Submission of Monthly Progress Report, Program Attributes List, Change logs, S Curves and CPA Reports, Variance Reports, Trend Analysis reports, EVM dash Boards Etc.
• Present project performance insights to senior management and clients.
• Analyse large datasets and convert insights into actionable recommendations.

Team Leadership & Development

• Act as a Subject matter expert and provide technical guidance and recommendations to the team.
• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of planners, schedulers, cost controllers, and analysts.
• Drive capability development and skill enhancement across the team.
• Conduct performance reviews and ensure continuous professional growth.
• Maintain healthy team morale, collaboration, and effective conflict resolution.
• Ensure quality assurance and sign-off for all project control deliverables.
• Build succession plans and develop next-generation project controls leaders.

Stakeholder & Client Engagement

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team, project managers, engineering teams, contractors, and clients.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for Project planning & project controls-related discussions.
• Ensure alignment of all stakeholders on planning, scheduling, and cost objectives.
• Participate in client meetings, steering committees, and cross functional reviews.
• Maintain strong working relationships to support successful project outcomes.
• Provide expert guidance to internal and external stakeholders on best practices.

Desired Candidate Profile

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum 10 15 years of project delivery experience in engineering consultancy, design, or project management environments.
• Bachelor s/Master s degree in Engineering: Civil, Mechanical, Construction Management, Building Technology, or related field.
• Excellent communication, client-facing, presentation, and report-writing skills.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to work under pressure and adapt to change.
• Strong project management acumen and experience in cost & schedule governance.
• Ability to propose innovative solutions, processes, and working methods.
• French and English proficiency is a must.

Desired Requirements / Technical Expertise

• Subject Matter Expertise in Planning / Project Controls.
• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6 and MS Project.
• Experience in delay analysis, impact assessments, and baseline development.
• Proficiency in Cost Management tools (EcoSys preferred).
• Deep knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM), CBS, budget control, cash flow, contingency management, and change control.
• Experience in baseline creation, progress tracking, and CL31, CL32 & CL62 schedule analysis.
• Experience with global (UK, US, Middle East) transportation, infrastructure, E&M projects.
• Knowledge of NEC3/NEC4 contracts.
• Experience in large-scale Enterprise Project Management environments.

Data Analytics & Power BI Expertise

• Advanced Power BI development, including dashboards, data models, DAX, and custom analytics.
• Ability to analyze large datasets and convert insights into actionable recommendations.
• Experience with ETL design, automation, and BI system optimization.
• SQL proficiency for data retrieval and transformation.
• Experience in automation using VBA, Python, or web technologies is a plus.
• Strong understanding of O365 productivity suite.

Certifications (Preferred)

• Relevant certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP), AACE s Certified Cost Professional (CCP), or PMI s Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)
• Primavera / EcoSys Certifications
• Chartered status or equivalent professional certifications (e.g., RICS, PMP) is added advantage.
• Other relevant project controls or construction management credentials

Soft Skills

• Strong leadership and people management capability
• Client-centric approach
• Analytical and critical-thinking skills
• Ability to influence and manage conflict
• Proactive problem solving
• High emotional intelligence and team motivation ability