Director, Project Controls

Director, Project Controls

Location: Dallas, Houston

Employment Type: Full time

 

The Opportunity

The Project Controls Director is responsible for establishing, leading, and continuously improving the project controls function across the organization. This role provides strategic oversight of cost management, scheduling, forecasting, risk management, change control, and performance reporting for complex programs and portfolios. The Director ensures projects are delivered with predictable outcomes, strong governance, and data‑driven decision‑making.

What you will do?

Leadership & Strategy

• Establish and lead the enterprise project controls strategy, standards, and governance framework.

• Build, mentor, and manage a high performing team of project controls professionals.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on project performance, risks, and trends.

• Drive continuous improvement, best practices, and digital transformation within project controls.

• Embed project controls requirements within PMO stage gate processes, ensuring cost, schedule, and risk readiness at each phase.

Cost Management & Forecasting

• Oversee project and program budgets, cost baselines, and lifecycle forecasts.

• Ensure accurate cost tracking, variance analysis, and earned value management (EVM) where applicable.

• Lead development of cash flow forecasts and long range financial projections.

• Partner with Finance on budgeting, accruals, and financial reporting alignment.

• Support early-stage project execution, including directives and at-risk work, by establishing preliminary cost baselines and tracking mechanisms prior to full project authorization

• Maintain ownership and integrity of approved cost baselines, ensuring alignment with scope and controlled changes

Scheduling & Planning

• Establish scheduling standards, methodologies, and quality controls.

• Oversee development and maintenance of integrated master schedules (IMS).

• Ensure critical path integrity, schedule risk analysis, and recovery planning.

• Validate contractor and project schedules for compliance and realism.

• Maintain ownership and integrity of approved schedule baselines, ensuring alignment with project scope and change control processes

Risk, Change & Controls

• Lead enterprise risk identification, quantitative risk analysis, and mitigation planning.

• Oversee change management processes, including scope, cost, and schedule impacts.

• Ensure consistent application of contingency management and governance approvals.

• Support claims avoidance, dispute resolution, and forensic schedule/cost analysis when needed.

Reporting & Performance Management

• Develop executive level dashboards and KPIs for portfolio performance.

• Provide clear, concise, and actionable reporting to senior leadership and stakeholders.

• Ensure transparency and early warning indicators for emerging project risks.

• Support portfolio prioritization and scenario analysis.

• Align project controls reporting with PMO operating rhythms, including weekly reporting, Monthly Project Summits, and Quarterly Health Assessments

• Provide clear visibility to progress-to-plan, key risks, and recovery actions across the portfolio

Systems & Tools

• Own selection, implementation, and optimization of project controls systems and tools.

• Ensure data integrity, standardization, and integration across platforms.

• Champion automation, analytics, and digital reporting solutions.

Required QUALIFICATIONS:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, Business, or related field

• Master’s degree (MBA, MS, or equivalent) preferred

Experience

• 12+ years of progressive experience in project controls, cost engineering, or project management

• 5+ years in a senior leadership or director level role

• Proven experience managing large, complex capital programs or portfolios

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in regulated, EPC, infrastructure, energy, or industrial environments preferred

Certifications (Preferred)

• PMP, PMI SP, PMI RMP

• AACE certifications (CCP, PSP, EVP)

• Professional Engineer (PE) or equivalent (industry dependent)

How we support you

We believe your best work happens when you feel supported - professionally, personally, and financially. That’s why we offer a range of benefits designed to help you thrive, stay healthy, and plan for the future.

• Performance-driven rewards