Project Controls Manager

Job Title: Project Controls Manager

Department: Project Management / Operations

Position Overview

United Infrastructure Group (UIG) is seeking a Senior Project Controls Manager to lead project cost controls and performance management across heavy civil infrastructure projects. This role supports both preconstruction and project execution by overseeing budgeting, forecasting, earned value, productivity tracking, cost reporting, operational analytics, and financial performance.

The Senior Project Controls Manager will serve as a centralized leader responsible for standardizing and improving project controls processes, reporting, forecasting discipline, production tracking, and operational visibility across the organization. This role partners closely with Operations, Project Management, Finance, Estimating, and Executive Leadership to support data-driven decision-making and operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

Project Controls Leadership

• Lead and standardize project controls processes across multiple heavy civil infrastructure projects, including forecasting, cost controls, reporting, KPI tracking, and operational performance management.
• Provide executive leadership with visibility into project financial performance, cost exposure, productivity trends, forecasting accuracy, earned value performance, and operational risks.
• Oversee project controls governance to ensure reporting consistency, forecasting discipline, and alignment between operational and financial objectives.

Cost Controls, Forecasting & Operational Analytics

• Develop and manage project budgets, cost forecasts, cash flow projections, earned value reporting, cost-to-complete analysis, and operational performance metrics.
• Monitor labor, equipment, material, subcontractor, production, and indirect costs to identify variances, productivity issues, forecasting gaps, and operational risks.
• Maintain and improve production tracking, unit-cost reporting, labor productivity metrics, equipment utilization analysis, and operational forecasting tools.
• Perform manpower loading, resource forecasting, production benchmarking, and operational trend analysis to support project planning and execution.
• Support monthly financial closeout processes, forecasting reviews, and operational performance evaluations with project teams and executive leadership.

Financial Reporting & Risk Management

• Develop dashboards, reporting tools, and executive reporting packages related to cost performance, productivity, forecasting accuracy, earned value, production trends, cash flow, and financial exposure.
• Provide variance analysis between actual, forecasted, earned, and budgeted performance while identifying operational improvement opportunities.
• Oversee financial and operational analysis of change orders, production impacts, subcontractor exposure, procurement risks, and operational constraints.
• Maintain project risk registries and support mitigation planning, claims analysis, financial exposure reporting, and operational recovery strategies.

Preconstruction & Operational Support

• Support preconstruction planning through labor analysis, production assumptions, manpower loading, equipment planning, resource forecasting, and operational benchmarking.
• Review estimates, schedules, production assumptions, and execution plans to ensure alignment with operational capabilities and financial objectives.
• Support Project Managers with forecasting reviews, cost tracking, Schedule of Values (SOV), payment applications, subcontractor management, reporting setup, and project startup activities.
• Assist with WBS development, cost code structures, operational planning, and project turnover processes.

Systems, Process Improvement & Collaboration

• Lead implementation and continuous improvement of project controls systems, dashboards, forecasting tools, ERP platforms, reporting methodologies, and production tracking systems.
• Ensure consistency, accuracy, and integrity of project controls data across operational and financial reporting systems.
• Build strong working relationships across Operations, Finance, Estimating, Procurement, Scheduling, and Executive Leadership to improve operational alignment and reporting consistency.
• Mentor and develop Project Controllers and project controls personnel while promoting accountability, operational discipline, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Finance, Business, Project Management, or related field required.
• MBA, PMP, CCP, PSP, EVP, or related certifications preferred.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in project controls, cost engineering, construction financial management, operational analytics, or heavy civil infrastructure construction.
• Strong heavy civil experience required, including bridge, roadway, transportation, or large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Experience supporting design-build and alternative delivery projects preferred.
• Prior experience leading project controls teams or operational reporting functions preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, ERP systems, forecasting platforms, and project financial reporting systems.
• Strong knowledge of earned value management, cost forecasting, productivity analysis, unit-cost tracking, manpower loading, operational analytics, and project financial controls.
• Ability to analyze large datasets and translate findings into operational recommendations and executive-level reporting.