Project Controls Manager

Project Controls Manager

 

Location: Calama, Chile

 

Summary:

The Project Controls Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing all project controls functions across the engineering, procurement, and construction phases of a major capital project. Serving as a key interface between the owner, engineering teams, and construction contractors, this role provides strategic leadership in planning, scheduling, cost management, forecasting, progress measurement, risk management, change management, and project reporting. The successful candidate will bring extensive experience in large-scale industrial projects and the ability to drive project performance through analytical insight, strong leadership, and effective stakeholder engagement.

 

Job Duties:

Project Controls Leadership

• Lead and oversee all project controls activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Provide oversight and independent validation of contractor project controls deliverables, including schedules, cost reports, forecasts, progress measurements, and trend analyses.
• Establish and maintain project baselines for cost, schedule, and progress measurement.
• Ensure project control systems are implemented and maintained in accordance with company standards and procedures.
• Develop, review, and manage project reporting requirements and ensure timely delivery of all required reports.

Cost, Schedule & Progress Management

• Review and challenge contractor schedules, forecasts, and cost performance to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Identify schedule delays, cost trends, and scope changes, and evaluate their potential project impacts.
• Lead the development and management of scheduling processes and ensure alignment with the overall master schedule.
• Develop progress measurement processes and validate reported progress against established rules of credit.
• Monitor project performance and recommend corrective actions to improve outcomes.

Risk & Change Management

• Lead participation in project risk management activities, including risk identification, assessment, mitigation, tracking, and reporting.
• Evaluate the cost and schedule impacts of identified risks and opportunities.
• Manage project change control processes and ensure effective communication of project changes and impacts.
• Support claims prevention initiatives and promote commercial alignment across project stakeholders.

Stakeholder Coordination & Reporting

• Collaborate closely with engineering, procurement, contracts, construction, commercial, and finance teams.
• Participate in project meetings and provide clear, actionable reporting and presentations to project leadership and stakeholders.
• Communicate complex cost, schedule, and risk information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Support project management with analysis and recommendations to facilitate informed decision-making.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop project controls personnel.
• Ensure appropriate staffing and resource allocation within the project controls function.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
• Address personnel issues and support team development and performance management activities.

 

Job Requirements:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Business, or a related discipline preferred.
• Minimum 20 years of progressive project controls experience on large capital engineering and construction projects.
• Minimum 15 years of leadership experience managing project controls teams.
• Demonstrated experience acting in an owner's representative, oversight, or independent review capacity.
• Proven experience managing EPC and/or EPCM contractor project controls activities, including cost, schedule, forecasting, progress measurement, and change management.
• Extensive experience supporting large, high-risk, multi-year industrial capital projects.
• Experience in mining, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, or other heavy industrial environments preferred.
• Experience supporting contract administration, claims prevention, and commercial alignment on large EPC/EPCM projects.

Technical Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of project controls principles, methodologies, and industry best practices.
• Expertise in cost management, estimating, forecasting, budgeting, and schedule management.
• Advanced knowledge of Primavera scheduling tools and capital project planning processes.
• Experience with ERP systems, SAP, and EcoSys preferred.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking abilities with the capability to assess project performance and identify risks and opportunities.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced project environment.
• Strong understanding of construction operations, occupational hazards, and project site safety requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Leadership Competencies

• Demonstrated leadership and team management capability.
• Strategic mindset focused on forward-looking analysis and decision support.
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to influence decision-making at multiple organizational levels.