Role Overview
The Project Controls Lead will be responsible for establishing and leading the project controls function for a major life sciences capital project, with primary responsibility for cost management and financial performance. The role will also ensure effective integration of schedule, risk, and change management processes to support successful project delivery.
This position requires strong experience in capital project cost control, forecasting, and reporting, ideally within life sciences, pharmaceutical, biotech, or other highly regulated environments.
Key Responsibilities
Cost Management (Primary Focus)
* Lead all project cost control, cost reporting, and financial governance activities.
* Develop and maintain the Project Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) aligned with the project WBS.
* Manage project budgets, commitments, and actual cost tracking.
* Produce monthly cost reports, variance analysis, and cost forecasts.
* Lead Estimate at Completion (EAC) and Estimate to Complete (ETC) processes.
* Monitor project cash flow and funding requirements.
* Ensure accurate cost capture from contractors and suppliers.
* Provide cost performance analysis and recommendations to the Project Leadership Team.
Planning & Schedule Integration
* Work closely with the Planning Lead to ensure cost and schedule integration.
* Support development of the project baseline schedule and control milestones.
* Assess schedule changes and their cost impact.
* Contribute to progress measurement and earned value reporting (where applicable).
Risk Management
* Support development and maintenance of the project risk register.
* Quantify cost and schedule risks and support risk modelling where required.
* Ensure risk allowances and contingency drawdown are properly managed and tracked.
* Provide input to quantitative risk assessments and scenario analysis.
Change Management
* Establish and maintain the project change control process.
* Review and assess cost and schedule impact of change requests.
* Manage the change log and change approval workflow.
* Ensure all approved changes are reflected in project budgets and forecasts.
Governance & Reporting
* Prepare monthly project controls reports for senior stakeholders.
* Present cost performance, risks, and trends to Project Steering Committee.
* Ensure compliance with project controls standards, governance frameworks, and audit requirements.
* Implement best practice project controls processes and systems.
Stakeholder & Team Leadership
* Lead and coordinate the project controls team (cost engineers, planners, analysts).
* Interface with project management, engineering, procurement, construction, and finance teams.
* Support commercial and contract teams with cost analysis and reporting.
* Provide clear communication of project performance metrics.
Required Experience
* 10+ years experience in project controls or cost management on major capital projects.
* Significant experience on life sciences / pharmaceutical / biotech projects preferred.
* Experience managing large EPC / EPCM project budgets.
* Strong expertise in:
* Cost control and forecasting
* Change management
* Risk management
* Schedule integration
* Experience working within regulated environments (GxP preferred).
* Experience leading project controls teams.