What are the responsibilities and job description for the Project Controls Manager position at Solutions Driven (On behalf of a client)?
Project Controls Manager
Location: Milwaukee or Lomira, WI
Employment Type: Full-Time
Our client is a leading infrastructure contractor delivering complex projects across the energy, utility, industrial, and heavy civil sectors. As their portfolio continues to grow, they are seeking an experienced Project Controls Managerto lead a high-performing team responsible for project budgeting, forecasting, cost management, reporting, and project performance analysis.
This is an excellent opportunity for a collaborative leader who enjoys improving processes, developing people, and partnering with operations to drive successful project execution.
What You'll Do
As the Project Controls Manager, you will oversee the project controls function across multiple construction projects while leading a geographically dispersed team of project controls professionals. You'll partner closely with Operations, Project Management, Finance, Estimating, and Scheduling to provide meaningful financial insight and support informed business decisions.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Project Controls professionals supporting multiple active projects.
- Oversee project setup, budgeting, forecasting, cost reporting, and financial performance tracking.
- Ensure consistent project controls processes, reporting standards, and best practices across the organization.
- Partner with Project Managers to evaluate project performance and identify opportunities to improve financial outcomes.
- Review budgets, forecasts, schedules, and cost reports while recommending corrective actions when needed.
- Develop and enhance reporting tools, dashboards, and project controls processes.
- Collaborate with executive leadership, finance, operations, estimating, and scheduling teams to improve project visibility and performance.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen reporting accuracy, forecasting, and operational decision-making.
What We're Looking For
We're seeking a proven leader with strong commercial acumen and experience supporting large-scale construction or EPC projects.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
- Approximately 10 or more years of experience in Project Controls, Cost Controls, or Project Scheduling.
- Previous leadership experience managing Project Controls, Cost Controls, Scheduling, or similar teams.
- Strong understanding of project budgeting, forecasting, cost management, financial reporting, and project performance measurement.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with experience developing reporting tools, dashboards, and financial analyses.
- Experience using project controls, ERP, scheduling, or project management software.
Preferred Experience
- Infrastructure, heavy civil, industrial, utility, energy, pipeline, or EPC construction.
- Multi-project environments supporting geographically dispersed operations.
- Earned Value Management (EVM), cost forecasting, and project performance reporting.
- Process improvement and implementation of project controls best practices.
What Makes You Successful
You are someone who:
- Enjoys leading and developing high-performing teams.
- Can translate financial data into meaningful operational insights.
- Builds strong relationships across operations, finance, and executive leadership.
- Thrives in fast-paced, project-driven environments.
- Is highly analytical, organized, and detail-oriented.
- Brings a proactive approach to identifying risks and developing practical solutions.
- Communicates confidently with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
Work Environment
- Primarily office-based with a hybrid work environment.
- Periodic travel to active project sites to support project teams and operational leadership.
- Opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals on some of the nation's largest infrastructure projects.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
- Lead an established and growing Project Controls function.
- Influence financial performance across complex, high-value construction projects.
- Work alongside experienced operational and executive leadership teams.
- Opportunity to improve systems, mentor professionals, and shape project controls strategy.
- Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement savings, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.
Pay: $150,000.00 - $200,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Health insurance
Application Question(s):
- How many years of experience do you have with heavy civil, EPC, or utility construction?
- How many years of experience do you have in a general contracting environment?
- How many years of experience do you have managing project controls professionals, or professionals in a similar discipline?
Education:
- Bachelor's (Required)
Experience:
- Project Controls: 8 years (Required)
- Microsoft Excel: 9 years (Required)
- Project scheduling: 8 years (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Milwaukee, WI 53207 (Required)
Work Location: In person
Salary : $150,000 - $200,000