Project Controls Manager

Location: Thousand Oaks, CA (Hybrid – 3 days onsite)
Industry: Pharmaceutical / Biotech Capital Projects
Salary: $180,000 – $210,000 base + bonus
Employment Type: Full-time
Relocation: Offered for the right candidate

Overview

Our client is seeking a Project Controls Manager to lead cost and project controls functions across large-scale pharmaceutical and biotech capital projects.

This role is focused on overseeing cost management, forecasting, reporting, and financial performance across complex construction programs. The Project Controls Manager will work closely with project leadership to ensure financial accuracy, risk visibility, and overall project performance throughout all phases.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Project Controls team in cost management and reporting functions
• Manage project financials including:

  • Original budget, current budget, and forecasts

  • Commitments, actuals, and change management

  • Earned Value metrics (CPI, SPI)

  • Productivity tracking and staffing plans

• Develop and maintain cost control systems and ensure alignment with control account structures
• Support development and execution of the Project Controls Plan across:

  • Estimating

  • Funding

  • Procurement

  • Cost management

• Perform reconciliation between accounting systems and project controls tools
• Provide cost reporting, forecasting, and support contract negotiations and change orders
• Develop reports on actuals, variances, trends, and re-forecasting
• Ensure proper change management processes across all project phases
• Develop and maintain cash flow and commitment curves
• Evaluate external costs and develop internal estimates with stakeholders
• Support value engineering and cost optimization initiatives
• Analyze change orders and assess cost impacts
• Conduct bid comparisons and support proposal evaluations
• Assess cost and schedule impacts related to project risks
• Review and validate invoices for contractual compliance
• Support financial project close-out activities
• Maintain historical cost data and lessons learned for future projects

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in project controls
• Experience on large capital construction projects ($500M+)
• Strong experience with cost control and project financial management
• Experience using Primavera P6
• Strong understanding of:

  • Estimating

  • Procurement

  • Contracts

  • Forecasting and reporting

• Ability to work cross-functionally with project teams and stakeholders
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in EPC or construction environments
• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, GMP, or R&D construction projects
• Experience with large-scale projects including core & shell and fit-out
• Exposure to both cost and schedule controls

What Success Looks Like

• Accurate and reliable cost forecasting and reporting
• Strong visibility into project financial performance and risks
• Effective cost control across all project phases
• Proactive identification and mitigation of financial impacts
• Strong collaboration with project leadership and stakeholders

Target Background (Nice to Have)

Candidates may come from roles such as:

• Project Controls Manager

• Senior Project Controls Engineer

• Cost Controls Manager

• Planning & Scheduling Manager

• Project Controls Lead

• Project Controls Engineer

Experience with leading engineering, construction, or consulting firms is highly relevant (e.g., Jacobs, AECOM, Fluor, Bechtel, Turner & Townsend, Burns & McDonnell, HDR)

Additional Notes

• Hybrid role – 3 days onsite in Thousand Oaks, CA
• Relocation support available for the right candidate
• Experience with large-scale capital projects in regulated industries is highly valued

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• FSA / HSA / HRA options
• Life insurance
• Short-term & long-term disability
• 401(k) with 4% match
• 3 weeks vacation
• Paid sick time
• 8 paid holidays + 2 floating holidays
• $250 annual wellness stipend
• Tuition reimbursement