Project Controls Manager

Job Title: Project Controls Manager Job Description
This Project Controls Manager role supports large-scale capital projects for a major client in the life sciences sector within a leading project and cost management consultancy environment. You focus on cost management, forecast accuracy, cash flow management, and real-time project cost control across complex construction programs. From day one, you establish credibility by providing meaningful financial and project controls insight, analyzing project performance, reconciling estimates, forecasting Estimate at Completion (EAC), and clearly communicating risks and opportunities to project and executive stakeholders.
Responsibilities
- Lead project cost management efforts across large capital construction projects and programs, ensuring accurate and timely financial oversight.
- Develop and maintain accurate cash flow forecasts, spend forecasts, and funding projections to support strategic capital planning.
- Establish informed recommendations regarding monthly, annual, and lifecycle project expenditures based on detailed analysis of project performance.
- Monitor project financial performance and proactively identify deviations from budget, schedule, and commercial targets.
- Develop and implement mitigation strategies to address cost, schedule, and commercial risks, and support overall risk management activities.
- Prepare, maintain, and continuously refine Estimate at Completion (EAC) forecasts and cost performance metrics for executive and project reporting.
- Reconcile estimates received from contractors, consultants, and project teams to ensure consistency, accuracy, and alignment with project objectives.
- Support target value delivery initiatives and cost optimization strategies, contributing to value engineering and lifecycle cost improvements.
- Consolidate large datasets from multiple sources and transform them into clear, actionable KPIs and executive-level reporting materials.
- Facilitate project funding requests and capital planning activities, ensuring alignment with governance requirements and financial controls.
- Partner with project teams to establish effective coding structures, reporting systems, and governance processes that support project controls.
- Analyze project trends and communicate key risks, opportunities, and project issues to senior leadership in a clear and concise manner.
- Support project controls functions including project setup, cost management, commercial management, schedule control, risk management, forecast reporting, project governance, and project closeout activities.
- Review and interpret architectural, civil, structural, MEP, geotechnical, logistics, and schedule documentation to inform cost and risk analysis.
- Build strong working relationships across a broad stakeholder group and serve as a trusted business partner throughout the project lifecycle.
- Contribute to continuous professional development by applying industry best practices in project controls and staying current with construction technology and methodologies.
Essential Skills
- Demonstrated experience in project controls functions, including project setup, construction technology, procure-to-pay processes, cost management, commercial management, schedule control, risk management, and project closeout.
- Strong understanding of capital project delivery and construction industry practices, particularly for large, complex projects.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Proven ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including executive-level audiences.
- Experience supporting project governance, reporting, forecasting, and performance management activities.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to interpret complex financial and technical data.
- High level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel and related project controls tools, with advanced skills in data analysis and reporting.
- Solid written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely.
- Knowledge of project controls fundamentals and industry best practices across cost, schedule, and risk management.
- Ability to review and interpret architectural, civil, structural, MEP, geotechnical, logistics, and schedule documentation for cost and risk analysis.
- Commitment to delivering high-quality work and maintaining continuous professional development in project controls and construction management.
- Experience with budgets, forecasting, project controls, and cost analysis in construction environments such as healthcare construction, oil and gas construction, quantity surveying, and cost control.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience supporting large, complex capital projects valued in the range of approximately $250M$500M or more.
- Professional certifications such as MRICS, AssocRICS, CCP, CEP, CPE, or similar credentials in project controls, cost management, or quantity surveying.
- Knowledge of construction contracts, procurement processes, and project delivery methods, including design, construction, and commissioning phases.
- Experience with value engineering, lifecycle costing, and project cost modeling to optimize project outcomes.
- Background in client-facing consulting or owners representative environments, with a strong focus on stakeholder management and advisory services.
- Intermediate knowledge of Windows, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook for documentation, presentations, and communication.
- Advanced skill level with Excel, including complex formulas, data modeling, and dashboard/report creation.
- Knowledge of On Screen Takeoff estimating software or similar tools is a plus.
- Familiarity with healthcare and oil and gas construction sectors, as well as quantity survey and cost control practices, is advantageous.
Work Environment
This role is based on site at the end clients facilities, working closely with project, construction, and executive teams in a dynamic capital project environment. The position is salaried and structured around a standard 40-hour workweek, with a strong emphasis on promoting work-life balance. Team members have access to a comprehensive benefits program that includes paid time off (80 hours of PTO accrued) and 8 paid holidays, as well as eligibility for medical, dental, and vision coverage. The organization supports ongoing professional growth through access to an online education platform and a structured 360-degree review program, and offers additional discounts and perks through a corporate benefits program. You work within an owners representative consulting firm culture that values collaboration, transparency, and high-quality delivery, using modern construction technologies and project controls tools to manage large-scale life sciences capital projects.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Hillsboro, OR.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $60.10 - $86.54/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Hillsboro, OR.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 27, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in Hillsboro,OR. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
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San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
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