Project Controls Director

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Job Description:

Parsons is looking for a highly experienced Project Controls Director to join our team to lead all project controls functions for a large-scale airfield/airport development program.

This role requires deep expertise in cost control, planning & scheduling, risk management, change management, and project performance reporting for complex aviation or infrastructure projects. The ideal candidate will have 20+ years of experience, including proven success directing project controls teams on multi-billion–dollar airfield or airport programs.

The Project Controls Director will ensure accurate forecasting, adherence to budgets and schedules, and the implementation of best practices to support safe, timely, and cost-effective project delivery.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Establish, manage, and enforce the overall project controls strategy, systems, procedures, and reporting frameworks for the airport program.
• Develop project control plans, governance models, and performance measurement systems in alignment with client and project objectives.
• Ensure integration of cost, schedule, risk, and change management across all project phases.
• Oversee the preparation, review, and approval of the master schedule, ensuring alignment across design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover.
• Monitor schedule progress and performance, identifying delays, recovery actions, and mitigation plans.
• Evaluate contractor schedules and ensure compliance with contractual requirements, aviation standards, and stakeholder needs.
• Implement best-practice scheduling techniques (e.g., critical path analysis, resource loading, schedule risk analysis).
• Direct all cost engineering activities, including cost estimating, cost control, cash flow analysis, and budget performance tracking.
• Oversee development of project cost baselines and ensure accurate monthly cost reporting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Analyze cost trends and implement corrective actions to maintain budget compliance.
• Ensure alignment of cost systems with earned value management (EVM) and other performance measurement metrics.
• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive project risk management plans.
• Facilitate risk identification, qualitative/quantitative risk analysis, probability-impact assessments, and response planning.
• Oversee schedule and cost risk models to support decision-making and contingency allocation.
• Monitor risk triggers and mitigation effectiveness, escalating critical issues to executive leadership.
• Direct the management of project changes, ensuring that variations are properly assessed, documented, costed, and integrated into budgets and schedules.
• Implement change control systems and facilitate Change Control Board (CCB) meetings.
• Collaborate with contracts and commercial teams on claims analysis, entitlement assessment, and negotiation strategies.
• Ensure accurate tracking of project trends, early warnings, and potential claims exposure.
• Oversee preparation of executive-level progress reports, dashboards, KPIs, and performance metrics for senior leadership, government entities, and external stakeholders.
• Ensure transparent, accurate, and timely communication of project performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Present complex project data in clear, decision-focused formats tailored for senior management.
• Evaluate, implement, and optimize project controls software and digital platforms (e.g., Primavera P6, Ares Prism, EcoSys, Power BI).
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, including automation of reporting and data analytics.
• Ensure data integrity across all systems and establish audit-ready documentation processes.
• Introduce modern technologies and best practices to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and predictability.
• Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary team of planners, schedulers, cost engineers, risk analysts, and reporting specialists.
• Build high-performance project controls teams, promoting collaboration, accountability, and technical excellence.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support training, certification, and professional development.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, data accuracy, and operational discipline.
• Coordinate closely with engineering, construction, procurement, contracts, finance, and operations teams to ensure alignment across the project lifecycle
• Work collaboratively with airports authorities, government agencies, contractors, consultants, and stakeholders.
• Resolve project issues proactively and ensure cross-functional integration of project controls strategies.

What Required Skills You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related field.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 20 years of experience in project controls for large-scale infrastructure projects.
• At least 10 years in senior leadership roles managing major project controls functions.
• Strong background in airport/airfield, aviation infrastructure, or mega-project environments.
• Proven expertise in cost control, planning & scheduling, risk management, and project reporting.
• Expert-level proficiency in Primavera P6, cost control systems, EVM, and project analytics tools.
• Deep understanding of construction sequencing, design-development processes, and aviation project requirements.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage large multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present project performance data to executives and stakeholders.
• Thorough understanding of contract requirements, procurement processes, and claims management.

What Desired Skills You’ll Bring:

• Professional certifications: PMP, PSP, CCP, EVP, PMI-SP, RMP, or equivalent.
• Experience managing multi-phase, multi-stakeholder airport expansions or new-airfield construction.
• Expertise in digital project controls, automation, and dashboarding tools (Power BI, Tableau).
• Experience with FIDIC or similar contract standards.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure, multi-billion–dollar program environments.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to interpret project data and drive strategic decisions.

Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels no matter the race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

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