Title: Lead Project Controls Manager
Location: Reading (hybrid – 1-2 days on site / remainder remote)
Salary: £90,000 + package
An outstanding opportunity has arisen for an experienced Lead Project Controls Manager to join a prestigious, international consultancy delivering a landmark engineering and construction programme in Reading. This is a career-defining role on one of the UK’s most sensitive, high-security projects — ideal for a dynamic leader with a passion for delivering excellence in complex, safety-critical environments.
The Role:
As Lead Project Controls Manager, you will take ownership of the full project controls function on a major, high-value project. Leading a multi-disciplinary team of planners, schedulers, and cost engineers, you’ll ensure robust cost and schedule management is in place throughout the programme lifecycle — from project set-up to closeout. Working closely with the client, contractors, and project leadership teams, you will be responsible for establishing and maintaining effective controls frameworks, monitoring performance, reporting progress, and proactively managing risks, delays, and cost issues to ensure successful project outcomes.
This role offers a rare opportunity to work on a heavily regulated, technically challenging project within a collaborative, expert-led environment, with excellent long-term career prospects
Key Responsibilities:
* Lead, develop, and manage a project controls team covering planning, scheduling, and cost engineering
* Establish and maintain integrated cost and schedule management processes and procedures
* Prepare and manage project budgets, forecasts, cost reports, and change control processes
* Oversee development and maintenance of detailed project programmes using appropriate planning software
* Monitor project performance against baseline schedules and budgets, analysing variances and advising on mitigation strategies
* Produce accurate, timely reports for client and project leadership teams
* Ensure compliance with strict security, safety, and regulatory requirements
* Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, providing expert advice on all project controls matters
Candidate
* Proven experience as a Senior Project Controls Manager / Project Controls Lead on large, complex engineering or construction projects
* Strong background in both cost and schedule management
* Experience managing multi-disciplinary project controls teams
* Extensive experience within heavily regulated, safety-critical sectors (e.g. nuclear, defence, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, or major infrastructure)
* Proficiency with recognised planning and cost management tools (e.g. Primavera P6, Earned Value Management systems, and cost control software)
* Excellent stakeholder management, leadership, and communication skills
* Must be a UK national (due to the requirement to obtain high-level security clearance)
Offer
* Salary circa £90,000 per annum
* Pension, Healthcare, Life Assurance, Private Medical
* 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
* Travel Costs
* Flexible working week
* Plus other great benefits
If you are seeking a new career challenge and you would like to be considered for the above opportunity then please apply by sending your CV to matt.lilburn@goldgroup.co.uk or call Matt Lilburn on 01342 330 533 for further information quoting reference 71111.