Project Controls Manager - ARB, Inc.

Job Overview

At ARB, Inc., the Project Controls Manager will play a critical leadership role supporting large-scale EPC and industrial construction projects across power, energy, and infrastructure markets. This position is responsible for leading all project controls functions including cost management, forecasting, scheduling oversight, progress measurement, EVM, change management, reporting, and risk analysis throughout the project lifecycle. The ideal candidate brings a strong background supporting direct-hire industrial construction projects and has experience partnering closely with project management, engineering, finance, procurement, payroll, and field operations teams to ensure projects remain on budget and on schedule.

This role requires a hands‑on leader capable of managing project controls teams while driving accountability, visibility, and operational excellence across multiple projects.

• Lead and oversee all project controls functions for a portfolio of industrial construction projects from project initiation through final closeout.
• Support Project Managers with cost controls, scheduling, forecasting, EVM, reporting and risk management activities.
• Provide leadership and oversight to project controls engineers, analysts, schedulers, and estimators.
• Ensure all projects are executed in compliance with company governance, procedures, contractual requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Monitor and report project costs, analyze trends and compare them to budgets and approved estimates.
• Perform detailed variance analysis and provide corrective action recommendations related to cost and schedule performance.
• Prepare and oversee project forecasts including direct costs, indirect costs, equipment costs, labor costs, and third‑party costs.
• Employ Earned Value Management (EVM) methodologies and tools to track and forecast project performance.
• Oversee scheduling efforts and identify activities impacting the project critical path while supporting mitigation and recovery planning.
• Ensure project scope changes, budget revisions, and schedule modifications are properly evaluated, documented, approved, and integrated into project controls systems.
• Generate cost and schedule risk assessments and provide confidence‑level reporting to project leadership.
• Review contractor and vendor cost reports, forecasts, invoices, and schedules for accuracy and completeness.
• Support development and oversight of project invoicing processes in accordance with contract requirements.
• Review and approve third‑party invoices and coordinate closely with Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, and Finance teams.
• Ensure project cost data is accurately maintained within project controls & ERP systems.
• Support capital appropriation requests and financial project closeout activities.
• Develop executive‑level cost and schedule reporting packages and presentation materials for senior leadership.
• Work collaboratively with project management, engineering, procurement, construction, and field operations teams to ensure alignment between project execution and project controls.
• Identify project risks, planning gaps, dependencies, and operational issues while driving mitigation strategies and resolution plans.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to project controls processes, reporting, systems, and governance.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, Finance, or related field (preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in project controls, cost engineering, scheduling, or construction project management within EPC, industrial, energy, or heavy industrial environments (required).
• Previous experience leading project controls teams on direct‑hire construction projects (required).
• Experience supporting large‑scale EPC or industrial construction projects (preferred).
• Experience with lump sum, unit rate, and time & material contracts (preferred).
• Strong understanding of project controls principles including cost forecasting, scheduling, earned value management, change management, and risk analysis.
• Proficiency with project controls and reporting software such as Eco Sys, Primavera P6,…