Director, Project Controls

Director of Project Controls Job Summary

The Director of Project Controls oversees and manages the Project Controls Team in each of their subject matter areas:
Planning and Estimating. This leader is responsible for the successful planning and delivery of large, complex, multi-disciplined projects, providing leadership to strategically manage risks against scope, schedule, and budget. The role oversees the estimating and scheduling functions across the full project lifecycle, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with creative vision and financial feasibility.

• Lead the Project Controls Team, providing oversight for project-specific estimating, budgeting, and scheduling across the full project lifecycle, from early ideation through delivery.
• Supervise, mentor, and actively develop a high-performing and scalable team of managers and professionals, including the Scheduling/Planning Manager and Estimating Manager.
• Establish and maintain standardized project controls procedures, tools, and cost databases to ensure accuracy and consistency across all projects, including the development and validation of Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), scope documents, and cost forecasts.
• Collaborate closely with Project Leadership, Creative, Finance, Show, and Operations to align project strategies with company priorities and ensure the creative vision aligns with financial feasibility.
• Translate high-level business goals into actionable project plans and actively partner with leadership to develop comprehensive risk registers and incorporate schedule/cost risk analyses into project baselines.
• Report on the health of the project to Project Leadership, providing high-level reports, presentations, and scenario analyses, and serving as the main point of contact for escalating critical risks and concerns within the Project.
• Implement best practices, continuously evaluate project delivery methodologies, and leverage emerging tools and technologies to enhance productivity in delivery.
• Build and maintain a historical cost database and benchmarking library to continuously improve accuracy and inform strategic decision-making.

• Deep understanding of project management methodologies and managing diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in overseeing estimating, scheduling/planning, or cost control, preferably 10+ years in construction or themed entertainment.
• Strong experience in overseeing domestic and international multi-faceted projects.
• Proven leadership experience in managing project management professionals and building high-performing teams.
• Proficiency with core industry tools such as P6, Autodesk Construction Cloud, and Google Suite.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills with the ability to partner with creative and executive leadership.
• Experience in domestic and international multi-faceted projects.
• Solid understanding of business drivers and market conditions.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Proven track record in meeting aggressive schedules; clearly defining deliverables and timetables with demonstrated ability to balance multiple priorities in complex environments to successful project completion.
• Strong work ethic and high level of confidentiality using good judgement and an exceptional sense of accountability.

This role operates in a combination of office, remote, and occasional on-site project environments. The position requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including finance, operations, project management, and external vendors or contractors. The work environment is fast-paced and deadline-driven, with responsibilities that include cost estimating, forecasting, scheduling, and project performance tracking. The role may require periodic site visits to support project planning and execution, which may involve exposure to active construction or installation environments, minimal lifting (up to 20 pounds), and navigation of uneven surfaces, construction areas, or exhibition spaces.

This is a primarily sedentary role requiring extended periods of sitting, working at a computer, and analyzing data.

This is a full-time position averaging 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm MT or 10 am to 6 pm MST – occasionally requiring flexibility to work during evenings or weekends based on business needs, as well as travel to off-site locations depending on the role and need.

This position does require supervisory responsibility.

This position will require some travel (10%-25%).

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Meow Wolf is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any…