Project Controls Manager

Job Description:

Project Controls Manager Salary Range: £70,000- £80,000

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

At Leonardo, we're looking for a Project Controls Manager to play a key role in the successful delivery of complex, high-value programmes that support defence and security capabilities across the globe. Working at the heart of programme delivery, you'll provide the planning, forecasting, performance analysis, and project controls expertise needed to ensure projects are delivered against challenging cost, schedule, and contractual commitments.

This is an opportunity to influence decisions from bid through to delivery, partnering with Project Managers, engineers, commercial teams, and customers to drive programme performance and enable successful outcomes. Whether identifying risks early, analysing performance trends, or developing integrated schedules, your work will provide the insight and control needed to deliver with confidence. With flexible and hybrid working options available, you'll be empowered to make a real impact while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

As a Project Controls Manager, you'll be responsible for developing and maintaining integrated project controls across planning, scheduling, cost management, resource forecasting, and performance reporting throughout the project lifecycle.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Supporting risk identification and assessment activities alongside Project and Risk Managers.

• Supporting bid and proposal activities, analysing customer requirements and assessing delivery feasibility.

• Developing high-level schedules and budget forecasts aligned to contractual requirements and programme milestones.

• Supporting project mobilisation activities, including Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) development and governance framework implementation.

• Creating and maintaining integrated project schedules that provide clear visibility of programme performance and delivery risks.

• Developing resource-loaded plans and time-phased cost forecasts to support effective decision-making.

• Monitoring progress against programme milestones, budgets, resource plans, and performance targets.

• Producing KPI reports, project performance dashboards, and analysis to support recovery planning and corrective actions.

• Working closely with programme teams to review project trends, risks, opportunities, and delivery performance.

• Supporting customer reviews and programme performance meetings.

• Maintaining schedules and forecasts to reflect evolving requirements, contractual changes, and programme priorities.

• Supporting budget reviews and baseline management activities to ensure effective performance measurement.

• Contributing to logistics and delivery planning activities where required.

• Capturing and sharing lessons learned to drive continuous improvement across programmes and teams.

We're looking for a project controls professional who can provide robust planning and performance management expertise within complex project environments.

Ideally, you'll have:

• Experience in project controls, project planning, programme controls, or project management within a complex delivery environment.

• Strong experience developing and managing integrated project schedules, resource plans, and forecasting activities.

• Experience applying project controls methodologies across cost, schedule, resource, and performance management.

• Knowledge of Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), baseline management, and project governance frameworks.

• Experience producing KPI reporting, performance analysis, and project status reporting for senior stakeholders.

• Experience supporting bid, mobilisation,…