Project Controls Manager

About the job:

Kent is looking for a Project Controls Manager with 15-20yrs experience, based in KSA (Al Khobar and/or Riyadh)

The Project Controls Manager is responsible for establishing, leading and maintaining all project controls functions across major Data Center EPC projects throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This role ensures effective planning, scheduling, cost control, progress measurement, forecasting, reporting and risk management to support successful project delivery.

Working closely with the Program Director, Project Manager(s) Commercial Manager, Construction Managers, Engineering and Client representatives, the Project Controls Manager provides accurate performance data, identifies project risks and trends, and delivers timely reporting that enables informed decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

The successful candidate will possess extensive experience managing project controls on large-scale construction or EPC projects, ideally within mission critical facilities, hyperscale data centers, industrial developments or complex infrastructure projects. Along with Middles East experience

Skills and Responsibilities: Responsibilities:

Project Controls Leadership

• Establish and lead the project controls function across assigned Data Center portfolio of projects.

• Develop and implement project controls procedures, systems and reporting frameworks involving JV partner requirements

• Ensure alignment with company governance, client requirements and industry best practices.

• Lead and mentor Planning Engineers, Cost Engineers and Project Controls personnel.

• Promote a culture of proactive project performance management.

Planning & Scheduling

• Develop, review and maintain integrated project schedules from engineering through commissioning and project handover.

• Ensure schedules accurately reflect project scope, sequencing and critical milestones.

• Monitor progress against approved baselines.

• Identify critical path activities and recommend recovery strategies where required.

• Assess schedule impacts arising from design changes, procurement delays and construction activities.

• Support development of mitigation and acceleration plans.

• Review subcontractor and supplier schedules for alignment with the master programme, in particular coordinating free-issued Client material schedules

Cost Control

• Implement robust cost control systems throughout the project lifecycle.

• Monitor project expenditure, commitments and forecast final costs.

• Work closely with Commercial teams to ensure cost reporting accuracy.

• Analyse cost variances and recommend corrective actions.

• Prepare monthly cost reports and financial forecasts.

• Support earned value analysis where applicable.

Progress Measurement

• Develop project progress measurement methodologies.

• Validate engineering, procurement and construction progress.

• Monitor productivity trends across project disciplines.

• Ensure accurate physical progress reporting.

• Produce weekly and monthly performance dashboards.

• Identify performance deviations and communicate corrective actions.

Reporting & Performance Analysis

• Produce accurate and timely project controls reports for internal and client stakeholders.

• Prepare executive dashboards highlighting project health and performance.

• Analyse schedule performance indicators and key project metrics.

• Provide trend analysis and performance forecasting.

• Support project governance reviews and executive reporting requirements.

Risk & Opportunity Management

• Establish and maintain project risk registers.

• Facilitate project risk workshops with key stakeholders.

• Monitor risk mitigation actions.

• Assess schedule and cost impacts of identified risks.

• Identify opportunities for programme optimisation and efficiency improvements.

Change Management

• Support evaluation of project changes and their impact on schedule and cost.

• Maintain change registers and associated reporting.

• Perform schedule impact assessments for client instructions and design changes.

• Work closely with Commercial teams to support variation and claims preparation.

• Ensure approved changes are incorporated into project baselines.

Project Controls Systems

• Manage implementation and maintenance of project controls software and reporting tools.

• Ensure integrity and accuracy of project data.

• Maintain baseline schedules and project databases.

• Develop reporting templates and project dashboards.

• Drive continuous improvement of project controls processes.

Stakeholder Management

• Work collaboratively with Project Directors, Construction Managers, Engineering, Procurement and Commercial teams.

• Interface directly with clients, consultants and contractors regarding project performance.

• Present project controls updates during progress meetings.

• Support senior leadership with strategic project reporting and decision-making.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with company project controls procedures.

• Support internal and external audits.

• Ensure reporting complies with contractual obligations.

• Maintain accurate project documentation and records.

• Promote best practice in project controls across the organisation.

In addition to the responsibilities listed herein, the employee may be required to perform other ad-hoc tasks as needed or directed by the supervisor or management. These tasks will be within the reasonable scope of the employee's skills, capabilities, and role within the organization. The intent of this provision is to allow for flexibility and adaptability in meeting the dynamic needs of the organization, ensuring that operational requirements can be met efficiently. All such tasks will be assigned considering the employee's current workload and with respect to their professional development.

Your knowledge/skills, education, and experience: Knowledge/ Qualification/ Training/ Certification:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Quantity Surveying or a related discipline.

• Master's Degree considered advantageous.

• PMP, AACE, PSP or equivalent professional certification preferred.

Communication:

• Excellent command of the English language in both oral and written communication and skills.

• Strong presentation skills.

• Ability to communicate complex project data to senior leadership.

• Effective stakeholder engagement across multidisciplinary teams.

Behavior/ Core Competencies:

• Minimum 10–15 years' experience in Project Controls within large-scale construction, EPC or infrastructure projects.

• Proven experience on hyperscale data centres, mission critical facilities, industrial projects or major building developments.

• Previous experience working in the Middle East, with KSA experience highly desirable.

• Demonstrated experience managing projects exceeding USD 100 million.

• Experience leading multidisciplinary project controls teams.

• Strong understanding of engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning processes.

Technical Knowledge

• Expert knowledge of Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project

• Strong understanding of project planning methodologies.

• Cost control and forecasting.

• Earned Value Management (EVM).

• Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling.

• Risk management and quantitative schedule analysis.

• Progress measurement systems.

• Project performance reporting.

• Change management processes.

• Knowledge of FIDIC contracts and project delivery models.

• Advanced Microsoft Excel and Power BI reporting.

• Familiarity with project controls platforms such as Primavera Unifier, EcoSys, Deltek Cobra or similar systems is advantageous.

Skills & Competencies Leadership

• Strategic planning

• Team leadership

• Coaching and mentoring

• Decision making

• Problem solving

• Influencing stakeholders

Technical

• Schedule development and analysis

• Cost forecasting

• Project performance management

• Data analytics

• Risk assessment

• Trend analysis

• Reporting and dashboard development

HSSEQ:

The Employee shall observe the Health, Safety, Sustainability, Environment and Quality rules of the Company; it’s clients and the governing authorities of the host country.

Details about the role: Location: Al Khobar and/or Riyadh (Site) Relocation required: No Travel required: Local or Regional Experience level: 15-20 Yrs

About you:

Join us. Unleash your energy within.

If you have world-class ambitions to reach the stars while keeping your feet on the ground, we’re the team for you. We've created a new breed of company – future-focused with reimagined ambition across all disciplines within the energy sector.

We love people who know their own potential and are not afraid to use it. We know that together, we’re far more than the sum of our parts. So, we celebrate people who want to grow and develop as we work together on some of the largest projects on the energy world stage.

We are committed to our diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop. From day one, we offer a range of family-friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and employee networks to support staff from different backgrounds.

As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities.

We’re a disability-friendly employer and can make adjustments to support you to perform at your best during the recruitment process.

Our purpose and beliefs:

As Kent, we’re tackling the greatest challenge of our time - to bring our world the energy it needs in the most responsible way ever imagined.

It’s the energy of every member of our team driven by our beliefs that is making this happen. Whatever our skill, our language, or our culture. These beliefs define and direct us every day to be the very best - for ourselves, our clients, our key stakeholders, the communities we operate in and the planet:

We PLAY BIG We thrive on EMOTIONAL AGILITY We are FANATICAL ABOUT PERFORMANCE We are built on INFINITE THINKING

Read more about the Purpose, Beliefs and Guiding Principles that drive us:

Our vision for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging:

We recognise that diversity & inclusion are catalysts for success. We’re heightening awareness on the benefits of people diversity, diversity of experiences and diversity of our perspectives. Creating a culture of inclusivity where all employees feel a sense of belonging.

Our combined energy is fueled by different nationalities, across 6 continents and 24 countries. Our commitment is to celebrate character – no matter what ethnic background, gender, age, religion, identity, or disability.