Head of Project Controls

Are you a director-level project controls leader looking to make your mark on a project that is already exceeding its goals?

Role: Head of Project Controls
Location: Milton Keynes (Hybrid 2 days WFH)
Salary: £122,000 - £132,000

This is an opportunity for a Head of Project Controls to lead a 35-strong team on the EKFB section of HS2-the largest, most dynamic, and highest-performing area of the project, with a £2 billion annual spend. This is not a recovery role, you will be joining a team that is smashing its targets and working with an intelligent, data-driven contractor.

As the Head of Project Controls, you will be the day-to-day leader for a multi-disciplinary team of 25 -35 specialists in cost, planning (P6), risk, and estimating. Reporting directly to the Project Director, you will:

·Lead and Inspire: Manage a large, geographically dispersed team, setting objectives and driving their performance.
·Be an Active Client: Embody our "eyes on, hands-on" approach, confidently challenging our joint venture partners and ensuring project-level work aligns with the overall programme.
·Manage Key Interfaces: Oversee the flow of critical performance data, including NEC contractual submissions, earned value (EVM), and weekly quantity reports.
·Influence at the Top: Prepare and present performance updates to senior executive stakeholders, including the Chief Programme Officer.
The ideal candidate will have:

·Proven Leadership: Demonstrable experience leading large project controls teams (25-30+ people) on complex, major infrastructure projects (e.g., heavy civils, nuclear, major transport).
·Technical Expertise: A strong background in project controls, with deep knowledge of NEC contracts, Earned Value Management (EVM), and scheduling tools like P6 (Primavera).
·Stakeholder Management: Experience presenting to executive-level stakeholders and the ability to tailor complex information for different audiences.
·Collaborative Mindset: A background from a client, contractor, or consultancy environment is welcome; a blend is ideal but not essential.