Senior project controls manager benelux

Overview

Who we are?

PM Group is an employee owned, international project delivery firm focused on growing a sustainable business centred around our people, our clients and trade partners. We are a leading international engineering, architecture, project and construction management firm with a network of offices in Europe, Asia and the US. We have a multi-discipline team delivering complex, capital projects in the life sciences, mission critical/ICT, advanced manufacturing, energy and food and beverage sectors.

Our Vision is to be a highly valued and creative delivery partner, building a more sustainable world with our clients. To do this our people are key and is where you can play a part. We are continually looking for experienced professionals to join our team.

We are recruiting a Senior Project Controls Manager to join our permanent consultancy team, supporting major capital investment projects across the pharmaceutical / life sciences and data center sectors throughout the Benelux region.This is a senior, client-facing role where you will lead cost, schedule, risk, and performance management on complex, technically demanding programmes—acting as a trusted partner to clients and ensuring predictable, controlled project delivery.
Responsibilities

Key ResponsibilitiesProject Controls Leadership

Lead the setup, governance, and ongoing management of project controls frameworks across large, multi-discipline projects and programmes.

Act as the single point of accountability for schedule, cost, change, and performance reporting.

Establish project controls standards aligned to internal consultancy best practice and client requirements.

Planning & Scheduling

Develop and manage integrated master schedules (IMS) from design through construction, commissioning, qualification, and handover.

Perform critical path analysis, logic reviews, progress measurement, and schedule forecasting.

Lead schedule impact assessments and recovery planning where required.

Regular use of Primavera P6 (preferred) and/or MS Project.

Cost & Commercial Control

Own cost control structures including CBS/WBS alignment, baseline budgets, forecasting (EAC/ETC), commitments, and accruals.

Manage change control processes ensuring scope, cost, and schedule impacts are fully assessed and approved.

Produce clear cost and performance reports with credible variance analysis and forward forecasts.

Risk & Performance Management

Facilitate risk identification workshops and maintain live risk registers with mitigation strategies aligned to project forecasts.

Drive disciplined reporting cycles (weekly/monthly), dashboards, and KPIs to support senior decision-making.

Promote proactive risk and opportunity management across project teams.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

Work closely with client-side project managers, engineering teams, contractors, and vendors.

Present project status, trends, and mitigation actions to senior stakeholders and steering committees.

Mentor and develop project controls team members within the consultancy.

Project EnvironmentPharmaceutical / Life Sciences

Drug substance and drug product facilities

Fill-finish, sterile and non-sterile manufacturing

Cleanrooms, HVAC, clean utilities, process integration

Commissioning, Qualification & Validation (CQV) interfaces

GMP-regulated capital projects

Data Centers

Hyperscale and colocation facilities

New build, phased expansions, and capacity upgrades

Fast-track programmes with heavy procurement and commissioning focus

Mission-critical delivery and integrated handover

Qualifications

Essential

Extensive experience in project controls management on complex engineering or construction projects.

Strong background in schedule and cost management, ideally supported by Primavera P6 expertise.

Demonstrated experience delivering controls within pharmaceutical, life sciences, or data center environments.

Solid understanding of EPCM, EPC, and multi-contractor delivery models.

Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.

Desirable

Experience in GMP-regulated environments or mission-critical facilities.

Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM).

Proficiency in Power BI or advanced Excel for performance dashboards.

Claims support or forensic schedule analysis experience.

Qualifications

Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, or similar.

Professional certifications beneficial but not essential:

PMP / APM / PRINCE2

AACE (CCP / PSP / EVP)

RICS (for QS background)

Language & Mobility

Fluent English is essential.

Dutch and/or French highly advantageous.

Willingness to travel across the Benelux region as part of a permanent consultancy role.