The Project Controls and Portfolio Cost Manager is a strategic role responsible for the financial governance and performance of our global Design and Projects portfolio. This position extends beyond traditional accounting to implement active project controls, leveraging data analytics, AI, and robust process governance to maximize investment value. By bridging project delivery with corporate finance, you will provide the critical transparency and risk management required for leadership to make informed, strategic decisions.
Responsibilities
Establish and enforce globally aligned guidelines for project cost management and a standardized project approval process Manage the Change Control process to prevent unauthorized scope creep and protect the portfolio budget Drive the "lessons learned" process to foster continuous improvement in cost efficiency across all future design and build projects Partner with Sourcing and Legal teams to align project timelines with procurement lead times, market fluctuations, and to expedite contract finalization Facilitate development of annual portfolio-level budgets, cost baselines, and accurate forecasts Develop with the project team and monitor actual costs against approved budgets on a monthly and quarterly basis to ensure the Design and Project teams remain compliant with financial processes Proactively work with the Cost Consultant vendor to identify cost trends and risks, recommending corrective actions to keep projects on track Ensure consistent cost management standards, reporting, and methodologies across the global portfolio Establish cost control frameworks and benchmarks from historical projects to assist in budget preparation for new projects Develop and maintain comprehensive dashboards and cost reports, including forecasted cash flows, to provide financial insights to leadership and finance stakeholders Generate high-level financial summaries, dashboards, and OKRs for leadership, translating technical variances into clear business impacts Manage the funding approval process and lead the financial impact of project changes Partner with Legal and Sourcing to expedite project contract finalization, proactively identifying and removing process bottlenecks. Demonstrate working knowledge of construction contracts (NEC, JCT, AIA, or equivalent) Act as the primary liaison between the Projects, Finance, and Sourcing teams, providing startegic cost advice and decision support to leadership Ensure all project expenditures comply with internal financial controls and governance frameworks Work with Project Managers to understand cost assumptions and improve estimate accuracy Lead the development and implementation of advanced cost and construction project management tools Promote AI and digital transformation best practices, standardization, and lessons learned across projects Explore and apply Artificial Intelligence and digital tools to enhance the accuracy of cost forecasting and reporting Champion the use of 5D BIM for cost integration, managing the extraction of quantities to support advanced modeling workflows
Qualifications
A minimum of 7+ years in Project Controls, with at least 5+ years experience in managing portfolios in a multinational environment Proven experience managing costs for capital projects in construction, laboratories, or engineering Experienced background in financial modeling, quantity surveying, or construction economics. Expertise in managing cashflows, including Work in Progress (WIP), budget forecasting and expenditure tracking Skilled in reviewing tender packages for consultants and suppliers, with a focus on vendor selection, evaluation and oversight. Working knowledge of international construction contracts (e.g. NEC, JCT, AIA FIDIC) Advanced proficiency in Google Workspace (G-Suite), Procore (or similar platforms), SAP/Oracle, and Power BI Bachelor's degree in Quantity, Cost Management, or Finance Professional certifications such as PMP, APM, MRICS, or CIMA are highly desirable Proven experience to perform successfully under pressure in a deadline focused and evolving environment Demonstrated experience to present complex financial risks leadership, translating technical variances into business impacts Proven track record in planning, problem-solving, and decision making to meet performance requirements Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements) Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews) Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies