Project Controls Lead📣 Job Ad

About the Project Controls Lead Role

Skilled Careers is partnering with a leading organization in the data centre sector to appoint a Project Controls Lead. This role will support the delivery of major mission-critical developments across Saudi Arabia, specifically in Dammam. The position is full-time and offers an opportunity to work on large-scale, fast-paced data centre projects within a rapidly growing sector.

Role Overview and Responsibilities

The Project Controls Lead will be instrumental in establishing and maintaining robust project controls across multiple concurrent projects. This involves ensuring accurate programme management, identifying risks, and providing executive reporting throughout the entire project lifecycle. Key responsibilities include:

• Developing, maintaining, and managing integrated project schedules covering design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover phases.
• Overseeing project controls for multiple data centre and infrastructure projects simultaneously.
• Producing baseline, look-ahead, recovery, and scenario programmes.
• Reviewing contractor, consultant, and supplier schedules to assess sequencing, logic, critical path, and overall programme integrity.
• Identifying programme risks and coordinating mitigation plans with internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintaining project risk registers, issue logs, action trackers, and change control documentation.
• Monitoring programme performance, identifying delays, and escalating risks before they impact key milestones.
• Collaborating with Commercial and Quantity Surveying teams to align programme schedules with procurement strategies, cost forecasts, and cash flow.
• Supporting the assessment of variations, claims, and extensions of time from a planning and programme perspective.
• Producing concise project dashboards, progress reports, and executive-level reporting for senior management.
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of project controls systems, reporting standards, and governance processes.
• Supporting project teams with planning best practices and programme management throughout the project lifecycle.

Qualifications and Experience

Candidates for this position should possess the following qualifications and experience:

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline.
• Between 5–8+ years of experience in Project Controls, Planning, or Programme Controls on major construction or infrastructure projects.
• Experience supporting integrated programmes that encompass design, procurement, utilities, construction, and commissioning.
• Previous experience delivering data centres, mission-critical facilities, power, airports, hospitals, industrial, or major infrastructure projects.
• A strong understanding of critical path analysis, scheduling, risk management, change control, and programme reporting.
• Proficiency in using Primavera P6, MS Project, Excel, and project reporting tools.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, PSP, PMI-SP, or APM are advantageous but not essential.
• Middle East experience is preferred; however, strong international experience on major projects will also be considered.