Project Controls Director (Saudi National)

About the Role

Parsons is seeking a Project Controls Director to provide strategic leadership for planning, scheduling, cost management, risk management, change control, progress measurement, performance reporting, and project governance. This full-time position is based in Riyadh, Riyadh, and requires over 20 years of experience. The role is responsible for implementing and maintaining robust project controls processes, systems, and procedures to support informed decision-making and effective program delivery.

Key Responsibilities

The Project Controls Director will work closely with the Client, PMO leadership, designers, consultants, contractors, and key stakeholders to establish an integrated controls framework. This framework will monitor project performance, identify emerging risks, and ensure alignment with approved budgets, schedules, and project objectives. Responsibilities include:

• Establishing and leading the Project Controls function within the PMO across all phases of the program lifecycle.
• Developing and implementing project controls policies, procedures, standards, and governance frameworks.
• Building, leading, and mentoring an integrated team of planning, scheduling, cost, risk, reporting, and controls professionals.
• Providing strategic advice to PMO and executive leadership on project performance, risks, opportunities, and recovery strategies.
• Ensuring consistent application of project controls processes across all projects, consultants, and contractors.

Schedule Management

• Directing the development, review, integration, and maintenance of program and project schedules.
• Ensuring alignment and integration of design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover schedules.
• Monitoring critical paths, key milestones, interfaces, and dependencies across the program.
• Leading schedule performance reviews and recommending mitigation or recovery measures.
• Overseeing schedule risk analysis and ensuring robust planning practices are adopted across all workstreams.

Cost and Risk Management

• Leading the development and maintenance of program budgets, forecasts, and cost control systems.
• Monitoring program expenditure, commitments, cash flow, and forecast final costs.
• Reviewing and challenging cost forecasts and performance data for accuracy and accountability.
• Ensuring timely reporting of cost performance, variances, trends, and management actions.
• Supporting PMO leadership in assessing commercial risks, claims, changes, and contractual implications.
• Establishing and maintaining the program-wide risk management framework.
• Leading risk identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring activities.
• Facilitating risk workshops and ensuring key threats and opportunities are actively managed.
• Overseeing change management processes, ensuring proper evaluation, approval, and implementation of scope, schedule, and budget changes.
• Assessing the impact of changes on program objectives and delivery commitments.

Reporting and Stakeholder Engagement

• Establishing project controls dashboards, reporting frameworks, and performance metrics.
• Leading the preparation of weekly, monthly, and executive-level reports.
• Developing and maintaining program-wide Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Analyzing project performance trends and providing actionable recommendations to senior leadership.
• Ensuring the integrity, consistency, and accuracy of project controls data and reporting systems.
• Serving as the primary Project Controls interface between the PMO, Client, consultants, contractors, and external stakeholders.
• Supporting senior leadership in project reviews, governance meetings, and executive presentations.
• Ensuring transparency and effective communication of project performance across all stakeholder groups.
• Fostering collaboration and alignment between delivery teams to achieve program objectives.
• Leading and managing the PMO Project Controls team, setting clear objectives and performance expectations.
• Promoting a culture of excellence, accountability, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.
• Identifying resource requirements and ensuring the Project Controls function is appropriately staffed throughout the program lifecycle.
• Supporting the development and succession planning of Project Controls personnel.