Associate / Project Director - Project Controls Analytics

Our award-winning AECOM Controls Team within the Infrastructure & PMO Operating Unit is a trusted partner to both public and private sector clients across the UK and globally. We lead in delivering Controls Analytics solutions across Cost Risk Planning and Performance Controls supporting large-scale infrastructure and capital projects. By combining advanced analytics with best-in-class project controls our team enables clients to make informed data-led decisions that drive the success of their assets and investments.

As part of our ongoing growth we are seeking an experienced Controls Analytics Project Director to spearhead high-impact analytics initiatives and lead a team of professionals in delivering transformative project and programme and PMO controls solutions. This role is an opportunity to shape strategic controls frameworks and analytics methodologies at the project and programme levels ensuring PMO functions are managed with data-backed precision. The successful candidate will work closely with senior executives driving collaboration across multidisciplinary teams to enhance project performance.

Heres what youll do

As a Controls Analytics Project Director you will lead the design implementation and governance of controls analytics solutions on complex infrastructure projects. Your role will encompass strategic oversight and operational leadership in project controls analytics ensuring data-driven insights are leveraged to manage project risks control costs and drive decision-making. This role is essential for ensuring project outcomes align with client goals and delivering value through high-level controls and analytics expertise.

Strategic Leadership in Controls Analytics:

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive controls analytics and back office strategy across large-scale projects either standalone or as part of a PMO providing insights to improve complex project and programme performance.
• Direct and oversee analytics initiatives across multiple project dimensions including cost schedule risk benefits realisation change control and commercial management driving client maturity where necessary ensuring alignment with client objectives and industry best practices.
• Act as the primary trusted advisor to executive-level stakeholders on complex PMO and project controls strategies analytics insights and value-added recommendations.

Project Controls Governance & Compliance:

• Define and implement governance structures and compliance frameworks to ensure controls analytics are applied consistently across all relevant functions in projects programmes and PMOs..
• Ensure adherence to industry standards and regulatory guidelines championing best practices in data management analytics and project controls.
• Regularly review and refine controls analytics methodologies to stay at the forefront of industry advancements and client requirements.

Advanced Analytics & Reporting Oversight:

• Direct the creation and integration of advanced data analytics models to drive predictive project insights programme benefits and strategic portfolio decisions.
• Oversee the design of analytics dashboards and reporting tools ensuring they provide timely actionable leading insights for both internal teams and clients.
• Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and analytics metrics either in isolation of facilitating executive-level workshops to track progress enable proactive interventions and drive continuous improvement.

Risk & Contingency Management Leadership:

• Lead the integration of risk analytics into project controls enabling proactive risk and opportunity management mitigation development implementation and tracking predictive modelling and informed decision-making.
• Collaborate closely with risk and project teams to ensure risk impacts are quantified contingency plans are in place and corrective actions are identified and implemented.

Change Management

• Lead the conceptualisation and development of Change Management analytics and scenario modelling integrated with PMO functions enabling appropriate timely governance and tracking of change performance during implementation (including details relevant to programme and portfolio level).

Stakeholder Engagement & Executive Communication:

• Foster high-trust relationships with client executives and project stakeholders for organic business development and translating complex controls analytics insights into actionable strategies.
• Facilitate workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions promoting a deep understanding of controls analytics and their impact at all P3 and PMO levels.
• Serve as the point of escalation for project controls issues providing expert guidance on resolving high-impact challenges.

Team Development & Mentorship:

• Build and mentor a high-performing team of controls analytics professionals guiding their development and fostering a culture of continuous learning engagement and a consultancy mindset.
• Establish career paths performance standards and growth opportunities for team members to ensure a resilient talent pipeline aligned with existing team strategy and opportunities (to be identified as part of this role).
• Promote cross-functional collaboration within IPC and across client teams driving cohesion and shared success.
• Proactively support the team leadership in business development (both new and organic) opportunity management capability development stakeholder engagement (both internal and external) and development/refinement of team

If youre passionate about innovation and turning bold ideas into reality AECOM welcomes you. Join our team where we dont just construct infrastructure but also uplift communities and enhance lives. Why not give our AECOM page on LinkedIn a follow to stay updated on the impactful projects were working on and see firsthand the difference were making in the industry!

Qualifications :

Ready to push the limits of whats possible

Heres what were looking for

• Bachelors degree in data science Engineering Finance Project Management or a related discipline. A masters degree is preferred.
• Relevant professional certifications such as AACE PMI-PMP MSP Practitioner APM or RICS are highly desirable.
• Minimum of 10-15 years of experience in project programme and PMO delivery and controls or analytics leadership roles within infrastructure construction or energy sectors.
• Consultancy experience ideally with a tier one consultancy
• Demonstrated success in leading project controls and analytics initiatives for multiple high-value complex projects and programmes.
• Experience in building and managing multidisciplinary teams with a record of accomplishment of delivering data-driven solutions at the executive level.

Key Skills & Competencies

Leadership & Strategic Vision:

• Demonstrated ability to proactively provide direction inspire teams and influence senior stakeholders with a clear vision for controls analytics in P3 and PMO management.

Analytical Expertise & Technical Acumen:

• Exceptional skill in complex data analysis including predictive modelling cost forecasting and trend identification.
• Advanced proficiency in controls software (e.g. Power BI PRISM Primavera Aconex) and data manipulation tools (e.g. Python SQL).

Project Controls Mastery:

• Deep understanding of project controls disciplines including cost management schedule performance risk management and Earned Value Management (EVM).
• Skilled in designing integrated controls frameworks aligning cost breakdown structures (CBS) with work breakdown structures (WBS) and organisational breakdown structures (OBS).

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Proven ability to engage with executive stakeholders and communicate complex analytics insights in an accessible strategic manner.
• Strong presentation and negotiation skills for influencing senior management and clients.

This role presents an opportunity to redefine controls analytics in the industry shaping how our clients achieve their project objectives. Join us to lead strategic analytics transformations and make a lasting impact on high-profile infrastructure projects.

Additional Information :

About AECOM

AECOM is the worlds trusted infrastructure consulting firm delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle from advisory planning design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation buildings water new energy and the environment our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise a culture of equity diversity and inclusion and a commitment to environmental social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity 

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether youre working from an AECOM office remote location or at a client site you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. Were the worlds trusted global infrastructure firm and were in this together your growth and success are ours too.

Join us and youll get all the benefits of being a part of a global publicly traded firm access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer we believe in each persons potential and well help you reach yours.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address   if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.