At a Glance
- Tasks: Ensure project governance and control with evidence-based information.
- Company: Join Aureos, a leader in project controls and assurance.
- Benefits: Generous salary, 25 days holiday, pension, and learning opportunities.
- Other info: Independent role with excellent career growth and support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by safeguarding project integrity and transparency.
- Qualifications: Experience in project controls and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Aureos are seeking a Project Controls Officer to work in Bathgate. The Project Controls Officer (PCO) provides independent assurance that the project is governed, represented, and controlled using complete, consistent, and evidence-based information. The role operates across both Early Contractor Involvement (ECI / NEC4 Option E) and Construction (NEC4 Option C).
The PCO safeguards the integrity of governance, reporting, and control by ensuring that risks, decisions, assumptions, cost, programme, and change are:
- Fully aligned
- Transparently represented
- Supported by evidence
The PCO does not manage delivery, own decisions, or accept risk. The role ensures that:
- In ECI, the project is understood
- In construction, the project is understood and demonstrably under control
Key Responsibilities
The PCO provides independent oversight of the project control environment, ensuring alignment between governance, delivery, and commercial position. This includes:
- Assuring the integrity and alignment of:
- Risk, Decision, Action, and Assumption Registers
- Project Programme
- Cost and commercial reporting (during construction)
- Verifying that the project can provide clear, evidence-based answers to the four core project control questions (current position, cost, forecast, and corrective control)
- Challenging:
- Misalignment across registers, programme, and delivery
- Optimism bias, incomplete information, or assumption drift
- Understatement or delayed recognition of cost and programme exposure
- Monitoring escalation thresholds and ensuring escalation is applied without delay
- Producing independent assurance reports, exception summaries, and governance inputs
- Escalating any condition where the project cannot demonstrate a complete, consistent, and controlled position
Construction Phase Responsibilities (NEC4 Option C)
During construction, the PCO ensures governance is translated into controlled delivery and contractual alignment. This includes:
- Verifying that cost, programme, and performance reflect actual delivery
- Confirming integrity of:
- Target Cost vs Forecast Final Cost
- Defined Cost and committed cost
- Compensation Event position
- Ensuring the correct and timely use of:
- Early Warnings
- Compensation Events
- Formal change processes
- Ensuring no work proceeds without formal approval and contractual recognition
- Challenging divergence between:
- Site reality and programme
- Cost reporting and actual exposure
- Governance records and delivery position
- Confirming uncertainty is actively converted into:
- Compensation Events
- Accepted risks
- Controlled delivery outcomes
Authority and Interfaces
The PCO is authorised to:
- Require correction of governance, programme, or cost information
- Request supporting evidence for reported positions
- Challenge alignment between governance, commercial, and delivery data
- Escalate concerns independently of delivery pressure
The role works closely with Project Management, Commercial, Planning, and Functional teams, while maintaining independence from delivery execution.
Role Boundaries (Important)
The Project Controls Officer shall not:
- Act as a Decision Owner.
- Act as an Action Owner.
- Accept or transfer risk.
- Approve scope, programme, cost, or technical solutions.
- Direct delivery resources or manage work execution.
The PCO is not accountable for delivery outcomes but is accountable for ensuring that any loss of control, misrepresentation, or misalignment is identified, evidenced, and escalated.
Required Experience & Capability
Essential:
- Experience in project controls, governance, assurance, or commercial/change control on infrastructure or construction projects
- Strong understanding of risk, decision, cost, and programme control
- Ability to interrogate data and challenge inconsistencies across multiple sources
- Strong communication skills for structured reporting and senior-level engagement
Desirable:
- Experience with NEC contracts (particularly Option C)
- Experience in ECI environments
- Background in PMO, planning, commercial assurance, or programme controls
- Familiarity with stage-gate governance frameworks
Personal Attributes
- Independent, objective, and evidence-driven
- Able to maintain control discipline without delivery ownership
- Resilient and confident in challenging bias or misrepresentation
- Focused on truth, transparency, and control rather than narrative
- Trusted and credible with both delivery teams and senior leadership
In return you will receive
- Generous Salary
- 25 days Holiday plus Bank Holiday
- Pension
- Learning & Development opportunities
- Assistance and Wellbeing support
Aureos are an equal opportunities employer, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.
Project Controls Officer in Bathgate employer: Aureos
Aureos is an exceptional employer located in Bathgate, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises transparency, integrity, and employee well-being. With a strong commitment to professional development, employees benefit from generous holiday allowances, a supportive pension scheme, and comprehensive learning opportunities, all while contributing to meaningful projects in the construction sector. The inclusive culture fosters collaboration and respect, making Aureos a rewarding place for those seeking to grow their careers in project controls.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Controls Officer in Bathgate
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and understanding their projects. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with their needs, especially around project controls and governance.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, but keep it natural. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and showcase your experience effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Controls Officer in Bathgate
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Project Controls Officer role. Highlight your experience in project controls, governance, and assurance, and show how it aligns with what we’re looking for at Aureos.
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Use specific examples from your past experiences that showcase your ability to manage risks, decisions, and costs effectively. We want to see how you’ve tackled challenges in similar environments.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Aureos
✨Understand the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Project Controls Officer. Familiarise yourself with terms like Early Contractor Involvement and NEC4 contracts. This will help you speak confidently about how your experience aligns with the role.
✨Prepare Evidence-Based Examples
Since the role emphasises evidence-based information, prepare specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to provide independent assurance and oversight. Think about times when you identified misalignment or challenged assumptions effectively.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Strong communication is key for this position. Practice articulating complex ideas clearly and concisely. Be ready to discuss how you've engaged with senior-level stakeholders and produced structured reports in previous roles.
✨Be Ready to Challenge Assumptions
The PCO role requires a level of independence and the ability to challenge biases. Prepare to discuss how you've approached situations where you had to question the status quo or escalate concerns. This will show your resilience and commitment to transparency.
