Project Controls Lead

Sir Robert McAlpine is proud to have been awarded a prestigious contract to deliver a cutting-edge gigafactory — a transformative project at the heart of the UK\’s green industrial revolution.

In its initial phase, the project involves the design and construction of a 15GWh lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility, complete with ancillary buildings and extensive site-wide infrastructure works.

Once complete, this facility will rank among the largest battery production sites in the UK, with the capacity to supply nearly half of the country\’s projected automotive battery needs by the early 2030s.

Why join us?

Sir Robert McAlpine is celebrating 156 years of history as a family-owned business that has stayed true to its values. Through the years we\’ve developed a culture very much our own – creating an environment that brings out the best in people who share our commitment to excellence.

Right now, we\’re excited about continuing the company\’s legacy through the projects and opportunities ahead. Join our collaborative team to achieve more from your career by proudly building Britain\’s future heritage with us.

The Project Controls Lead Role

Reporting to the Project Commercial Lead, you\’ll be responsible for establishing and maintaining robust project controls across cost, schedule, risk, change management and reporting functions. This role ensures that project performance is accurately tracked, analysed, and communicated, enabling informed decision‑making and successful project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain project budgets, monitor expenditure, and forecast costs. Ensure alignment with baseline budgets and manage change control processes.
• Oversee the development and integration of project schedules (e.g. P6, MS Project), ensuring alignment across all workstreams and stakeholders.
• Identify, assess, and manage project risks and opportunities. Implement change control procedures and maintain risk registers.
• Create and maintain dashboards (e.g. Power BI), generate progress reports, and provide insights to senior leadership and enabling services.
• Ensure adherence to internal controls, contract requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Collaborate with project managers, commercial teams, planners, and clients to ensure consistent application of controls and transparent communication.

Your profile

• Proven experience proactively leading project controls within construction, infrastructure, or engineering sectors on a major project.
• Strong understanding of cost control, scheduling, risk management, and reporting methodologies.
• Proficiency in tools such as Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, and Power BI.
• Ability to vet contractor schedules and integrate them into master programmes.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Familiarity with NEC contracts and large-scale project environments is advantageous.

Desirable Attributes include;

• Chartered or working towards chartership with ACostE, APM, or similar.

Rewards

We\’re ready to invest in you and your future, and offer wide-ranging, performance-related progression opportunities. Our competitive rewards packages feature flexible benefits to fit your lifestyle and priorities.

We’d love you to join us in proudly building Britain’s future heritage. Apply online now.

Sir Robert McAlpine is focused on being a truly inclusive employer, even if you don\’t meet every single requirement, we\’d still love to hear from you. Especially if you\’re part of a group that is under‑represented in Construction. Our goal is for Sir Robert McAlpine to proportionally represent the diversity of the working population in society. As a family‑run business with strong family values, our aim is to ensure that Sir Robert McAlpine is a supportive, empowering and inclusive environment for every member of our team.