Project Controls Manager in Whitehaven

Westlakes Recruit are currently recruiting for an experienced project controls manager to be engaged on a permanent basis in Whitehaven, Cumbria.

The Opportunity

You will be joining a high-performing Project Controls function that takes pride in accuracy, integrity, and proactive support to project leadership. Working on large, complex engineering programmes, you will lead the integration of planning, cost control, estimating, risk management, change management, and reporting to provide a complete, reliable view of project performance. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to influence major capital projects, bring fresh thinking, and actively contribute to the continuous improvement of project delivery capability.

What You Will Be Responsible For

• Project Controls Leadership
  • Lead and manage the project controls function for major engineering projects or programmes.
  • Ensure the effective integration of schedule, cost, scope, risk, change, and reporting disciplines.
  • Provide strategic insight to the Project Manager and leadership team, enabling informed decision-making.
  • Drive a culture of high performance, transparency, and continuous improvement within the project controls team.
• Planning & Scheduling
  • Oversee the development and maintenance of detailed project schedules using industry-standard tools (e.g., Primavera P6).
  • Ensure logical sequencing, critical path integrity, resourcing, and alignment with the project baseline.
  • Monitor progress, forecast impacts, analyse deviations, and provide clear recommendations for recovery or optimisation.
• Cost Management
  • Lead cost control activities including budgeting, cost breakdown structures, forecasting, and variance analysis.
  • Ensure accurate reporting of commitments, actuals, earned value (EVM), trends, and change impacts.
  • Support development of cost estimates and ensure alignment with baseline plans.
• Risk & Change Control
  • Coordinate risk and opportunity management, ensuring consistent identification, assessment, treatment, and reporting.
  • Integrate cost and schedule risks into forecasting and performance analysis.
  • Oversee the change management process, ensuring proper evaluation, documentation, approval, and incorporation into project baselines.
• Performance Reporting & Governance
  • Produce high-quality project controls reports, dashboards, and KPIs for senior stakeholders.
  • Provide clear interpretation of project performance, trends, and emerging issues.
  • Ensure compliance with internal governance, industry standards, and client requirements.
• Team & Stakeholder Collaboration
  • Mentor and develop junior project controllers, planners, cost engineers, and risk practitioners.
  • Work closely with engineering, commercial, construction, and programme teams to ensure accurate and timely project data.
  • Foster a collaborative, problem-solving environment across multidisciplinary teams.

About You

Essential

• HNC/HND in Engineering, Project Management, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Strong technical understanding across the full suite of project controls disciplines.
• Experience managing project controls on major engineering or energy-sector projects.
• Proficient in industry-standard tools such as Primavera P6, cost management systems, and risk analysis software.
• Excellent attention to detail, analytical capability, and communication skills.
• Ability to challenge constructively and influence senior stakeholders with confidence.

Desirable

• Experience in regulated sectors such as nuclear, petrochemical, energy, or oil & gas.
• Familiarity with contract frameworks such as NEC or FIDIC.
• Experience with EVM, quantitative risk analysis, or scenario modelling.
• Professional accreditations (APM, ACostE, PMI, or similar).

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