Head of Project Controls

Head of Project Controls

Join us to apply for the Head of Project Controls role at Balfour Beatty plc.

Our Balfour Beatty Highways business has a terrific opportunity for a BIM Engineer to join our £1.2 billion Lower Thames Crossing project, consisting of 43 bridges, including viaducts
, 17 km of complex Highways construction
, complex utility diversions, and a scheme‑wide, industry‑leading approach to carbon reduction
.

Balfour Beatty Highways maintain, manage and operate major highway networks across the UK and support local authorities creating communities where people want to live, work and play.

The Head of Project Controls will lead the project controls function for the Lower Thames Crossing, ensuring robust cost management, risk management, change control, performance reporting, and earned value management (EVM) across the programme.

• Lead the Project Controls function, setting the vision and strategy for cost, risk, change, and performance management across the Lower Thames Crossing programme.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of project controls processes, systems, and tools.
• Ensure accurate and timely cost forecasting, budgeting, and reporting, including the application of EVM principles.
• Lead risk management activities, including qualitative and quantitative risk analysis, risk mitigation planning, and regular risk reviews.
• Manage change control processes, ensuring all changes are properly assessed, documented, and communicated.
• Provide high-quality performance reporting and analysis to support informed decision-making at all levels of the programme.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, standards, and client requirements.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and high performance within the project controls team.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and development to project controls staff, supporting their professional growth.
• Act as the primary interface for project controls with internal and external stakeholders, including the client, supply chain, and JV partners.

Skills

• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Advanced communication and stakeholder management skills.
• High level of competence in negotiation and conflict resolution.
• Ability to drive innovation and continuous improvement.

Knowledge

• Deep understanding of project controls methodologies (cost, risk, change, EVM).
• Proficient in the use of project controls software and tools (e.g., Primavera, Prism, Excel).
• Strong knowledge of NEC contracts and their application to project controls.
• Familiarity with major infrastructure project delivery and assurance frameworks.

Experience

• Extensive experience in leading project controls for large, complex infrastructure programmes.
• Proven track record of delivering successful project controls outcomes in a collaborative environment.
• Experience managing relationships with clients, contractors, and other stakeholders.

Come and become colleagues with 26,000 staff and join a business which recorded 8.6 bn in revenues last year, achieved industry‑leading customer satisfaction scores and has unrivalled employee engagement statistics.

• An attractive / negotiated salary
• 42 core base hours per week
• Company car
• Hybrid working available
• 25 days annual leave
• Pension savings schemes
• A whole host of other Balfour Beatty staff employee benefits (discounts, exclusive offers etc)
• Refer a friend bonus scheme
• Scores of other Balfour Beatty opportunities available as well via our  portal.

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pe…