Associate Director - Project Controls

Mace•Portland, OR

About The Position

At Mace, the purpose is to redefine the boundaries of ambition by creating responsible places and delivering transformative impact for people, communities, and societies. Within the consult business, the role combines practical expertise with project delivery consultancy to unlock the potential in every project. The Associate Director is accountable for PMO and Project Controls performance on assigned commissions and leads the establishment and delivery of effective frameworks, strategies, governance, reporting, and controls. The role advises clients, directs project teams and delivery partners, and oversees cost, schedule, change, risk, baseline, contingency, and quantitative risk analysis activities. It also provides line management and career development support to junior staff, contributes to resourcing and recruitment, and promotes service excellence and improved working practices. The role works collaboratively toward net-zero carbon transition, proactively identifying and managing carbon emissions and reductions during delivery. Mace welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds and is open to discussing part-time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable for the role.

Requirements

Significant experience leading effective PMO and Project Controls on significant construction projects and in management consultancy.
Significant experience establishing effective PMO and Project Controls management or assurance frameworks and strategies.
Expert knowledge of PMO and Project Controls tools, techniques, and software, such as MS Office, Power BI, Aconex, Primavera P6, and RiskHive.
Ability to manage activities involving significant uncertainty of solution or outcome.
Comprehensive knowledge of tools, techniques, and software interfacing with the risk discipline, such as Primavera Risk Analyser and Active Risk Manager.
Practical knowledge of Power BI and other reporting-suite tools.
Strong understanding of construction projects, dependencies, interfaces across the project lifecycle, and management consultancy.
Deep domain knowledge providing PMO and Project Controls leadership across multiple sectors, such as rail, highways, nuclear, public sector, and hospitals.
Experience delivering a range of project management services through PMO and Project Controls on major construction programmes or portfolios.
Chartered status or equivalent and/or membership of a relevant professional institution, such as the Association of Project Managers.
Ability to identify opportunities to implement improved working practices.
Excellent communication and relationship-management skills.
Confidence presenting and speaking publicly, with the ability to engage an audience and clearly convey a position or message.
Effective appraisal and analytical skills to support skilled negotiations, problem-solving, or conflict resolution.

Responsibilities

Be accountable for PMO and Project Controls Services performance on assigned commissions.
Create and design effective PMO and Project Controls frameworks and strategies.
Manage and direct clients, consultants, contractors, and project teams on PMO and Project Controls matters.
Build strong professional relationships with client organisations and act as a trusted advisor.
Serve as the PMO and Project Controls subject matter expert on assigned projects, programmes, and portfolios.
Lead the project team in administering PMO and Project Controls processes, particularly cost, schedule, change, risk, and reporting, and escalate performance and management issues.
Lead periodic reporting and structured governance and performance meetings.
Lead development and management of the baseline for scope, time, cost, risk, and assumptions; monitor delivery performance, change, and contingency, including quantitative cost and time risk analysis.
Ensure activities and operations comply with Mace Control Centre, client requirements, and prevailing legislation.
Provide line management to junior PMO and Project Controls resources and other project or programme staff as required.
Mentor junior team members and support their personal and career development.
Innovate and apply industry best practice to maintain service excellence.
Lead delivery of a high-performing PMO and Project Controls team on the assigned commission.
Support the Hub PMO and Project Control Director with resourcing and recruitment for the assigned commission.
Collaborate toward net-zero carbon transition and proactively identify and manage associated emissions and reductions during work delivery.