Project Controls Manager - Real Estate Development

Western Governors University•Salt Lake City, UT

1d•$123,000 - $190,700•Onsite

About The Position

The Real Estate Development Project Controls Manager serves as WGU’s independent owner-side project controls lead for Project Talon, a large mixed-use development in downtown Salt Lake City. The role establishes, maintains, and reports the integrated controls framework, including schedule management, risk management, forecasting, performance monitoring, and executive reporting. It develops and maintains the Owner’s Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and independently monitors project performance across all phases of development. The position distinguishes between the Owner-controlled Program and Development Schedules and the contractor-controlled Construction Schedule. It integrates these schedules while independently validating project progress, risks, forecasts, and milestone achievement. The manager is WGU’s primary advisor on schedule, risk, and project performance, and provides an independent check on information from architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and other stakeholders. The role works closely with Development, Design, Construction, Finance, Development Accounting, Procurement, and Executive Leadership to support informed decisions and successful project delivery. It is based in the office at WGU’s Salt Lake City, Utah headquarters. Relocation assistance is available to candidates who do not live within a 50-mile radius of Salt Lake City.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, Business, or a related field.
8 or more years of experience in project controls, program management, scheduling, construction management, development, or related disciplines.
Experience on large-scale commercial, institutional, mixed-use, higher education, corporate headquarters, or comparably complex developments.
Demonstrated expertise in project controls, scheduling, forecasting, risk management, performance reporting, and program delivery.
Experience developing and managing integrated master schedules and project controls systems.
Experience working with architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and owner organizations.
Proficiency with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Power BI, and other project controls and reporting platforms.
Advanced analytical, communication, facilitation, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

Develop, maintain, and manage the Owner’s Integrated Master Schedule covering major project activities from planning through occupancy.
Maintain the Executive / Program Schedule for executive reporting, governance, and strategic decisions.
Maintain the Development Schedule for owner-led activities, including design, procurement, approvals, permitting, utilities, sustainability, funding, move management, and activation.
Integrate major milestones and critical activities from the General Contractor’s Construction Schedule into the Owner’s Integrated Master Schedule.
Monitor alignment between the Program, Development, and Construction Schedules; identify conflicts, risks, and recovery opportunities.
Independently evaluate contractor schedule assumptions, logic, sequencing, milestone achievement, and recovery plans.
Coordinate schedule information across WGU, consultants, contractors, public agencies, utility providers, and other stakeholders.
Identify critical-path activities and provide early warning of schedule risks; develop recovery and mitigation strategies when milestones are at risk.
Establish and maintain project controls systems, processes, standards, and reporting protocols.
Develop and monitor project performance indicators and milestone tracking systems; track performance against approved objectives, schedules, budgets, and milestones.
Analyze project performance trends, recommend corrective actions, and support integrated reporting across schedule, cost, risk, procurement, and project delivery.
Develop and maintain project dashboards and performance reporting tools.
Lead development and maintenance of the project risk register; identify, assess, and monitor schedule, delivery, procurement, commercial, operational, and execution risks.
Facilitate risk workshops and stakeholder coordination sessions; support mitigation strategies, escalation triggers, and project-wide governance.
Develop and maintain schedule forecasts, conduct schedule risk assessments and scenario analyses, and evaluate impacts of changes, delays, approvals, procurement, and external factors.
Support executive decisions through forecasting and alternative scenario modeling, including independent assessments of completion forecasts and milestone achievement.
Prepare executive-level project controls reports, dashboards, and performance analyses, and present recommendations to project and executive leadership.
Establish project controls governance procedures, reporting standards, schedule control processes, and documentation protocols.
Support audits, governance reviews, and project reporting requirements; provide independent recommendations on schedule approvals, milestone commitments, recovery plans, and major decisions.
Partner with Development, Design, Construction, cost management, Finance, Development Accounting, and Procurement on project alternatives, deliverables, schedule performance, cost and risk alignment, forecasting, cash flow, procurement planning, and delivery milestones.
Serve as the Owner’s authority for the Executive / Program Schedule and Development Schedule, and validate and oversee—but do not own—the General Contractor’s detailed Construction Schedule.