Project Controls & Operations Manager
About The Position
The Project Controls & Operations Manager will be responsible for owning and improving firmwide operational processes that support project performance and delivery consistency. This role oversees systems that provide visibility into project progress, reinforce internal discipline around execution, and help ensure projects remain on schedule and within budget. This position is tailored for an experienced civil or AEC professional – often a former engineer or senior project staff member – who thrives in high-impact, behind-the-scenes roles focused on project clarity and operational excellence. It is not a design or client-facing PM position, but rather an internal role focused on process accountability and information organization. This is an opportunity to shape how projects are delivered firm-wide. It’s ideal for professionals who want to remain in civil engineering without the pressures of design production or business development.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree required; specific discipline flexible. Equivalent AEC experience will be considered in lieu of a specific degree.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in A/E/C operations, project support, or workflow/process management
- Strong initiative and problem-solving skills with the ability to lead through influence
- Strong understanding of project budgets, schedules, and delivery
- Highly organized and structured thinker with excellent attention to detail
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to work cross-functionally with staff at all levels
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools and experience with project management systems and structured file environments
- Experience with creation and management of dashboards or KPIs creation (Excel, Smartsheet, etc.)
- Ability to analyze and translate numbers into strategic decisions
- Experience developing and enforcing operational standards, processes, or workflows
Nice To Haves
- Former civil engineer, project engineer, or senior PM preferred
Responsibilities
- Project Launch Management
- Coordinate and facilitate internal project kickoff procedures for all new projects
- Ensure digital project workspaces are set up with consistent structure and assigned responsibilities
- Schedule & Status Oversight
- Ensure project records are updated weekly to reflect current progress, staffing, and milestones
- Monitor internal tracking tools and follow up with project managers on overdue updates
- Identify delivery risks and trends early and flag them proactively
- Workflow & QA/QC Standardization
- Develop, refine, and enforce firmwide templates and documentation standards
- Monitor quality control processes to ensure reviews are scheduled and completed for major deliverables
- Post-Project Review Coordination
- Organize and document closeout reviews, gathering feedback to inform continuous improvement
- File Structure & Document Control
- Maintain and enforce standardized file naming and organization protocols across the company’s network
- Conduct regular audits to ensure compliance and consistency
- Operational Dashboard Reporting
- Produce monthly internal performance dashboards for leadership, summarizing project activity, review compliance, and file accuracy metrics
- Project Team Support
- Serve as an operations resource for project managers and technical staff, helping eliminate ambiguity and improve internal processes
- Partner with engineers and project managers to address risks before they become issues
- Leadership Support
- Serve as a trusted operational partner to the President and the leadership team.
- Translate project data into actionable insights
- Support strategic decisions related to capacity, scheduling, and workload.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
