Project Controls, Senior Manager

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a strategic leadership role for an exceptional executive who combines deep construction controls expertise with the vision and courage to institutionalize enterprise-wide financial governance. You'll report directly to our Director of Finance and serve as the single source of truth for portfolio controls across a multi-billion-dollar construction business operating across multiple regions.

You won't just maintain the status quo—you'll architect the scalable, technology-enabled controls framework that allows GSI to grow margin-protected and de-risk our portfolio through advanced forecasting, rigorous change management, and crystal-clear financial visibility. This role sits at the intersection of extreme ownership, mission-driven execution, and strategic problem-solving.

WHAT YOU'LL OWN

Strategic Portfolio Governance

• Design, enforce, and continuously optimize the standardized project controls model, policies, and procedures across all GSI construction portfolios and business units
• Deliver executive-grade financial reporting that translates complex, multi-project data into actionable dashboards, variance analyses, and strategic recommendations for the C-suite, Board, and JV partners
• Lead the evaluation, selection, and deployment of next-generation enterprise controls systems and AI-driven forecasting tools—not just incremental improvements, but step-change advantages in predictive accuracy

Portfolio Cost, Change & Margin Protection

• Guarantee the integrity of WIP processes, revenue recognition accuracy, and margin tracking across the segment in strict compliance with accounting standards
• Act as the final internal authority and strategic advisor on high-value change orders, contract modifications, and claims—maximizing recovery and protecting project profitability
• Conduct quantitative portfolio risk assessments (Monte Carlo, contingency analysis) to proactively mitigate macro-level financial risks and optimize capital allocation

Leadership & Organizational Impact

• Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing project controls team—developing the next generation of controls leaders
• Partner strategically with Project Executives, Operations VPs, Estimating, and Corporate Accounting to embed financial discipline into project execution
• Drive macro cash flow optimization by managing segment-wide WIP, AR aging, and AP scheduling with measurable working capital impact

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

You're an outcomes-driven executive with the rare combination of deep technical construction controls mastery and genuine leadership presence. You bring:

Core Expertise & Track Record

• 8+ years of progressive construction project controls, portfolio management, or project accounting—with proven track record of moving the needle on cost, schedule, and margin outcomes
• 3–5 years of dedicated leadership/people-management experience, with a track record of building and scaling high-performing teams
• Mastery of diverse construction contract structures (Lump Sum, Unit Price, Cost-Plus, GMP) and construction law; deep expertise in claim mitigation and complex job costing

Systems & Technical Fluency

• Power-user proficiency in enterprise ERPs (Viewpoint, Vista, SAP, Oracle) and advanced controls/scheduling software (Primavera P6, Cleopatra Enterprise, EcoSys)
• Advanced business intelligence skills (Power BI, Tableau, advanced Excel) and comfort with emerging AI/analytics platforms
• Intellectual curiosity about technology—you evaluate tools for business impact, not feature lists

Leadership Presence & Influence

• Exceptional executive presence with proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders at C-level and Board
• Change leadership: you don't just adapt to organizational shifts, you drive them with conviction and bring teams along
• Communication excellence: you distill complex financial data into clear narratives that move decisions
• Resilience and adaptability: you thrive in complex environments and maintain strategic clarity under pressure

Preffered

• Heavy civil, geotechnical, infrastructure, or specialty construction background with exposure to portfolios exceeding $500M+ annual volume
• Professional certifications: CCP (Certified Cost Professional), EVP (Earned Value Professional), PMP, or CPA/CMA
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Finance, or Accounting; MBA highly desirable
• Hands-on experience with quantitative risk analysis, Monte Carlo simulations, and advanced forecasting methodologies