Head of Project Controls & Performance

Head of Project Controls & Performance South Wales | Senior Leadership Role | Major UK Industrial Project | Salary Negotiable Introduction Acorn by Synergie is searching for a Head of Project Controls & Performance to join the senior leadership team of a long-established global industrial organisation with a major UK manufacturing footprint based in South Wales. This is a pivotal role within a 1bn-scale industrial megaproject, accountable for defining and embedding a robust project controls framework to deliver predictable outcomes across cost, schedule, safety, and quality. Key Duties Define, embed, and continually evolve the project controls framework covering cost, schedule, risk, change, document control, and integrated performance reporting. Drive consistency across the programme through common tools, systems, and ways of working. Set and manage cost and schedule baselines, applying robust estimating, forecasting, Earned Value techniques, and schedule management using industry-standard tools such as Primavera P6. Establish effective risk and opportunity management disciplines and own the change control process. Produce clear and timely performance insight, including variance analysis and executive-level dashboards, to support senior and board-level decision-making. Build, lead, and develop a multi-disciplinary project controls team across cost, planning, risk, and document control. Work closely with commercial, procurement, engineering, finance, and supply chain functions, acting as the project controls lead within governance and assurance forums. Provide project controls input to procurement and tendering activities, including cost modelling, schedule development, and risk evaluation. Requirements Extensive leadership experience in project controls within large-scale UK infrastructure, energy, or industrial programmes. Expert knowledge of project planning and scheduling tools (e.g. Primavera P6), cost management, forecasting, Earned Value Management, risk control, and document management. Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills with the ability to influence outcomes at all levels. Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with confidence engaging at senior and board level. Proven experience managing multi-million-pound budgets and delivering measurable commercial results. Familiarity with UK-standard contracts, including NEC and FIDIC. Degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction, or a related technical discipline. What We Offer Senior leadership position on a 1bn-scale industrial megaproject. Opportunity to shape and lead a critical project controls function. Salary negotiable and dependent on skills and experience. Long-term career opportunity within a globally established organisation. Interested? Apply now to discuss this Head of Project Controls & Performance opportunity in confidence, or contact Acorn by Synergie for further information. Acorn by Synergie acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment. TPBN1_UKTJ

Created: 2026-01-09