Head of Project Controls - MEAC

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Role

The Head of Project Controls provides strategic leadership, governance, and functional management of the Project Controls function across the assigned Business Grouping. The role is responsible for establishing the functional strategy, ensuring compliance with corporate standards, developing organizational capability, driving continuous improvement, and enabling consistent project delivery excellence.

Our Clients and Projects

Designing the future. Transforming the world.

Wood's Oil, Gas & New Energies business is built on a strong legacy of delivering large and complex projects for national and international energy companies across the globe. We have experienced teams, a proven delivery model and a strong reputation.

We are the market-leading provider of integrated and innovative solutions that challenge the status-quo in the oil and gas upstream and midstream, onshore and offshore, gas to liquids and decarbonization and electrification markets. We pride ourselves in steady and predictable delivery, setting our sights on an exciting growth trajectory.

Energy security, transition and supply have never been more important. You, our enabling teams, are at the very forefront of transformative projects that are providing sustainable power to generations to come. We are the ones to bring low-carbon concepts to reality.

What we can offer

• Meaningful and interesting projects: Delivered to high profile clients across the Energy Sector
• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: We are an organization actively committed to diversity and inclusion across our business
• Competitive remuneration package: With regular reviews to ensure we are rewarding at the right level in line with the market
• Medical Insurance: Ensures inpatient, and outpatient medical care is available should you require treatment
• Group Life and Personal Accident Insurance : The company provides Life Assurance cover
• End of Service Gratuity: In line with UAE Labor Law, all employees are eligible for an End of Service benefit
• The Employee Share Plan : Gives you the opportunity to purchase Wood shares and receive a match from the company
• Long Service Award: Wood values the commitment and loyalty of our people. Celebrating Long Service provides an opportunity for the business to demonstrate their appreciation of the hard work, dedication and many years' services of our employees at 5 - year service milestones
• Commitment to continued professional development: Development plans that are tailored to your individual needs and interests
• Global connections : Join experts around the world who are at the leading edge of our industry, shaping the standards of our profession
• Energy Transition Academy: Join a community of experts sharing your knowledge and gaining more exposure to a variety of existing and emerging energy systems - delivered by experts in their field

Job Objective

The Head of Project Controls provides strategic leadership, governance, and functional management of the Project Controls function across the assigned Business Grouping. The role is responsible for establishing the functional strategy, ensuring compliance with corporate standards, developing organizational capability, driving continuous improvement, and enabling consistent project delivery excellence.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary Project Controls focal point for the client and contractor Project Controls teams.
• Ensure alignment with client reporting requirements.
• Deliver timely, accurate, and consistent cost and progress reporting.
• Establish and maintain effective communication interfaces for cost, planning, scheduling, and risk management activities.
• Chair regular internal and client Project Controls meetings covering:
  • Cost
  • Schedule
  • Progress
• Report overall project status and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to management.

Project Planning & Scheduling

• Develop the Project Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
• Lead the implementation of planning and cost control structures aligned to the WBS.
• Ensure delivery and ongoing maintenance of:
  • Fully resourced schedules
  • Logic-linked Gantt charts
  • Preferred planning software requirements
• Monitor project progress against the approved baseline.
• Track achievement of major milestones and analyze deviations.
• Identify, monitor, and report on the project critical path.
• Provide early warning of schedule slippages or float erosion.
• Lead schedule recovery planning following delays.
• Oversee preparation of:
  • Execution schedules
  • CTR (Cost Time Resource) packages.

Cost Management

• Oversee project work approval processes, ensuring:
  • Correct cost code allocation
  • Initial budget setup
  • Required approvals
• Manage project budgets through:
  • Cost monitoring
  • Forecasting
  • Budget control
• Ensure all approved changes are reflected in project budgets and schedules.
• Review contractual obligations to ensure cost control activities comply with:
  • Client requirements
  • Contract conditions
• Incorporate subcontractor performance impacts into overall project cost reporting.

Progress Monitoring & Reporting

• Monitor overall project performance against approved plans.
• Analyze current performance and forecast future outcomes.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of:
  • Cost
  • Progress
  • Schedule
  • Forecasts
  • KPIs
• Accountable for the accuracy and timely issuance of:
  • S-Curves
  • Resource histograms
  • Project dashboards
  • Performance reports

Change Management

• Manage the project change management process.
• Ensure timely preparation and issuance of:
  • Change orders
  • Variations
  • Contract change notifications
• Assess the impact of all change requests on:
  • Budget
  • Schedule
  • Resources
• Promote compliance with the Project Change Management System.
• Facilitate change management assurance activities.

Risk Management

• Lead cost and schedule risk analysis workshops with both project teams and clients.
• Ensure project risks are:
  • Identified
  • Assessed
  • Monitored
  • Reported
• Ensure risk management aligns with company standards and project procedures.

Governance & Project Controls Assurance

• Ensure Project Controls processes and procedures are:
  • Established
  • Maintained
  • Understood by the project team
  • Consistently applied
• Ensure all project-specific Project Controls systems and tools are fully implemented and functioning effectively.
• Review and approve all cost, planning, scheduling, and risk deliverables before issue.
• Ensure project execution meets:
  • Quality requirements
  • Schedule commitments
  • Budget objectives

Resource Planning

• Provide analysis of current and future project resource requirements.
• Advise the Project Manager on workforce planning and resource optimization.
• Ensure project schedules remain fully resource-loaded and accurately reflect project execution requirements.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, manage, and develop the Project Controls team.
• Allocate workload effectively across team members.
• Monitor team performance and provide:
  • Coaching
  • Mentoring
  • Constructive feedback
• Foster a collaborative team environment that promotes communication, teamwork, and high performance.
• Motivate the team to achieve project objectives.

Continuous Improvement

• Capture and document lessons learned throughout the project lifecycle.
• Implement improvement initiatives to enhance Project Controls processes, systems, and delivery performance.
• Promote best practices and continuous improvement across the Project Controls function.

QUALIFICATIONS

Qualifications

The successful candidate should possess:

• Minimum ISCED Level 6 (Bachelor's Degree) in a relevant Engineering discipline or equivalent professional experience.
• ISCED Level 7 (Master's Degree) preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Technical Expertise

• Advanced expertise across all Project Controls disciplines, including:
  • Planning & Scheduling
  • Cost Control
  • Estimating
  • Change Control
  • Risk Analysis
• Extensive industry experience in Project Controls leadership.
• Strong experience managing multidisciplinary Project Controls teams.

Project Management

• Excellent understanding of Project Management principles and methodologies.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Project Controls processes and best practices.
• Experience supporting engineering and construction projects.

Systems & Technology

• Proficient in both manual and computerized Project Controls systems and business applications.
• Experience implementing and optimizing Project Controls digital tools.

Leadership

• Proven ability to:
  • Drive organizational performance
  • Influence change
  • Lead transformation initiatives
  • Deliver business improvements

Personal Attributes

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

Strategic Leadership

• Strategic mindset with the ability to translate long-term objectives into practical execution plans.

Collaboration

• Collaborative leadership style.
• Culturally aware and inclusive.
• Values diversity and fosters teamwork.

Communication & Influence

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence, inspire, and drive behavioural change across all organizational levels.

Problem Solving

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Applies sound professional judgement to resolve complex issues.

Coaching & Development

• Skilled coach and mentor.
• Provides constructive developmental feedback to build capability across the Project Controls function.

Values & Behaviours

• Demonstrates and promotes Wood's Vision, Values, and Behaviours through leadership and decision-making.

ABOUT US

Wood is a global leader in consulting, engineering and operations for the energy and materials sectors. With 33,000 people in around 50 countries, Wood supports clients across the full asset lifecycle, delivering safe, predictable outcomes while enabling resilient operations and a lower carbon future. Wood forms the Energy & Materials pillar of Sidara - a global partnership uniting leading multidisciplinary engineering, design, and project management companies.

Diversity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer that recognises the value of a diverse workforce. All suitably qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective criteria and without regard to the following (which is a non-exhaustive list): race, colour, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other characteristics in accordance with the relevant governing laws.