Project Leader / Construction Manager

Colas is a Canadian leader in transportation infrastructure - materials, construction, and maintenance. From roads to rail, airports to ports, we build some of the most important projects that connect our communities.

Backed by our network of Colas companies across Canada and the Colas Group worldwide, Colas offers a wide range of innovative and sustainable solutions for the construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure.

Join the largest transportation infrastructure group in the world and help connect Canada.

Mission

Join us in an exciting adventure to complete the Edmonton Valley Line West LRT - a remarkable legacy project that will redefine our community’s transportation landscape! Be part of this transformative journey and help us create a lasting impact for generations to come!

The Project Controls Manager is responsible for the integrated management of cost control, planning / scheduling, risk and opportunity (cost and schedule), and quantity surveying for the Edmonton Valley Line West LRT project. The candidate leads the Project Controls team, ensures the reliability of project data, supports decision-making for the Project Director and Commercial Manager, and provides MIP with consistent, defendable reporting. The objective is to secure Cost and Schedule performance in line with the Project Agreement and MIP leadership targets.

Main Responsibilities

Cost Control & Forecasting

• Lead the cost control function for the entire project (design, construction, commissioning & startup).
• Establish, maintain and continuously improve cost control processes, cost coding structures and performance indicators.
• Consolidate monthly cost reports (actuals, commitments, trends, forecasts) and ensure consistency with accounting and procurement data.
• Coordinate preparation of Estimate At Completion (EAC) and variance analyses; challenge disciplines and work package leaders on assumptions and contingencies.
• Support the Commercial Manager and Contracts team in quantifying changes, claims, and commercial scenarios.

Planning & Scheduling

• Manage the project master schedule in coordination with the Planning team (design, construction, systems/CTS, testing & commissioning).
• Ensure logical, resource-realistic schedules and robust critical path analysis.
• Provide schedule impact assessments for changes, claims, acceleration scenarios and mitigation measures.
• Lead regular schedule reviews with the Project Director, Construction management and Parsons counterparts.

Risk & Opportunity Management (Cost & Schedule)

• Own the integrated risk and opportunity register for cost and schedule.
• Organize and facilitate risk workshops with project teams and partners.
• Quantify risk exposure and opportunities and integrate them into cost and schedule forecasts.
• Propose and track mitigation and optimization actions, and report regularly to Project Management and Colas.

Quantity Surveying / Project Controls Integration

• Coordinate the Quantity Surveying activities to ensure consistent measurement, valuation and reconciliation of quantities.
• Ensure alignment between QS, cost control, contract management and change management.
• Guarantee that change orders, claims and commercial files are fully supported by robust cost and schedule records.

Reporting & Governance

• Produce consolidated monthly Project Controls reports for the Project Director, Parsons and Colas (cost, schedule, risk, key KPIs).
• Ensure coherence between project controls reporting, accounting information and contractual reporting requirements.
• Prepare and present analysis and recommendations during internal and external reviews (incl. Monthly Executive Committee meetings, Lenders/City interfaces where required).

Team Leadership & Interfaces

• Manage, mentor and develop the Project Controls team (cost controllers, planners/schedulers, risk analyst, QS where applicable).
• Work closely with the Contracts Manager, Lead Project Accountant, Project Support Manager and site teams to ensure a fully integrated commercial and project controls function.
• Act as main point of contact for Colas’ Project Controls organization on all matters related to cost, schedule and risk.

Requirements

• Minimum 15 years of experience in Project Controls (cost, planning, risk) on large-scale international infrastructure and/or industrial projects (preferably rail / transit / PPP or design-build).
• Proven track record in managing Project Controls on complex, multi-stakeholder projects (client, partners, JV, subcontractors, lenders).
• Experience with major contractors or engineering-construction companies; exposure to Anglo-Saxon contractual environments is a strong asset.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent command of project control methodologies: cost control, critical path scheduling, quantitative risk analysis (cost & time).
• Solid understanding of contracts, claims and change management, and their translation into cost and schedule impacts.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to challenge and synthesize data from multiple sources.
• Team leadership: ability to structure, motivate and develop a multi-disciplinary project controls team.
• Strong interpersonal skills; able to work in a joint-venture / partnership environment and to interface confidently with Colas’ JV partner & the City.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken). French is an asset.

Education & Tools

• Degree in Engineering, Finance or related discipline, but experience will be valued above degree(s).
• Proficiency with major planning and cost tools (e.g. Primavera P6 / equivalent, cost control systems, Excel/BI tools).
• Professional certifications (PMP, PMI-SP, AACE, etc.) are a plus.

DIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT TO US

At Colas, we believe our workforce should reflect the diversity of the communities we connect. By living our core values of Caring, Sharing, and Daring, we welcome all those who help create the links that bring us together. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of age, ethnicity, national origin, religious beliefs, disability, marital or family status, gender, gender identity or expression.