Project Controls Manager / Scheduling Manager

Location: Philadelphia, PA (Hybrid – 1-2 days on-site)

Rate: Up to $900 per day

Duration: Ongoing contract role, supporting major capital projects.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Project Controls Manager / Scheduling Manager to support major capital projects within the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector. This role will take ownership of planning and scheduling activities across the full project lifecycle — from concept through validation — ensuring projects are delivered on time, to scope, and to budget.

You’ll report directly to the Project Director while collaborating with cross-functional teams, providing expert schedule management, analysis, and reporting to support decision-making on high-value, business-critical projects.

Key Responsibilities

Schedule Development & Maintenance

• Develop and maintain baseline schedules using Primavera P6 and MS Project.
• Integrate engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and validation activities into a coherent master plan.
• Update schedules, track progress, forecast milestones, and identify deviations.

Analysis & Reporting

• Perform critical path and “what-if” scenario analyses.
• Deliver progress reports, look-ahead schedules, variance analyses, and KPIs.
• Interface with cost controls to align schedules with budgets.
• Support claims, delay assessments, and time impact analyses.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Partner with project managers, engineers, and subcontractors to ensure realistic and accurate schedule logic.
• Facilitate workshops and schedule review sessions with stakeholders.
• Provide back-end project support from OQ completion through licensure (PQ, EMPQ, Water runs, PPQ, licensure).

Operational Readiness

• Work with SMEs to plan and refine operational readiness activities.
• Develop milestone trackers, dashboards, and best practice KPIs.
• Align operational readiness with construction, CQV, and start-up teams.
• Support the Operational Readiness Lead with general PM activities (agendas, action tracking, reporting).

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Science, Engineering, Quantity Surveying or related field.
• 10+ years’ experience in project controls, planning, or project management.
• 3+ years’ scheduling experience in pharmaceutical, healthcare, life sciences, or other highly regulated, capital-intensive sectors.
• Strong knowledge of capital projects, tech transfers, and validation lifecycle (CQV, CSV, PV).

Key Skills

• Advanced proficiency with Primavera P6, OPC, and Microsoft Project.
• Strong understanding of Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling.
• Experience creating resource-loaded and cost-loaded schedules.
• Skilled in schedule risk analysis tools (Acumen Fuse, Deltek Risk, etc.) a plus.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and strong data analysis/visualisation skills.
• Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM).
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and reporting abilities.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to thrive in fast-paced environments.