Director, Project Controls & Assurance

Role Summary

Director, Project Controls & Assurance responsible for ensuring compliance with J&J Worldwide Procedures and implementing scalable E&PS Project Controls tools, guidelines, and industry best practices throughout the lifecycle of the project. Oversees direction, coordination, implementation, execution, control, and completion of the program to align with business strategy, commitments, and goals. Works with internal and external resources and coordinates team members and contractors to deliver projects on plan, resolving resource conflicts and negotiating with stakeholders. Drives standardization across ideation, definition, execution and assessment phases, including cost and schedule metrics, risk management, reporting, and lessons learned. Supports early estimating and business case alignment, execution approach, and program reporting.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance on Front End Loading / early estimating supporting capital investment by defining project definitions, scope, and priorities, ensuring resources, capabilities, and processes are in place.
• Support the implementation of the IDEA Project Delivery Process, focusing on cost and schedule objectives, risk mitigation, and adherence to financial procedures.
• Develop and align Capital Appropriation Request estimates, cost accounting, and detailed schedule to enable project approvals.
• Track project deliverables with proper tools and processes; monitor progress and provide status reports; ensure change control processes are efficient.
• Implement key risk processes at all IDEA project delivery stages (cost & schedule risk assessments).
• Attend meetings during engineering and construction phases.
• Evaluate AE, Construction Management, and C&Q firm performance regarding cost control and change management.
• Support project management in evaluating costs, analyzing change orders and forecasts.
• Review construction estimate trend reports prior to establishing contracts with contractors.
• Assist with development and review of project estimates, including scope, inclusions/exclusions, unit rates, subcontractor costs, fees, and general conditions.
• Evaluate subcontract procurement plans and track performance against target dates; review costs and schedules for subcontracts prior to award; validate against budget.
• Evaluate project contingency budgets and monitor usage.
• Review payment applications to validate progress and ensure compliance with contract terms.
• Maintain and update 21-Tab / ESR reflecting funding status, milestones, issues, cashflow, and safety statistics.
• Manage overall schedule development and integration across engineering, design, procurement, construction, IT-automation, commissioning, qualification, operational readiness, and technology transfer; provide hands-on schedule development and reporting.
• Ensure schedule integration and identify critical paths; review timelines and logic networks to establish a true baseline.
• Support teams to develop procurement strategies; identify opportunities and risks and recommend actions to optimize schedule performance.

Qualifications

Education

• Minimum of a Bachelor's or equivalent University Degree; preferred in Business, Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or related field.

Experience and Skills

• Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience.
• Project Controls experience leading complex capital projects > $500MM in Supply Chain, R&D, Medical Device, or equivalent regulated industry.
• Proven project management experience: defining project definitions and priorities, ensuring resources, capabilities, and processes are in place.
• Extensive knowledge of engineering, construction, and project controls execution.
• Experience in estimating, cost and schedule development/integration, and risk control processes.
• Ability to translate complex business needs into clear project objectives.
• Strong communication and listening skills; ability to influence, negotiate, and handle conflicts.
• Strong leadership experience with ability to interact with multiple levels of the organization, including senior leaders.

Preferred

• Familiarity with J&J Project Management approaches (FPX or IDEA Project Delivery Process).
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent certification.
• Primavera P6 and/or MS Project scheduling experience.
• Experience with Monte Carlo analysis for risk management.
• Experience with web-based project management systems (e.g., Open-Text, POET, Livelink).
• Experience in FDA-regulated industry.

Other

• Requires up to 50% domestic and/or international travel.