Lead - Senior Project Controls Cost Manager

Summary

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Senior Project Controls Cost Manager Lead plays a critical role in ensuring financial success across all projects by leading cost management and control functions. This position requires a strategic, hands-on approach to cost tracking, risk mitigation, and stakeholder coordination, while also contributing to corporate-level strategy and execution.

Reporting directly to the Director of Project Controls, this role acts as an extension of leadership, providing mentorship, optimizing cost management processes, and ensuring the effective implementation of financial controls. As the Site Project Controls Specialist for assigned projects, the Senior Project Controls Cost Manager Lead is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining detailed cost plans, forecasts, and budgets to support Project Delivery Teams throughout the entire project lifecycle.

Key responsibilities include proactively identifying potential cost risks, analyzing cost drivers, tracking budget variances, and working collaboratively with internal and external partners to develop cost-saving strategies. This role ensures real-time visibility into financial performance and cost trends, enabling proactive decision-making.

Strong communication and analytical skills are essential for engaging with project stakeholders, delivering clear cost reports, and supporting strategic financial planning. This position requires a deep understanding of cost controls methodologies, procurement strategies, and change management processes, along with a proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to drive efficiency in project cost performance to meet customer and business objectives.

What You Will Do

Needs for Success:

• Strong analytical skills to assess cost and schedule data, providing informed recommendations.
• Demonstrated skill in identifying, analyzing, and solving complex problems using data-driven approaches.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks effectively, adapting to shifting priorities and changing requirements with a positive attitude.
• Proactive mindset for risk mitigation, ensuring effective decision-making under time pressure.
• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project for scheduling and activity sequencing.
• Strong experience with cost tracking systems such as SAP, Oracle, or equivalent ERP software.
• Practical knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM) techniques and forecasting methodologies.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and Tableau for data analysis and reporting.
• Working knowledge of contract management, procurement, and bid leveling processes.
• Familiarity with structured cabling industry standards, technologies, safety, and quality requirements.
• Demonstrated knowledge of data entry and document updates within shared branch environments.
• Excellent leadership and mentorship skills, with the ability to guide and develop teams.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, capable of translating complex data into actionable insights.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with an effective approach to task management.
• Self-motivated and proactive, able to work both independently and collaboratively as a team player.
• Experience working alongside executive leadership, influencing strategic decision-making.
• Ability to interact professionally with all levels of employees, vendors, clients, and stakeholders.
  
  

What You Bring To The Table

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Construction Management, Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in cost management, project controls, or finance for large-scale infrastructure or data center projects.
• Expertise in cost forecasting, financial analysis, and risk management.
• Strong background in cash flow forecasting, WIP reporting, CPI, SPI, and trend analysis.
• Proficiency in cost management software.
• Experience in contract negotiation, procurement strategies, and vendor management.
• Excellent leadership and mentoring skills, with experience working closely with cross-functional teams.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibility

• Varies
  
  

Work Location and Travel:

• Within North America (preferred Central Time Zone)
• Up to 15% travel
  
  

About Us

What's in it for You?

Joining Black Box means you’ll have the opportunity to work on exciting, highly visible projects with our customers. You’ll get to know large and small organizations across the world and work to deliver best in class IT solutions. You’ll be rewarded with a variety of experiences, development opportunities and exposure to some of the world's most admired companies. In addition to these rewarding experiences, you’ll have access to our comprehensive Total Rewards Program. Our program continues to evolve to meet the needs of our dynamic workforce by providing a variety of benefits which are applicable and competitive for each country & region.

About Black Box

Black Box is the trusted global solutions integrator and digital technology partner. With nearly 45 years of experience connecting people and devices, we are an organization of top technical professionals dedicated to delivering solutions and services that help organizations design, build, manage, and secure their communications and IT infrastructure and networks. Technologies include 5G/OnGo, connected buildings, digital workplace, multisite deployments, data centers, and IoT.

We also design and manufacture award-winning products for Pro AV, KVM, cabling, and networking known for their advanced functionality, flawless performance, outstanding reliability and fail-safe security. We deliver high-value technology services and products through our values, such as innovation, ownership, transparency, respect and open-mindedness combined with our global presence and 2,500+ team members in 24 countries and growing. Black Box is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGC Networks.

Black Box is an equal opportunity employer. Black Box does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, sexual identity, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status, and endorses those policies and practices which seek to recruit, hire, train and promote the most qualified persons into available jobs.