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What does a controls project manager do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a controls project manager do

A Controls Project Manager supervises the project control of engineering and construction projects. They are responsible for estimating costs, monitoring work progress, and quality assurance.

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Controls project manager responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real controls project manager resumes:

  • Develop and manage EVMS to assess project status & monitor schedule and costs.
  • Manage integrated product team (IPT) coordinating mechanical, electrical, and software development.
  • Perform EVM, update percent complete, managing invoices, prepare end of month reports, and perform change management procedures.
  • Design and manage creation of facility electrical systems including PLC controls.
  • Manage all procurement activities including purchasing, subcontracting, expediting, transportation, and logistics.
  • Manage implementation of specify HVAC / mechanical projects specializing in BACNET and LonWorks base control components for building automation.
  • Modify AutoCAD drawings to reflect as-built conditions.
  • Input status into IMS schedule for government projects.
  • Project cost efficiency, justifying investment versus improvement of KPI's.
  • Assist in forecasting labor and subcontracts for accurate EAC and VAC projections.
  • Implement ERP software to generate PO's, reports and material requisitions.
  • Facilitate RFP for large west coast financial institution for their corporate insurance brokerage services.
  • Help develop junior buyers within the procurement team to meet efficiency and KPI targets.
  • Assist with the preparation of RFQ s/RFP's/AFE's and also with contract review and negotiations.
  • Supervise the monthly CPM schedule update process and prepare the schedule analysis and the narrative report.

Controls project manager skills and personality traits

We calculated that 11% of Controls Project Managers are proficient in Project Management, Project Controls, and Construction Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Business skills, Leadership skills, and Technical skills.

We break down the percentage of Controls Project Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Project Management, 11%

    Supervised a department of twelve personnel providing Project Management oversight of major subcontracts and reporting requirements to the DOE.

  • Project Controls, 11%

    Supervised project controls activities, including project performance analysis and reporting, change order/budget management, forecasting, and scheduling.

  • Construction Management, 6%

    Performed construction management services and oversight of twelve different sub-contractors who provided construction and start-up aspects of the project.

  • Risk Management, 4%

    Created and updated multiple document types, including manufacturing and testing documents, risk management documents and product labeling.

  • Cost Control, 4%

    Produced cost control projection analysis and contractor man-hour status reports.

  • Project Execution, 4%

    Identified cost related problems which arise during project execution and recommends corrective actions and creative solutions.

Most controls project managers use their skills in "project management," "project controls," and "construction management" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential controls project manager responsibilities here:

Business skills. The most essential soft skill for a controls project manager to carry out their responsibilities is business skills. This skill is important for the role because "construction managers need to prepare and follow project budgets, hire and manage staff, and coordinate with other workers and managers." Additionally, a controls project manager resume shows how their duties depend on business skills: "developed a pc-based integrated field project control program for industrial business unit power jobs. "

Leadership skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling controls project manager duties is leadership skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "construction managers must effectively delegate tasks to construction workers, subcontractors, and other lower level managers to ensure that projects are completed accurately and on time." According to a controls project manager resume, here's how controls project managers can utilize leadership skills in their job responsibilities: "provide oversight, guidance and leadership to project cost estimators, cost/budget/variance control specialists, regional coordinators and document control. "

Technical skills. This is an important skill for controls project managers to perform their duties. For an example of how controls project manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "construction managers must have an applied knowledge of concepts and practices common in the industry, such as construction technologies, contracts, and technical drawings." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a controls project manager: "supervised and approved the evaluation process of technical and financial reports. ".

All controls project manager skills

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Compare different controls project managers

Controls project manager vs. General superintendent

A general superintendent is primarily in charge of overseeing projects and programs, ensuring operations adhere to standards and requirements. In the construction industry, a general superintendent supervises the daily procedures in a construction site to ensure the project's completion within budget, schedule, and quality standards. They also have other administrative duties, such as coordinating with contractors and suppliers, monitoring the inventory of materials, purchasing supplies according to project requirements, developing reports, conducting inspections, and implementing safety policies and regulations.

We looked at the average controls project manager salary and compared it with the wages of a general superintendent. Generally speaking, general superintendents are paid $39,580 lower than controls project managers per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both controls project manager and general superintendent positions are skilled in project management, construction management, and cost control.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a controls project manager are more likely to require skills like "project controls," "risk management," "project execution," and "project cost." On the other hand, a job as a general superintendent requires skills like "osha," "quality standards," "excellent organizational," and "general contractors." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

General superintendents tend to make the most money working in the energy industry, where they earn an average salary of $87,760. In contrast, controls project managers make the biggest average salary, $115,882, in the construction industry.The education levels that general superintendents earn slightly differ from controls project managers. In particular, general superintendents are 11.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a controls project manager. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Controls project manager vs. Superintendent

Superintendents oversee the administration of schools in a specific school district. They manage the educational programs of each school and create strategic decisions to ensure that the students are learning important subjects. They also supervise school administrators or principals and are responsible for hiring and guiding them. Superintendents should be familiar with their constituents and must always be ready to listen to their needs. It is important that superintendents are good decision-makers and communicators. They are expected to lead their respective districts in achieving their vision. Superintendents drive the team towards their goals and create strategic steps to ensure success.

On average, superintendents earn a $32,224 lower salary than controls project managers a year.A few skills overlap for controls project managers and superintendents. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "project management," "construction management," and "cost control. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real controls project manager resumes. While controls project manager responsibilities can utilize skills like "project controls," "risk management," "project execution," and "project cost," superintendents use skills like "osha," "quality standards," "logistics," and "customer service."

Superintendents may earn a lower salary than controls project managers, but superintendents earn the most pay in the construction industry with an average salary of $85,679. On the other hand, controls project managers receive higher pay in the construction industry, where they earn an average salary of $115,882.superintendents earn lower levels of education than controls project managers in general. They're 10.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Controls project manager vs. Projects controller

A project controller is responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of project management procedures, ensuring that the team adheres to the clients' specifications and requirements, and keeping all project resources and deliverables within the budget goals and set timeframe. Project controllers determine the progress of the project and coordinate the updates to the client, adjusting the project approach as needed to achieve high-quality standards and objectives. They also maintain an organized report of expenditures, as well as generating process reports to identify potential process improvement techniques that will maximize operational efficiency.

On average, projects controllers earn lower salaries than controls project managers, with a $35,231 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on controls project managers and projects controllers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "project management," "risk management," and "cost control.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, controls project managers are more likely to have skills like "project controls," "construction management," "project execution," and "oversight." But a projects controller is more likely to have skills like "project controller," "status reports," "gaap," and "revenue recognition."

Projects controllers make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $87,904. On the other hand, controls project managers are paid the highest salary in the construction industry, with average annual pay of $115,882.When it comes to education, projects controllers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to controls project managers. In fact, they're 0.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Controls project manager vs. Project superintendent

The construction or project superintendent's role is to oversee the operations of construction sites, from the planning phase to completion. They have varied duties and responsibilities based on specific projects that include scheduling and budgeting, communicating and negotiating with external partners, and acquiring materials and equipment. A construction superintendent also earns construction permits, resolving on-site emergencies and issues, and supervising staff. This position requires several skills, including a degree in construction management or a similar field, relevant experience, and in-depth knowledge of construction processes and operations.

Project superintendents typically earn lower pay than controls project managers. On average, project superintendents earn a $17,165 lower salary per year.According to resumes from controls project managers and project superintendents, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "project management," "construction management," and "cost control. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between controls project managers and project superintendents, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a controls project manager might have more use for skills like "project controls," "risk management," "project execution," and "project cost." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of project superintendents require skills like "osha," "general contractors," "quality standards," and "safety program. "

The construction industry tends to pay the highest salaries for project superintendents, with average annual pay of $95,092. Comparatively, the highest controls project manager annual salary comes from the construction industry.The average resume of project superintendents showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to controls project managers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 11.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.3%.

Types of controls project manager

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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