Project Controls Manager (Mining / EPCM / Project Delivery / Owner's Team) – Namibia

Reference Number: DGS-0026

Job Description

A leading gold mining project in Namibia is seeking to appoint an experienced Project Controls Manager to join its growing Owner's Team.

The project is a significant greenfield gold development progressing from execution readiness into construction and ultimately production. This opportunity offers the successful candidate the chance to play a key leadership role in the development and delivery of a major mining project, working closely with project leadership, engineering consultants, contractors and key stakeholders to ensure successful project execution.

Reporting directly to the Project Director, the Project Controls Manager will be responsible for establishing, leading and maintaining all project controls functions across the project lifecycle, including engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and project close-out. The role will provide strategic oversight and governance of planning, scheduling, cost management, progress measurement, forecasting, risk management, change control and performance reporting, ensuring the project is delivered safely, on schedule and within approved budget parameters.

The Project Controls Manager will act as a key advisor to the Project Director and senior leadership team, providing timely and accurate information to support project decision-making and ensuring that project performance is effectively monitored, analysed and communicated throughout all phases of project development.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and maintain the Project Controls Management Plan, systems, procedures, standards and governance frameworks for the project.
• Establish and maintain an integrated project controls environment covering planning, scheduling, cost control, forecasting, reporting, change management and risk management.
• Lead the development, maintenance and administration of the integrated project master schedule using Primavera P6.
• Coordinate and integrate schedules from engineering consultants, procurement teams, contractors and commissioning groups into a single project execution schedule.
• Analyse schedule performance, identify critical path activities, evaluate schedule risks and recommend recovery strategies where required.
• Develop and implement progress measurement methodologies for engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning activities.
• Monitor project performance against approved baselines and identify emerging trends, delays, risks and potential cost overruns.
• Establish and manage project cost control systems, including budget tracking, commitments, accruals, actual costs and forecast expenditure.
• Lead preparation and review of monthly cost reports, cash flow forecasts, Estimate at Completion (EAC) assessments and variance analyses.
• Drive the project's change management process, ensuring all scope, schedule and cost changes are appropriately reviewed, assessed, approved and incorporated into project baselines.
• Facilitate project trend management and ensure early identification and escalation of potential impacts to project outcomes.
• Support project risk and opportunity management processes, including schedule risk assessments, cost risk evaluations and mitigation planning.
• Work closely with Commercial, Procurement and Contracts teams to integrate commercial information into project controls reporting and forecasting.
• Review contractor schedules, cost reports and progress claims to validate performance and ensure reporting accuracy.
• Challenge assumptions, forecasts and recovery plans where required and provide independent assessments of project performance.
• Develop, maintain and present weekly, monthly and executive project performance reports and dashboards.
• Provide project controls input into steering committee presentations, governance reviews, project reviews and corporate reporting requirements.
• Establish reporting metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure project performance and support informed decision-making.
• Lead and mentor project planners, cost controllers and project controls personnel to ensure high-quality deliverables and consistency of reporting.
• Support project readiness planning, commissioning activities, handover processes and project close-out requirements.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency and continuous improvement within the project controls function.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, project governance frameworks and applicable industry standards.

Requirements: Qualification and Skill

• Degree or diploma in Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Finance, Cost Engineering, Planning or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 15 years' experience in project controls on large capital projects within the mining, minerals processing, infrastructure, energy or heavy industrial sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in a senior Project Controls Manager or Project Controls leadership role within an Owner's Team, EPC, EPCM or major contractor environment.
• Proven experience overseeing project controls functions across the full project lifecycle, including engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and project close-out.
• Experience working on greenfield mining projects will be highly advantageous.
• Strong background in integrated planning and scheduling, cost control, progress measurement, forecasting, change management and project reporting.
• Extensive experience developing and managing integrated master schedules in Primavera P6.
• Solid understanding of Earned Value Management (EVM), critical path analysis, schedule performance analysis, productivity measurement and project forecasting methodologies.
• Experience developing project budgets, cash flow forecasts and Estimate at Completion (EAC) models for major capital projects.
• Practical experience implementing and managing project change control and trend management systems.
• Strong understanding of project risk management principles and their integration into project controls processes.
• Experience interfacing with procurement, contracts and commercial functions in a large project environment.
• Familiarity with Power BI, reporting databases and modern project reporting tools will be advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of construction methodologies, contract administration principles and contractor performance management.
• Excellent analytical, numerical and problem-solving capabilities with strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing and developing multi-disciplinary project controls teams.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to influence decision-making at senior management level.
• Ability to operate effectively within a remote, multicultural and fast-paced project environment.
• Previous African mining project experience will be considered advantageous.

Key Success Factors

• Establishing a robust and integrated project controls framework across all project workstreams.
• Delivering accurate schedule, cost and performance reporting to support project leadership.
• Providing reliable forecasting and early warning of emerging project risks and opportunities.
• Maintaining effective control of project scope, schedule and cost throughout the project lifecycle.
• Supporting the successful delivery of a major greenfield mining project from construction through to first production.

If you wish to apply for the position, please apply via the link: Apply Here

Please visit www.camining.com for more exciting opportunities.

Daniel Scholtemeyer
Executive Talent Consultant

CA Mining

CA Mining will respond to short-listed candidates only. If you have not received a response within two weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful. However, your CV will be kept on our database for any other suitable positions that may arise in future.

Damaran Exploration (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd invites all Namibians who are qualified, committed, competent and appropriately skilled to apply.

CA Global Headhunters is an international staffing company with a specific focus on recruitment in Africa. Our extensive, diverse candidate network built up over 10 years comprises the most skilled and experienced candidates. We recruit talent of the highest standards across African sectors, including Mining, Oil & Gas, Engineering, Banking, Finance, Legal, Insurance, Commodities, and Agriculture. As African markets continue to grow and develop, so too does our skill and expertise, ensuring that we deliver the best service to both clients and candidates.

Thanks to our access to global networks and resources, we understand our clients’ cultures, operations, business strategies, and industries. We are always on par with the latest technologies and trends which assist us in sourcing the best talent for clients. Whatever stage of the project lifecycle, we can put forward the right candidates with the right skills.