Description of job:

Project Controls Engineer to support the planning, scheduling, cost management, performance reporting, risk management, and change control activities associated with the delivery of STEP construction partner projects.

The Project Controls Engineer will be responsible for establishing and maintaining effective project controls on projects, enabling informed decision-making, improve project performance, and ensure delivery of programme objectives relating to safety, quality, cost, schedule, and scope.

This role will work closely with Project Managers, Construction Managers, Engineering teams, Commercial functions, and client stakeholders to provide accurate and timely project performance information throughout the project lifecycle.

Responsibilities:

Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain integrated project schedules, baselines, WBS, and execution plans using Primavera P6 or equivalent tools.
• Monitor progress, analyse schedule performance, and conduct critical path analysis to identify risks and recovery opportunities.
• Facilitate progress reviews and produce short, medium, and long-term look-ahead programmes.

Cost Control

• Maintain project cost control systems and monitor budgets, expenditures, commitments, and forecasts.
• Perform earned value analysis and assess cost variances against approved baselines.
• Prepare cost reports and forecasts while ensuring compliance with financial governance requirements.

Performance Reporting

• Produce project dashboards, KPIs, and performance reports for management and client stakeholders.
• Analyse schedule, cost, risk, and progress data to identify trends, issues, and improvement opportunities.
• Deliver accurate weekly and monthly project controls reporting to support decision-making.

Risk & Opportunity Management

• Support the identification, assessment, and monitoring of project risks and opportunities.
• Maintain risk registers, mitigation plans, and associated tracking mechanisms.
• Facilitate risk workshops and contribute to qualitative and quantitative risk analysis activities.

Change Control

• Support and administer project change management processes and controls.
• Assess schedule and cost impacts of proposed changes and maintain change records.
• Ensure approved changes are incorporated into project baselines, schedules, and forecasts.

Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with project, engineering, commercial, procurement, and construction teams to ensure alignment.
• Build effective relationships with clients, suppliers, and subcontractors to support project delivery.
• Contribute to governance reviews, project meetings, and programme reporting activities.

Continuous Improvement

• Support the development and enhancement of project controls processes, systems, and standards.
• Promote best-practice project controls methodologies across the project team.
• Contribute to lessons learned activities and continuous improvement initiatives

Qualifications, experience and skills

• Degree qualified in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Project Management or a related discipline.
• Demonstrable experience in project controls, planning or programme controls within large-scale infrastructure, nuclear, energy or major construction projects.
• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6.
• Experience in developing and managing complex integrated construction schedules.
• Practical experience undertaking or supporting Quantitative Schedule Risk Analysis (QSRA).
• Strong understanding of critical path methodology, schedule assurance and schedule performance reporting.
• Experience developing project dashboards, progress reporting and forecasting.
• Excellent analytical, communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience with QSRA tools such as PRA, Safran Risk, Acumen Risk, Primavera Risk Analysis, @Risk or equivalent.
• Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM).
• Experience working under NEC contracts.
• Professional membership with APM, ACostE or PMI.
• Project Controls, Planning or Risk Management certification.

If you can demonstrate experience in approximately 60% of the roles and responsibilities outlined, we would still encourage you to apply. We recognise that the right candidate may not meet every requirement and can bring transferable skills and behaviours, with the potential to develop further in the role.

ILIOS Overview

ILIOS is the Construction Partner for the UK’s STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) fusion programme, the UK’s world‑leading programme to design and build a prototype fusion energy power plant at West Burton in Nottinghamshire.

ILIOS is a consortium led by a joint venture between Kier and Nuvia, supported by AECOM, AL_A and Turner & Townsend, bringing together extensive experience across major national infrastructure, nuclear and safety‑critical engineering, complex site transformation, programme and cost management, and world‑class design.

Working as part of the public–private sector integrated team led by UK Fusion Energy (UKFE), a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), ILIOS is embedded in the programme as STEP transitions from planning into delivery.

The consortium supports the design and construction of buildings, infrastructure and facilities across the STEP site, alongside constructability, programme planning, site management, supply‑chain engagement and project controls, helping to ensure delivery is safe, buildable and fully integrated with the wider programme.

The appointment of ILIOS marks a significant milestone in the UK’s transition to clean energy and supports STEP’s mission to demonstrate fusion energy and develop a world‑leading fusion supply chain, creating long‑term economic and skills opportunities for the UK.