Program Controls Lead

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way.
Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.
OVERVIEW
The Program Controls Lead is a senior leadership role within the Center of Excellence (COE), responsible for integrating cost controls, estimating, scheduling, forecasting, and program-level financial visibility across the portfolio. This role leads both the Cost Controls and Scheduling functions and establishes the operational rigor, governance standards, and analytical frameworks required to support predictable program delivery and long-term capital planning alignment.
Reporting directly to the COE Lead, the Program Controls Lead drives consistency across estimating, schedule governance, forecasting, benchmarking, and portfolio analytics. The role partners closely with Project Delivery, Design Enablement, PMO, Innovation, and client stakeholders to improve program predictability, support financial stewardship objectives, and strengthen integration between cost, schedule, and capital planning activities.
The role operates as an enterprise enablement and governance function. It provides leadership oversight, portfolio-level visibility, and strategic controls integration while supporting early-phase planning, program forecasting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Job Summary/Goals
This role provides program-wide leadership for integrated controls functions within the COE. Key goals include:
Lead and integrate the Cost Controls and Scheduling teams under a unified program controls structure
Establish and enforce program-wide controls governance, estimating standards, scheduling discipline, and forecasting methodologies
Improve cost and schedule predictability through benchmarking, analytics, and risk visibility
Support client financial stewardship objectives through disciplined controls processes and reporting alignment
Strengthen integration between estimating, scheduling, constructability, and delivery planning
Support evolving capital planning and portfolio forecasting capabilities through program-level controls insights and analytics
Provide leadership focus on recovery planning, forecasting accuracy, process efficiency, and continuous improvement
Partner closely with COE functional leaders and client stakeholders to align priorities, staffing, reporting, and operational focus areas
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Program Controls Leadership & Governance
Own program-wide controls governance frameworks across estimating, scheduling, forecasting, and reporting
Establish integrated controls standards, methodologies, and performance expectations across the portfolio
Ensure alignment between cost, schedule, scope, and delivery assumptions at all major program milestones
Provide leadership oversight for estimating rigor, schedule integrity, forecasting accuracy, and controls consistency
Serve as the senior escalation point for program controls risks, variances, recovery concerns, and confidence gaps
Drive accountability for timely, defensible, and data-driven controls outputs
Cost Controls & Estimating Leadership
Lead program estimating functions across scoping, engineered drawing, and final pricing phases
Ensure consistent application of estimating assumptions, exclusions, qualifications, and risk documentation
Oversee development and validation of scoping budgets, engineered drawing budgets, and final pricing estimates
Support bid review processes focused on pricing reasonableness, scope completeness, and benchmarking consistency
Lead portfolio-level benchmarking initiatives, market intelligence tracking, and pricing trend analysis
Identify recurring cost drivers, scope gaps, and estimating accuracy trends to improve predictability
Support future-state change order benchmarking and unit pricing analysis initiatives
Scheduling & Planning Leadership
Lead program scheduling governance and standards across the portfolio
Establish consistent schedule development, milestone management, reporting, and forecasting practices
Ensure alignment between schedule assumptions, procurement strategy, delivery sequencing, and cost forecasts
Partner with Project Delivery and PMO teams to identify schedule risks, recovery opportunities, and resource impacts
Support integrated schedule analytics and portfolio reporting to improve program visibility and decision-making
Promote proactive planning disciplines to reduce reactive execution and improve throughput capacity
Forecasting, Analytics & Capital Planning Support
Lead portfolio-level forecasting and controls analytics efforts across cost and schedule performance
Develop standardized reporting and variance narratives for executive leadership and client stakeholders
Maintain program-level controls dashboards, assumption logs, and risk registers
Support long-range planning efforts through integrated controls insights and trend analysis
Contribute controls expertise to evolving capital planning and financial stewardship initiatives
Provide early warning indicators and scenario analysis to support strategic decision-making and recovery planning
Team Leadership & Development
Lead, mentor, and develop the Cost Controls and Scheduling teams
Establish performance expectations, workload prioritization, and quality standards across both functions
Create development pathways and succession planning for controls team members
Promote collaboration between Estimators, Schedulers, Design, PMO, Delivery teams
Ensure staffing models and resource allocation align with program priorities and workload demands
Process Improvement & Innovation
Lead controls process improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, consistency, and scalability
Support implementation of program controls innovation initiatives, analytics tools, and reporting enhancements
Identify opportunities to improve integration between systems, reporting structures, and benchmarking data
Partner with leadership to evaluate future-state controls capabilities, automation opportunities, and operational improvements
Support innovation initiatives tied to estimating processes, scheduling methodologies, and portfolio analytics
Cross-Pillar COE Integration
Partner closely with Project Delivery, PMO, Design Enablement, and Innovation teams
Align controls processes with constructability, delivery strategy, and program execution priorities
Support enterprise reporting alignment and operational governance across the COE
Serve as a strategic partner to the COE Lead on controls operations, staffing strategy, and program performance
Experience
Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Finance, Business, or related field
10+ years of experience in construction cost controls, estimating, scheduling, or program controls leadership
Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary controls or program management teams
Strong understanding of integrated cost and schedule controls methodologies
Experience supporting portfolio-scale or prototype-driven programs preferred
Experience with capital planning, forecasting, or enterprise program controls environments preferred
Knowledge Skills and Abilities
Deep expertise in construction estimating, scheduling, forecasting, and program controls governance
Strong leadership and organizational management capabilities
Ability to integrate cost, schedule, and operational data into executive-level insights and decision support
Strong analytical rigor and financial acumen·
Ability to influence strategic decisions through credible, data-driven recommendations
Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills with both client and executive leadership teams
Working knowledge of architectural and engineering drawings
Proficiency with estimating and scheduling tools such as CostX, RSMeans, Primavera P6, M