Project Controls Manager Jobs in Illinois
Project Controls Manager jobs in Illinois are consistently active, with demand concentrated in construction, infrastructure, transportation, and industrial manufacturing sectors at levels from junior coordinator through senior program manager. Chicago leads hiring by a wide margin, with secondary clusters in Joliet and Rockford, where major employers including Skanska, Jacobs Engineering, and Exelon have established Illinois operations. The most in-demand specialties are earned value management, schedule analysis, and cost forecasting for large capital and public infrastructure programs. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Project Controls Manager JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 30+ Project Controls Manager jobs











This role offers a hybrid work arrangement. You'll spend three days a week in the office, giving you the flexibility to work remotely for two days.
As a Senior Project Scheduler for Capital Projects, you will apply your technical skills to meet project team and client needs for developing / maintaining project schedules and monitoring project performance. This work will include interfacing directly with project management, client management, engineering, construction, and other key stakeholders for the development of detailed project schedules. Using a variety of industry and proprietary software tools, including Primavera P6, you will perform the following tasks:
- Implement project controls tools and methodology
- Develop and support project schedule requirements per client procedures and best practices
- Perform critical path analysis, provide schedule insights and corrective actions when required
- Support schedule contingency management, and work with key stakeholders to identify and manage project risks
- Provide regular project updates and report deviations from the approved project baseline to the project team.
- Proactively manage schedule variances and have a questioning attitude with project deviations.
- Support month end closing and phase gate processes
- Ensure standardized file locations exist for all required schedule documents.
- Produce look-ahead, actuals, and schedule quality reports
- Assemble supporting documentation to meet project team and client requests/needs
- Analyze data and build reports to support project monitoring and decision making
- Interface regularly with project management to support monitoring schedule performance
- Interface with cost analyst staff to develop time-phased cost forecasts
- There is the potential for you to travel to client office for project coordination meetings
We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.
Essential skills and experience:
- Proficiency using Primavera P6 scheduling software
- Familiarity with the practical application of project controls
- 5 or more years of project experience
- Post-secondary graduate
- Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to interact and multitask with project team members, clients, and vendors of varying position levels.
- Motivation: Eager to learn new skills and develop knowledge to add make a valuable impact to project team operation. Willing to engage with others to understand project team needs. Committed to deliver high quality, accurate deliverables with attention to detail.
- Computer Skills: Working knowledge in MS Office tools, with emphasis on the advanced use of MS Excel and/or MS Access in creating detailed, interactive spreadsheets, workbooks, and databases.
Valued but not required skills and experience:
- Related engineering internship, co-op, or work experience, which includes project controls, project planning, project scheduling, and earned value performance, preferably within the power industry
- i.) AACE CST, or PMI Equivalent
- ii.) Working towards AACE CCP, CEP, PSP, PRMP, EVP, or PMI Equivalent
- iii.) In lieu of Professional Designation (i. or ii.) above, has completed equivalent training
- Or in lieu of i.), ii.) or iii.) above, has successfully passed designated proficiency testing
We value candidates who demonstrate an interest in learning and effectively using emerging technologies where relevant to their role. Employees remain accountable for their work and are expected to apply appropriate professional judgment and review when using technology-assisted tools.
Experience with AI, automation, programming, or similar technologies is valued where relevant but is not required unless specifically identified elsewhere in the job description.
At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well-being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award-winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Health & Wellness
- Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
- Life & Accident Insurance
- Disability Coverage
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Back-Up Daycare
- FSA & HSA
- 401(k)
- Pre-Tax Commuter Account
- Merit Scholarship Program
- Employee Discount Program
- Corporate Charitable Giving Program
- Tuition Assistance
- First Professional Licensure Bonus
- Employee Referral Bonus
- Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Parental Leave
- Paid Bereavement Leave
- Flexible Work Arrangements
See All 30 Project Controls Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Project Controls Manager JobsProject Controls Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Project Controls Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Construction & Real Estate
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in project controls manager jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, or a related technical field
- Demonstrated experience with Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project for schedule development
- Proficiency in earned value management and cost variance analysis
- Professional credential such as PMI-SP, CCP, or PMP recognized by Illinois employers
- Familiarity with Illinois DOT or capital program reporting standards for public-sector roles
- Strong written communication skills for presenting cost and schedule reports to stakeholders
Project Controls Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a project controls manager in Illinois?
Most project controls managers in Illinois enter the role through a degree in construction management, civil engineering, or a related field, followed by several years in scheduling, cost engineering, or project coordination. Illinois does not require a state-issued license for this role, but employers consistently favor candidates who hold industry credentials such as the PMI Scheduling Professional or the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering's Certified Cost Professional. Building experience on large capital or infrastructure projects in Chicago or the broader northeastern Illinois market strengthens a candidacy considerably.
How much do project controls managers make in Illinois?
Project controls managers in Illinois earn a median of about $103,470 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $65,300 for the lowest 10% to over $163,910 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire project controls managers in Illinois?
Employers hiring project controls managers in Illinois right now include Sargent & Lundy, HDR, and AMPED I, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's concentration of large construction, utility, and transportation firms means openings appear across both public-sector capital programs and private commercial development.
Which Illinois cities have the most project controls manager jobs?
Chicago, Bradley, and Madison have the most project controls manager openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the largest share by far, given its concentration of general contractors, engineering consultancies, and major institutional clients running capital programs, while Joliet and Rockford see steady demand tied to industrial expansion, manufacturing infrastructure, and regional transportation projects anchored by large employers in those corridors.
Are there remote project controls manager jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're limited. Project controls managers spend a meaningful portion of their time on-site reviewing progress, validating schedules, and coordinating with field teams, which restricts full remote arrangements. About 81% of project controls manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those tend to concentrate on the reporting, forecasting, and data analysis portions of the role rather than active construction oversight.
How can I get hired as a project controls manager in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a junior project controls coordinator or project scheduler role at a mid-size Illinois construction or engineering firm, where structured mentorship is more accessible than at large national contractors. Employers like regional infrastructure firms and Chicago-based program management consultancies routinely bring on candidates from adjacent roles such as field engineer, project administrator, or cost analyst. Completing a recognized credential program, building proficiency in Primavera P6, and targeting associate-level openings at Illinois capital program offices gives a candidate without direct experience a concrete, competitive edge.
Where can I find and apply to project controls manager jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to project controls manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly from each listing.
See All 30 Project Controls Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Project Controls Manager Jobs