Project Controller

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place. 

Smiths Detection, a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,000 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.  

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

We are looking for a Project Controller to join our growing Programmes team in Hemel Hempstead, supporting a portfolio of complex commercial projects. 

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Project Controls professional who enjoys bringing structure, visibility and governance to projects, while working closely with Project Managers, Programme Managers, Finance and senior stakeholders.

Importantly, this role requires strong experience with Earned Value Management (EVM) and Primavera P6, which are critical tools and methodologies within our project delivery environment.

The Opportunity

As Project Controller, you will be responsible for supporting the planning, monitoring and control of projects throughout the full lifecycle. Working as an embedded member of project teams, you will help ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and in line with governance standards.

You will play a key role in establishing project baselines, maintaining integrated schedules, analysing project performance and producing meaningful reporting that supports effective decision making across the business.

This position forms part of our Project Excellence Centre (PEC), helping drive consistency, best practice and continuous improvement across our global project portfolio.

What you will be doing:

Project Controls & Planning

• Develop and maintain integrated project schedules using Primavera P6
• Support the creation and maintenance of:
• Work Breakdown Structures (WBS)
• Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS)
• Resource plans
• Responsibility assignment matrices
• Risk and change control registers
• Establish and maintain project cost, schedule and resource baselines
• Conduct schedule analysis, including critical path identification and impact assessments
• Support forecasting activities and performance measurement against approved baselines
• Apply Earned Value Management (EVM) principles to monitor project performance and provide insight into project health

Reporting & Analysis

• Produce accurate and timely project controls reports for stakeholders at all levels
• Prepare monthly project performance reports, dashboards and portfolio updates
• Conduct variance analysis across schedule, cost and resource performance
• Support corrective action planning and tracking
• Develop and maintain business intelligence and visual reporting tools

Governance & Administration

• Maintain project documentation and project controls records
• Coordinate project reviews and governance activities
• Maintain actions, risks, assumptions and dependencies registers
• Prepare materials for Project Management Reviews (PMRs)
• Ensure projects operate within Smiths Detection governance standards and project lifecycle requirements

Commercial & Financial Support

• Support project budget tracking, forecasting and cost control activities
• Assist with resource planning and integrated business planning processes
• Ensure reporting aligns with customer and contractual requirements
• Contribute to project reviews focused on delivery performance, cost management and profitability

Continuous Improvement

• Support development of project controls standards, processes and templates
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the Project Excellence Centre
• Promote project controls best practice across the wider programme community

Essential Experience

• Minimum 2 years' experience within a Project Controls, PMO, Planning, Scheduling or Project Management environment
• Strong experience using Primavera P6
• Practical experience applying Earned Value Management (EVM) methodologies
• Experience developing and maintaining integrated project schedules
• Understanding of project lifecycle management and project governance
• Experience supporting cost control, forecasting and variance analysis
• Experience producing project performance reporting and dashboards
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and project reporting skills

Desirable Experience

• Experience within defence, engineering, manufacturing or complex technology environments
• Exposure to portfolio or programme management environments
• Experience with Business Intelligence and reporting tools such as Power BI
• Experience supporting integrated business planning processes
• Knowledge of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) environments

Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial and lifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world-leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Detection, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website.