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 peopleand empowering them tothrive, 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.

OVERVIEWThe 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