Project Controls Manager

About Mariana Minerals

Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company focused on supplying critical minerals for modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. We reimagine the minerals supply chain through advanced software, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Project Controls Manager to oversee the systems, processes, and tools that ensure the successful delivery of large-scale capital projects in mining and refining. This role requires hands-on leadership in cost engineering, scheduling, risk management, and financial governance, central to scaling Mariana's capital project execution and embedding our software-first approach.

What You'll Do

• Develop, refine, and implement project controls systems, processes, and tools (cost, schedule, change, risk, progress) across large-scale mining capital projects.

• Champion improvements in the Capital Project Operating System (Capital Project OS).

• Review, analyze, and manage contractor schedules in Primavera P6; create schedule fragments and what-if scenarios; lead the integrated project master schedule.

• Establish and manage project budgets and forecasts, converting estimates from Class 5 → Class 1 into control budgets and cash flow models.

• Lead monthly job cost meetings and produce clear variance analyses.

• Review and validate contractor progress payment applications; coordinate approvals.

• Support capital funding draw requests and ensure alignment with corporate capex governance.

• Analyze change order requests; assess scope, schedule, cost, and risk implications; recommend negotiation/approval strategies.

• Conduct and maintain cost/schedule risk assessments; drive mitigation plans.

• Collaborate cross-functionally to resolve scheduling conflicts, resource constraints, and interface risks.

• Provide senior management and stakeholders with performance dashboards, deviation analyses, and corrective action recommendations.

• Track adherence to workforce/manpower plans and contractor staffing curves.

• Ensure compliance with MSHA, OSHA, environmental permits, and corporate procurement ethics.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, Engineering, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).

• 10+ years of project controls/project management experience on large industrial, mining, or process projects ($100MM TIC preferred).

• Proficiency in Primavera P6 and project controls systems; ability to build and analyze schedules, critical paths, and what-if scenarios.

• Strong cost estimating, budgeting, and financial management skills.

• Proven ability to conduct variance analyses, risk assessments, and cash flow forecasting.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with contractors, executives, and cross-disciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience implementing project controls software or integrating digital project delivery tools.

• Familiarity with software-first approaches to capital project governance.

• Background in mining, refining, or heavy industrial projects.

Compensation Range

$171K - $216K