Building a Project Controls Team: Three Factors to Consider
Much like project controls itself, creating a successful project controls team is both an art and a science. Bringing together the right people with the right mix of skills and knowledge is an ongoing project of its own. Project controls is a specialized field—and much more than an administrative function. As such, you may be concerned that the hiring process for these roles will be difficult. However, we believe that with the right training, anyone from any background can excel as a project controls analyst.
At MRC, some of our team members have brought invaluable expertise to our table via past experiences in bartending, sports reporting, literature, and other seemingly unrelated jobs. Once you find your perfect-fit team members, you’ll want to ensure that you have the space to focus on the right training for your team’s success. Here are three key factors to consider as you plan your hiring process.
Understand the differences between project controls and project management.
Project controls has an important collaborative relationship with project management, but project controls analyst and project manager are not the same role. We don’t recommend bundling project controls into a PM’s duties, as each role requires its own focus and attention. Whereas project managers monitor and manage people, project controls analysts monitor systems to keep an eye on a project’s overall health. Having a specialized role for project controls ensures that even the smallest of indicators that a project is off track can be caught early and corrected. A skillful project controls analyst has a symbiotic relationship with the PM and helps inform smart decisions for the entire team.
2. Scope the size and complexity of your project.
When considering how to build the best project controls team, take time to scope out the size and complexity of your project. For smaller, shorter stints, a single project controls analyst may be all that’s needed. But for complex, long and big-budget work, you’ll likely need multiple analysts. Just as you would create a project team with leaders and junior staff, craft a controls team with enough members to make the project a success. In any industry, a certain amount of turnover is normal, so having a full controls team means that you’ll have junior members learning, growing and able to step into new roles if someone leaves the team.
3. Consider if you’re using Earned Value Management or not.
If you’re in an industry such as government or construction and leading a complex project, you’ll likely be leveraging the Earned Value Management (EVM) approach. Project controls analysts are critical in EVM as their work will be a major component in audit and review cycles. EVM is a unique approach that often calls for niche expertise. In these cases, it may be beneficial to bring in an outside EVM consultant to round out your project controls team.
Having the right team can make or break a project. By considering the difference between project controls and project management, the size and complexity of your project, and whether you are using EVM, you’ll be prepared for a smooth hiring process. This approach will allow you to focus on finding and hiring people—not roles—to create a strong and efficient project controls team.