Associate Controls Analyst (Defence)

Job Description

Overview

Our award-winning AECOM Controls Team, within the Infrastructure & PMO Operating Unit, is a trusted partner to public and private sector clients across the UK and globally. We lead in delivering Controls Analytics solutions across Cost, Risk, Planning, and Performance Controls, supporting large-scale infrastructure and capital projects. By combining advanced analytics with best-in-class project controls, our team enables clients to make informed, data-led decisions that drive the success of their assets and investments. This role is based in AECOM’s Glasgow office and offers an opportunity to shape strategic controls frameworks and analytics methodologies at the project and programme levels, ensuring PMO functions are managed with data-backed precision. The successful candidate will work closely with senior executives, driving collaboration across multidisciplinary teams to enhance project performance.

As an Associate Data Engineer, you will lead the design, implementation, and governance of controls analytics solutions on complex infrastructure projects. Your role will encompass strategic oversight and operational leadership in project controls analytics, ensuring data-driven insights are leveraged to manage project risks, control costs, and drive decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership in Controls Analytics: Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive controls analytics and back office strategy across large-scale projects, either standalone or as part of a PMO, providing insights to improve complex project and programme performance.
• Direct and oversee analytics initiatives across multiple project dimensions, including cost, schedule, risk, benefits realisation, change control and commercial management, driving client maturity where necessary, ensuring alignment with client objectives and industry best practices.
• Act as the primary trusted advisor to executive-level stakeholders on complex PMO and project controls strategies, analytics insights, and value-added recommendations.
• Project Controls Governance & Compliance: Define and implement governance structures and compliance frameworks to ensure controls analytics are applied consistently across all relevant functions in projects, programmes and PMO’s. Ensure adherence to industry standards and regulatory guidelines, championing best practices in data management, analytics, and project controls.
• Regularly review and refine controls analytics methodologies to stay at the forefront of industry advancements and client requirements.
• Advanced Analytics & Reporting Oversight: Direct the creation and integration of advanced data analytics models to drive predictive project insights, programme benefits and strategic portfolio decisions. Oversee the design of analytics dashboards and reporting tools, ensuring they provide timely, actionable leading insights for both internal teams and clients.
• Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and analytics metrics, either in isolation or facilitating executive-level workshops, to track progress, enable proactive interventions and drive continuous improvement.
• Risk & Contingency Management Leadership: Lead the integration of risk analytics into project controls, enabling proactive risk and opportunity management, mitigation development implementation and tracking, predictive modelling and informed decision-making.
• Collaborate closely with risk and project teams to ensure risk impacts are quantified, contingency plans are in place, and corrective actions are identified and implemented.
• Change Management: Lead the conceptualisation and development of change management analytics and scenario modelling, integrated with PMO functions, enabling appropriate, timely governance, and tracking of change performance during implementation.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Executive Communication: Foster high-trust relationships with client executives and project stakeholders, facilitate workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions, promoting a deep understanding of controls analytics and their impact at all PMO levels. Serve as the point of escalation for project controls issues, providing expert guidance on resolving high-impact challenges.
• Team Development & Mentorship: Build and mentor a high-performing team of controls analytics professionals, guiding their development and fostering a culture of continuous learning, engagement, and a consultancy mindset. Establish career paths, performance standards, and growth opportunities for team members to ensure a resilient talent pipeline.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration within IPC and across client teams, driving cohesion and shared success. Proactively support the team leadership in business development, opportunity management, capability development, stakeholder engagement, and development/refinement of team strategy.
• Conclude with a note on innovation and impact, inviting interested applicants to apply.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience as an Associate Data Engineer or in a senior data analytics role within project controls or PMO environments.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to operate with senior executives.
• Experience in governance, data management, analytics, and delivery of controls analytics on complex infrastructure projects.
• Proven ability to design and implement analytics dashboards and KPIs; familiarity with predictive analytics and risk modelling is desirable.
• Ability to work across multidisciplinary teams and manage multiple priorities within large-scale programs.

Location and Other Details

The role is based in Glasgow, with expectations to collaborate with client teams and leadership.