Manager Project Controls Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $116,251.20 - $161,012.80 Annually
Location : Orange County
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: 8182MA-0526-280(O)
Department: John Wayne Airport
Opening Date: 05/14/2026
Closing Date: 6/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
CAREER DESCRIPTION
PROJECT CONTROLS MANAGER
(Capital Projects Manager)
THIS RECRUITMENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
This recruitment is open to the public and is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future Capital Projects Manager vacancies. The eligible list established from this recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications.
DEADLINE TO APPLY
This recruitment will close on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST.
JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT
Ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Large Airports in the J.D. Power 2024 and 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, John Wayne Airport (JWA) has been a major cornerstone of Orange County for more than 100 years. Located in beautiful Southern California, we currently serve approximately 11.8 million annual passengers. We strive to provide a superior guest experience to ensure travel is convenient and stress-free. The County of Orange owns and operates the airport and the service area includes more than three million people within 34 cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County and beyond.
As a medium hub airport, we have commercial flights to more than 40 nonstop destinations in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Eleven commercial airlines and two air cargo airlines fly out of the Airport. It is home to nearly 500 general aviation (private, non-commercial) aircraft, representing 60% of total operations, and includes two full-service fixed base operators and one limited use general aviation facility.

• Mission: Connecting People, Places and Opportunities.
• Vision: To be an airport of choice by creating exceptional experiences.
• Core Values: REACH
  • Respect
  • Environmental Stewardship
  • Accountability
  • Collaboration
  • Honesty

To learn more about working at John Wayne Airport, click here.To learn more about the County of Orange, click here.
DIVISION
The newly reformed Planning and Development Division oversees and delivers the airport's $700 million Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which includes airside, landside, and terminal renovations, as well as major utility projects and long-term infrastructure planning. The Division is also a key partner in implementing the General Aviation Improvement Program and the Terminal Tenant Concession Redevelopment Program. This team has 28 professionals in a variety of roles. This Division's functional areas include engineering, A/E design standards, land use and airport planning, environmental compliance, capital project programming, project management, project controls, and construction Coordination and Logistics Management (CALM).
THE OPPORTUNITY
John Wayne Airport (JWA) is establishing a new Project Controls Manager role within the Planning and Development Division. This position will play a key role in shaping and advancing the Airport's project controls program for the multi-year, $700 million Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
The Project Controls Manager serves as a technical expert responsible for overseeing cost and schedule management, project controls systems, and performance reporting across a portfolio of complex and interrelated capital projects. The role works collaboratively with internal departments and external partners, including County agencies and state and federal entities, to support effective program delivery.
This position leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of project controls policies, procedures, and tools. Responsibilities include evaluating cost and schedule performance, identifying risks and variances, and recommending corrective actions to maintain project objectives. The Project Controls Manager ensures CIP compliance with applicable regulatory and funding requirements, including FAA grant obligations.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will possess seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in Capital Improvement Program controls in areas such as schedule management, cost accounting/management, construction management, grant management, project management, and/or related engineering field.
This experience must include at least three (3) years of experience in an airport or aviation environment or a comparable complex, secure, and highly regulated capital program environment, and a minimum of one (1) year of supervisory experience.
The ideal candidate must possess and/or demonstrate the core competencies outlined below:
TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

• Ability to lead project controls for complex horizontal and vertical capital programs
• Ability to develop and implement project controls procedures, standards, and tools
• Knowledge of funding requirements and program delivery for airport or similarly complex, security-controlled capital projects, including applicable federal, state, regional, and local guidelines
• Knowledge of public agency project and program management principles, including budgeting, cost estimating, scheduling, programming, contract management, and consultant oversight
• Knowledge of relevant federal, state, and local laws, regulations, codes, ordinances, and grant requirements
• Experience with a range of capital project delivery methods (Design-Bid-Build, CMAR, Design-Build, JOC, Progressive Design-Build, etc.)

LEADERSHIP SKILLS

• Ability to supervise, mentor, and evaluate staff and consultants
• Ability to establish and maintain procedures for reviewing and analyzing change orders and related documentation
• Ability to implement frameworks for cost control, progress measurement, and project performance tracking
• Ability to work with project teams to identify risks and develop effective mitigation strategies
• Knowledge of core management practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, evaluation, and staff supervision

ANALYSIS & PROBLEM-SOLVING

• Ability to analyze baseline, look-ahead, and updated schedules, as well as recovery and time-extension requests
• Ability to assess schedule performance, identify risks and critical interdependencies, and recommend corrective actions
• Ability to prepare clear, concise reports, memoranda, and briefings with supporting analysis
• Ability to conduct complex project controls analyses, evaluate alternatives, and develop sound recommendations
• Ability to use project controls systems and software (Unifier PMIS, Primavera P6, MS Project, Power BI, RSMeans, etc.) to support accurate and efficient reporting and analysis

PLANNING & ORGANIZATION

• Ability to develop and maintain dashboards and reports that support monitoring of multiple concurrent projects
• Ability to build and maintain financial models to allocate, track, and forecast project costs
• Ability to analyze cost variances and manage cost-related risks
• Ability to verify cost and schedule data through quality assurance and quality control measures and communicate findings
• Strong organizational, analytical, and strategic planning skills

COMMUNICATION SKILLS | ORAL & WRITTEN

• Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to resolve complex issues, including change orders and claims
• Ability to analyze issues and recommend appropriate solutions
• Ability to engage diverse stakeholders to proactively identify risks and develop solutions
• Ability to communicate complex technical and programmatic information clearly to executives, elected officials, staff, and the public
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration skills

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Click here to learn more about the minimum qualifications and the physical & mental requirements, as well as the environmental & working conditions for the
LICENSE REQUIRED
The successful candidate must obtain, possess, and maintain the following licenses:

• The successful candidate must possess and maintain a valid California Driver's License, Class C or higher, by date of appointment

AIRPORT ACCESS REQUIREMENTS
The successful candidate must clear a background check which includes a Criminal History Records Check (CHRC), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Security Threat Assessment (STA). Airport Access Badge must be maintained and renewed every two (2) years
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and/or desirable qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum and/or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.
Application Screening | (Refer/Non-Refer)
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those candidates that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.
Structured Oral Interview (SOI) | Exam (Weighted 100%)
Applicants will be interviewed and rated by a panel of job knowledge experts. Each applicant's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job.
Eligible List|Score Groups
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.
Veterans Employment PreferenceThe County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click to review the policy.
Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.
Please note: The information you provide on your application and/or response to the supplemental questions may be used as a scoring device, so please be thorough and complete in your response. "See Resume" is not a qualifying response and will not be scored in lieu of the required information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EMAIL NOTIFICATION:
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.
NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.
For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Michelle Bocicor at mbocicor@ocair.com or (949) 252-5174.
EEO INFORMATION
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer,
encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Administrative Management *
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits -- such as a variety of health plan options, sick and vacation time and paid holidays -- we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as:

• Retirement: Benefits are provided through the Orange County Employees' Retirement System (OCERS). Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
• Paid Leave: Twelve holidays per year plus sick and vacation time
• Health & Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts
• Dental Insurance: County pays 100% of employee and dependent premiums
• Paid Life Insurance: $100,000 life insurance policy
• Paid Accidental & Death and Dismemberment Insurance: $100,000 AD&D insurance policy
• Paid Short & Long Term Disability insurance programs
• 457 Defined Contribution Program

*Effective 07/01/20, management employees who are sworn Public Safety Managers receive health insurance benefits through the AOCDS Medical Benefit Plans.
Click for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.
01
Do you possess a valid license from the California Architects Board or from an equivalent recognized state-regulated authority? Please note that if you select yes, you must attach a copy of your license to your application. Applications without supporting documentation will be considered incomplete.

• Yes
• No

02
How many years of experience do you have in Capital Improvement Program controls in an airport or comparable setting over the course of your career?Please ensure your application reflects and supports this experience.

• 7 or more years of experience
• 5 to 6 years of experience
• 3 to 4 years of experience
• 1 to 2 years of experience
• 1 ye...