Director Project Controls

NOVO Energy and our Gigafactory
Volvo Cars is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world. Northvolt is a leading supplier of sustainable, high-quality battery cells and systems, dedicated to delivering the world’s greenest lithium-ion battery. Together, we have formed a joint venture, NOVO Energy, to power the next generation of pure electric Volvo and Polestar cars.

To achieve this we’re building a state-of-the-art Gigafactory in Gothenburg that will be one of the largest cell production facilities in Europe. The construction of the Gigafactory is set to begin in 2023, and will transform Volvo Cars into a full EV (Electrical Vehicle) manufacturer by producing next-generation battery technology for 500k vehicles per year.

The job
This is a formidable challenge of coordination, and we’re now looking for an outstanding Director - Project Controls to support the establishment of NOVO Energy’s first large-scale cell manufacturing plant, a 3bn USD investment. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will be responsible for hiring, leading and growing a team of high-performing cost, estimating, scheduling and risk professionals. You will also take the lead on overall project health and status reporting to the CEO, wider leadership team and stakeholders.

The Project Controls Team’s primary objective is to drive, manage and implement the controls strategy from the early stage throughout the project. The team does this by closely collaborating with other functional teams across Construction, Manufacturing Engineering and Production to develop adequate definitions of scope, implement procedures, establish reasonable baseline, identify and manage risk, track and monitor and report project performance. The team can then make valuable recommendations that drive project performance and ensures delivery on time and within budget.

Key responsibilities:

- Effectively manage overall project scope, schedule, budget, timeline and resources with input from functional teams.
- Ensure the most efficient project delivery tools are in place.
- Embed a robust breakdown structure, integrating the data from each functional team.
- Stakeholder management ensuring key stakeholders sign off the baseline and have visibility on project progress.
- Coordinate and lead estimating exercises to reach a targeted baseline with a focus on value for money and a budget realism.
- Coordinate and lead planning sessions to complete a master project schedule baseline.
- Implement and drive the risk management process including qualitative and quantitative analyses to support the overall project baseline.
- Implement and lead change management process, developing a platform for adding, tracking, approving and monitoring change across the project and its individual functioning teams.
- Grow and lead a team of professionals within this project controls area.

What’s in it for you?
This is a key position in a rapidly growing organisation full of bright minds with an even brighter future. Few industries offer as great opportunity for career growth and personal development as the new European battery industry. In working for this joint venture, you'll not only develop skills that are highly sought after in the global automotive and industrial sector, but you are also contributing to a climate-neutral way of life for future generations.

Joining us at this critical stage, you’ll help build the foundations of a forward-looking industry set to create thousands of highly skilled jobs along major societal, economic and environmental contributions. If you’re an experienced problem solver, longing for a greener future and ready for a major challenge we’d love to hear from you.
What you’ll bring

- BSc/MSc in relevant degree, or commensurate experience in driving major projects
- +10 years solid experience in cost control, estimating, change management, planning and scheduling.
- Proven experience in delivering controls in large CAPEX projects (>1 bn USD)
- Strong leadership skills and experience in managing a multi-cultural teams
- Proficiency with controls/general software applications such as Primavera (P6)
- Ability to work within a high-performance, cross functional organization with extremely tight timelines and aggressive goals
- Passion and enthusiasm for project delivery.


Volvo Cars is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world. Northvolt is a leading supplier of sustainable, high-quality battery cells and systems, dedicated to delivering the world’s greenest lithium-ion battery. Together, we have formed a joint venture, NOVO Energy, to power the next generation of pure electric Volvo and Polestar cars.

Our Gigafactory in Gothenburg will be one of the largest cell production facilities in Europe, with a potential annual cell production capacity of up to 50 gigawatt hours (GWh) - thereby enabling a supply of batteries for approximately half a million Volvo and Polestar cars per year. Our state-of-the-art R&D facility will gather leading expertise from all over the world, to create the next generation battery cells.

You can read more about this joint venture in these press releases, here and here.