Principal Project Controls Specialist

Role summary / purpose

The Principal Project Controls Specialist is a critical lead position responsible for cost management and project controls integration on major power generation construction projects. This position supports Project Managers and Project Directors on projects of varying size and complexity, leading the setup, maintenance, and analysis of project controls status including cost, contracts, WBS, schedule, and resources.

This role requires expert-level proficiency with project controls software tools and advanced analytical capabilities. The position demands deep understanding of cost forecasting, earned value management, and integration of cost-schedule data on complex engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects.

This is a field-based position supporting construction projects. Power plant construction experience (Combined Cycle, Simple Cycle, Solar, or Battery) and mobilization to the field site is required.

Key responsibilities

Cost Management & Forecasting:

• Establish and maintain project cost baselines, budgets, and forecasts with high certainty on large-scale construction projects
• Lead earned value management (EVM) analysis, variance reporting, and trend analysis
• Integrate cost data with site activities and vendor deliverables to ensure accurate financial tracking
• Manage project contingency and risk reserves
• Develop cost estimates and manage monthly accruals
• Maintain cost systems and generate monthly cost reports and project documentation

Project Controls Integration:

• Understand phased project funding and manage roll-up of estimates into cost reports
• Provide cost-schedule integration analysis to support critical path decisions
• Work with field schedulers to update integrated schedules and perform impact analysis
• Review and assess change orders for cost and schedule impacts
• Coordinate with vendors to gather and verify cost and schedule updates through submittals, field walkdowns, and direct communication

Reporting & Communication:

• Generate monthly reports and site-specific documentation for PM/PD teams
• Lead project controls reviews and status presentations
• Support project funding submittals with detailed cost and schedule analysis

Leadership & Collaboration:

• Lead and coordinate the site project controls team
• Serve as technical subject matter expert and mentor to project controls team members
• Lead implementation of project controls methodologies and best practices
• May supervise junior project controls staff as assigned
• Support multiple projects simultaneously as required

Requirements - education & experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Finance, or Business Administration AND 10 years of related work experience, OR High School diploma/equivalent AND 14 years of related work experience
• Demonstrated lead-level experience with complex EPC projects in power generation (Combined Cycle, Simple Cycle, Solar, or Battery construction)
• Expert proficiency in cost forecasting and project controls methodologies on large-scale construction projects
• High proficiency in MS Excel and cost management systems
• Experience with Primavera P6, Ecosys, Maximo, and project controls reporting systems
• Willingness to mobilize to field site
• Valid driver's license

Nice-to-have / preferred skills

• ECOSYS administration, configuration, and management experience
• Experience creating training packages and training teams on ECOSYS
• Web BI and Power BI data migration experience
• Familiarity with LoadSpring application
• Master's degree in Project Management, Finance, or Business Administration
• Professional certifications: AACE-CCC (Certified Cost Consultant), AACE-EVP (Earned Value Professional), or PMP (Project Management Professional)
• Additional certifications: AACE-CEP, AACE-PSP, PMI-SP, or CAPM
• Proficiency with MS Project, ECOSYS, Primavera P6, Acumen Fuse, Business Objects, Prolog, Passport, Visio, Powerplant, PeopleSoft
• Strong collaborative team member with proven ability to work across functional groups

Employment details - type, location, hours

Field-based position with mobilization to project site in Hamlet, NC