Senior Project Coordinator

Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates is seeking a highly organized, motivated, and experienced project controls administrator to support administrative and financial tasks for larger projects. The Project Controls Administrator will interface with project managers and the Business Team, using our internal project management platform and financial software to support project resourcing and delivery. They will serve as a central point of contact for project-related administrative issues and our project management platform, supporting staff and clients across North America. The ideal candidate will be based in our Portland, Oregon or Seattle, Washington offices.

About Us

For more than 35 years, Nelson\Nygaard has led the transportation planning field with our values-driven approach. We’ve always been guided by the principle of putting people first—designing transportation systems for people, not just cars. This also extends to how we operate as a firm. We were founded by two women who believed in the benefits of a more egalitarian workplace, where leadership and creativity can blossom at all levels and where diversity is a core strength. Today, we are 170 talented and dedicated people in 15 offices across the U.S. and Canada who continue to live by those values. What unites us at Nelson\Nygaard is our steadfast commitment to make the world more just, more sustainable, more connected, and more beautiful.

Nelson\Nygaard offers a dynamic and self-directed work environment that is fast-paced, collaborative, and fun. This is your opportunity to work with one of the most innovative groups of planners and engineers in North America, including highly talented junior and support staff. Our firm culture is built upon diversity and creativity.

About You

• You’re resourceful, curious, communicative, and enthusiastic.
• You have project management experience and love to solve problems.
• You bring energy and a commitment to do great work, together.

Responsibilities

Project Management Systems Support

• Serve as a trusted internal resource for project management tools and practices, providing guidance, training, and ongoing support to staff at all levels.
• Communicate complex processes in an accessible, professional manner tailored to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrate a high level of poise, maturity, and discretion when working with project managers, senior staff, and leadership.
• Act as the point of contact for questions, troubleshooting, and best-practice coaching related to project controls and reporting.

Project Financial & Controls Functions

• Support contract administration, including post-award negotiations; drafting subconsultant agreements and coordinating contract terms with the Legal Team; and updating project staffing and direct and overhead rates.
• Track project budgets, staffing demand and capacity, expenses, overhead rates, and overall financial performance; prepare financial status and progress reports.
• Manage end-to-end project invoicing, including preparation of invoice packages, coordination of backup documentation, and review and approval of subconsultant invoices.
• Support risk management activities by cataloging contractual risk items, responding to risk reviews, and tracking related decisions.

Project Delivery & Operational Functions

• Establish and maintain project databases, schedules, and documentation, ensuring data accuracy, quality control, and milestone compliance.
• Provide project coordination and administrative support to enable project managers to focus on client relationships and technical delivery.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks, and support timely resolutions to maintain delivery commitments.

Qualifications and Requirements

Above all, we are looking for someone who:

• Is an inquisitive self-starter and a natural problem solver.
• Has a service-oriented mindset with a strong commitment to supporting project teams and clients.
• Is comfortable operating on the business and administrative side of projects, enabling project managers to focus on technical delivery and client relationships.
• Has demonstrated project management expertise or PMP certification (desired but not required).
• Has the ability to work independently while escalating issues appropriately.

Candidates should also possess:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, project management, planning, public administration, or a related field. Equivalent professional experience will also be considered.
• At least 5 years of experience supporting project management, project controls, and/or operations in a professional services planning or engineering firm or similar environment.
• Demonstrated experience with project financial tracking, including budgeting and invoicing.
• Familiarity with contract administration processes, including prime and subconsultant agreements, rate structures, and scope management.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), including comfort working with financial and schedule-based data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing reports, meeting documentation, and client-facing materials.
• High attention to detail and accuracy, particularly in financial, contractual, and compliance-related work.

Salary and Benefits
The annual salary range for this position depends on location, qualifications, and years of experience:

Portland: $76,211-$93,146

Seattle: $80,783-$104,324

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; pre-tax transit and bicycling benefit; a 401k program; life insurance; and paid time off. Additionally, we offer opportunities for in-person collaboration and flexibility for work from home up to 2 days per week.

Applying for the Position

To apply, please click on the “Apply Online” link. Qualified and interested candidates must submit the following items:

• Cover letter
• Resume

At Nelson\Nygaard we believe that inclusion spurs creativity, and that innovation is born from an engaged culture of diverse people and ideas. By moving beyond barriers and stereotypes of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status, we are committed to building an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities and clients we serve. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, and members of ethnic minorities. We’re committed to maximizing the diversity of our team and want to hear from anyone who is passionate about our work.

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Salary : $76,211 - $104,324