Principal Project Controls Specialist – Cost

Principal Project Controls Specialist – Cost

Location: Charlotte, NC
Employment Type: Full-Time Contract
Assignment Duration: Approximately 24 Months
Work Arrangement: Hybrid with Regular Site Travel
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 40 Hours per Week
Travel: Approximately 3 Days per Week to Project Sites in North and South Carolina
Openings: 2

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Principal Project Controls Specialist – Cost to provide advanced cost management, forecasting, and project controls support for renewable energy construction projects across the Carolinas and Florida.

This position will support multiple solar and energy storage construction projects, providing comprehensive cost reporting, financial analysis, risk management, and project performance forecasting at the project and portfolio levels.

The ideal candidate will have extensive Project Controls experience, expert-level Excel capabilities, and a strong background in cost forecasting, variance analysis, budgeting, change management, and project risk assessment. This individual must be capable of independently managing complex assignments, analyzing large datasets, and providing technical leadership to other Project Controls professionals.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Management & Forecasting

• Lead cost reporting, analysis, and forecasting activities across multiple construction projects
• Review and analyze project cost estimates, including estimating assumptions, basis, and qualifications
• Develop and maintain project budgets, forecasts, and cost performance reports
• Perform cost analysis, variance analysis, trending, and burn rate evaluations
• Evaluate project cost performance and identify potential financial impacts
• Integrate project costs with schedules to support accurate forecasting
• Develop average unit costs and support project estimating activities
• Apply cost management, change control, and basic accounting principles
• Monitor contractor and vendor cost performance
• Provide cost reporting and analysis at the project, program, and portfolio levels

Project Controls & Risk Management

• Support project controls activities for solar and energy storage construction projects
• Review project status information provided by internal teams, contractors, and vendors
• Perform project risk identification, quantification, analysis, and management
• Evaluate potential cost and schedule impacts associated with project risks
• Support forecasting of project cost changes and potential overruns
• Review vendor change orders and assess financial and project impacts
• Monitor compliance with established project controls policies, procedures, and standards
• Maintain accurate project cost and risk information within designated systems
• Identify project performance issues and recommend corrective actions

Reporting & Data Analysis

• Develop and maintain complex project controls reporting systems and analytical tools
• Analyze large datasets to identify cost trends, variances, and potential risks
• Prepare detailed cost reports, forecasts, and financial performance summaries
• Utilize advanced Excel functions and analytical tools to support reporting and decision-making
• Consolidate project information into program- and portfolio-level reporting
• Communicate project performance, cost trends, risks, and recommendations to leadership
• Support continuous improvement of reporting processes and project controls methodologies

Project Coordination & Leadership

• Collaborate with Project Managers, Project Controls teams, contractors, and external vendors
• Provide technical guidance and support for complex cost management assignments
• Lead and coach junior Cost Analysts and Project Controls Specialists
• Support the development and implementation of project controls best practices
• Coordinate cost, schedule, and risk information across multiple projects
• Independently identify and resolve complex project controls issues
• Maintain effective communication with stakeholders across multiple organizational levels

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Project Management, Engineering, or a related technical discipline with 9 years of Project Controls experience, OR 11 years of Project Controls experience in lieu of a degree
• Advanced experience in cost management, forecasting, and project controls
• Demonstrated experience supporting multimillion-dollar or high-risk projects
• Expert-level Microsoft Excel proficiency
• Experience performing cost analysis, variance analysis, budgeting, and financial forecasting
• Strong understanding of cost-schedule integration and project performance reporting
• Experience with project risk identification, analysis, and management
• Knowledge of estimating techniques and cost control methodologies
• Experience reviewing contractor and vendor project performance
• Experience working within a Project Management Office (PMO), Project Controls team, or project management environment
• Ability to analyze large datasets and learn unfamiliar software applications
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to independently manage complex assignments with minimal supervision
• Ability to travel regularly to project sites throughout North and South Carolina

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business, Finance, Project Management, or a related discipline
• Experience supporting solar, energy storage, utility, or other energy-related construction projects
• Experience managing cost controls across multiple projects or large project portfolios
• Experience evaluating vendor change orders
• Experience with EcoSys, MS Project, Business Objects, Prolog, Passport, Visio, Access, Powerplant, Maximo, EAM, or PeopleSoft
• Experience with project risk management tools, including RiskConnect and Monte Carlo/Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA)
• Experience developing project controls reporting systems and analytical dashboards
• PMP, CAPM, PMI-SP, AACE-CCC, AACE-PSP, AACE-CEP, AACE-EVP, or similar professional certification
• Previous utility industry experience
• Experience mentoring and developing junior Project Controls professionals

Candidate Must-Haves

• 9 years of Project Controls experience with a bachelor's degree, or 11 years without a degree
• Advanced cost forecasting and cost controls experience
• Expert-level Microsoft Excel skills
• Experience with budgeting, variance analysis, cost trending, and burn rate analysis
• Project risk management and analysis experience
• Experience supporting multimillion-dollar or high-risk projects
• Strong understanding of cost estimating and project cost performance
• Experience integrating project cost and schedule information
• Ability to analyze and manage large datasets
• Experience working within a PMO, Project Controls, or project management environment
• Ability to independently lead complex Project Controls assignments
• Strong communication and stakeholder coordination skills
• Ability to work a hybrid schedule and travel to project sites in North and South Carolina approximately three days per week