Principal Project Controls Specialist – Cost

Principal Project Controls Specialist – Cost

Location: Anderson, SC
Employment Type: Full-Time Contract
Work Arrangement: Initial Remote/Charlotte Support with Future Full-Time Site Mobilization

Position Overview

We are seeking a Principal Project Controls Specialist – Cost to provide lead-level cost management and project controls support for a major power generation construction project. This position will be responsible for establishing, maintaining, and analyzing project cost controls while integrating cost, schedule, contracts, Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), resources, and overall project performance.

The ideal candidate will have extensive Project Controls experience with expert-level capabilities in cost forecasting, Earned Value Management (EVM), cost-schedule integration, and large-scale EPC construction. Direct power generation construction experience is required.

This position may initially support the project remotely or from Charlotte before transitioning to full-time field support in Anderson, SC.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Management & Forecasting

• Establish and maintain project cost baselines, budgets, and forecasts

• Lead cost forecasting activities for large-scale construction projects

• Perform Earned Value Management, variance reporting, and trend analysis

• Develop and maintain project cost estimates

• Manage monthly accruals and support accurate financial reporting

• Monitor project contingency and risk reserves

• Integrate field activities and vendor deliverables into project cost tracking

• Maintain cost management systems and generate monthly cost reports

Project Controls Integration

• Integrate cost and schedule data to support project forecasting and critical path decisions

• Manage phased project funding and roll-up of estimates into project cost reports

• Coordinate with field schedulers to maintain alignment between cost and integrated schedules

• Review project changes and change orders for potential cost and schedule impacts

• Coordinate with contractors and vendors to gather and validate cost and schedule information

• Support field walkdowns and project progress validation

• Maintain Work Breakdown Structures and other project controls frameworks

• Identify cost trends, risks, and potential impacts to overall project performance

Reporting & Analysis

• Develop monthly project controls reports and site-specific documentation

• Communicate cost performance, forecasts, variances, trends, and risks to project leadership

• Lead project controls reviews and status presentations

• Support project funding requests with detailed cost and schedule analysis

• Provide accurate project controls data to support project leadership decision-making

Leadership & Technical Support

• Lead and coordinate site Project Controls activities

• Serve as a technical Subject Matter Expert for cost management and project controls

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to Project Controls team members

• Lead implementation of project controls methodologies, standards, and best practices

• Support and potentially supervise junior Project Controls professionals

• Collaborate across project management, engineering, construction, scheduling, finance, contractors, and vendors

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Finance, Business Administration, or related discipline with 10 years of relevant experience, OR High School Diploma/GED with 14 years of relevant experience

• Lead-level Project Controls experience on complex EPC projects

• Direct experience supporting power generation construction, including Combined Cycle, Simple Cycle, Solar, and/or Battery projects

• Expert-level experience with cost forecasting and large-scale construction cost controls

• Strong experience with Earned Value Management, variance analysis, budgeting, and trend analysis

• Experience integrating project cost and schedule data

• High proficiency with Microsoft Excel

• Experience with EcoSys, Primavera P6, and Maximo

• Experience reviewing change orders for cost and schedule impacts

• Ability to independently lead complex Project Controls assignments

• Ability and willingness to mobilize to the project site in Anderson, SC

• Valid driver's license

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced EcoSys administration, configuration, and management experience

• Experience developing EcoSys training materials and training project teams

• Web BI and Power BI data migration experience

• Familiarity with LoadSpring

• Experience with Acumen Fuse

• Experience with MS Project, Business Objects, Prolog, Passport, Visio, Powerplant, PeopleSoft, or similar systems

• Master's degree in Project Management, Finance, Business Administration, or related discipline

• AACE-CCC, AACE-EVP, PMP, AACE-CEP, AACE-PSP, PMI-SP, CAPM, or similar professional certification

• Experience mentoring and developing Project Controls professionals

Candidate Must-Haves

• 10 years of relevant experience with a bachelor's degree, or 14 years without a degree

• Lead-level Project Controls experience

• Complex EPC power generation construction experience

• Combined Cycle, Simple Cycle, Solar, and/or Battery project experience

• Advanced cost forecasting and cost controls expertise

• Earned Value Management experience

• Budgeting, variance, and trend analysis experience

• Cost-schedule integration experience

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills

• Experience with EcoSys, Primavera P6, and Maximo

• Experience evaluating change orders and project impacts

• Ability to transition to full-time field-based work in Anderson, SC

• Valid driver's license