Project Controls - Cost Lead

MP Materials•Mountain Pass, CA

4h•$130,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Controls – Cost Lead is a member of MP Materials’ Mountain Pass, California mine business and leads the development and implementation of improved cost control systems and procedures for capital projects. The role manages cost controls for capital projects and programs, defining and maintaining methods to monitor project progress and performance, including key performance indicators and earned value assessments. It also coordinates with project managers, finance, accounting, and other stakeholders to support forecasting, reporting, capital accounting, and cost-management systems.

Requirements

Expertise in cost management for medium to large capital projects involving multiple stakeholders.
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, finance, or a related field of study.
Experience implementing ERP or other financial systems.
3 to 5 years of progressive work-related experience.
3 to 5 years of industrial project experience.

Nice To Haves

Excellent leadership, people management, communication, and influencing skills.
Ability to effectively manage, collaborate with, and influence key stakeholders.
Adaptability and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Proactive approach to project forecasting through engagement with internal project teams and contractors.
Advanced Excel skills and proficiency in other Microsoft Office applications and project management tools.
Demonstrated experience successfully leading projects and programs from start to completion, on schedule and within budget.

Responsibilities

Manage financial planning for capital projects and portfolios, including forecasting, tracking, contingency management, and cost and progress reporting.
Collaborate with project managers to establish project cost plans and provide weekly forecast updates.
Create project tracking and reporting templates that support data-sharing between project management and finance teams.
Prepare and maintain project disbursement projections and accounting accruals.
Assist stakeholders with capital appropriation requests and monitor purchasing activity to ensure capital assets are properly recognized in the company’s financial statements.
Ensure compliance with company policy regarding property, plant, and equipment (PP&E) accounting.
Oversee implementation and administration of a cost management database, such as Ares Prism, Hexagon EcoSys, or similar, and ensure its integrity and reconciliation with SAP.
Coordinate with accounting on project setup and master data maintenance.
Collect and organize historical cost information for future estimating.
Monitor equipment installation and commissioning, and provide inputs to help the fixed assets accounting team determine in-service dates.
Participate in end-of-project reviews to identify lessons learned and opportunities for improvement.
Develop cost management processes and procedures.
Create summary dashboards.
Perform other duties as assigned.