Project Controls Specialist

ONWARD RESOURCES LLC•Houston, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Controls Specialist is a dual-discipline role responsible for executing both comprehensive project cost control and advanced schedule management. This position is a distinct step up from a standalone cost controller or scheduler; it requires a professional capable of managing both sides of the project controls equation simultaneously to provide a unified look at project health. The ideal candidate possesses a strong financial and analytical mindset for budget forecasting alongside hands-on proficiency in Primavera P6. Operating as the controls lead for assigned projects, this individual analyzes integrated data, manages change control, and produces the critical reports necessary to drive project performance and decision-making.

Requirements

Highly organized, able to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced environments.
Team player – able to communicate and relate well with others
Proficient in both cost and scheduling systems
Bachelor’s degree in finance, Construction Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
5–7 years of direct experience in project controls, with a strictly balanced background executing both comprehensive cost engineering and P6 scheduling functions.
Deep understanding of project accounting, budgeting, forecasting methodologies, variance analysis, and cash flow modeling.
Strong, practical knowledge of Primavera P6, including critical path method (CPM) scheduling, logic constraints, and baseline management.
Advanced mastery of MS Excel (pivot tables, complex formulas, lookups) for deep-dive financial and data analysis; experience with Power BI is highly valued.
Strong interpersonal and presentation skills, with the ability to translate technical scheduling metrics and financial data into clear, actionable insights for project teams.

Nice To Haves

CCP (Certified Cost Professional), PSP (Planning & Scheduling Professional), or progress toward certification.
Experience with Power BI

Responsibilities

Lead Project Controls Function: Take full ownership of both the cost baseline and the schedule baseline for assigned projects, ensuring they are perfectly mirrored and synchronized.
Project Team Facilitation: Lead regular project status and financial review meetings, holding cross-functional teams accountable for budget updates, progress data, and schedule logic.
Management Reporting: Consolidate complex cost and schedule data into clear, executive-ready monthly performance reports, variance narratives, and dashboards for the Project Controls Manager.
Budget & Spend Management: Establish and maintain the project cost baseline, tracking actual expenditure, commitments, and open purchase orders against the approved budget.
Financial Forecasting: Conduct rigorous variance analysis and generate accurate Estimate at Completion (EAC) and Estimate to Complete (ETC) cash-flow forecasts.
Earned Value & Progress Tracking: Apply Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) to track cost efficiency (CPI) and quantify physical progress against financial spend.
Change Management: Evaluate, cost-justify, and process change orders, ensuring budget adjustments are accurately coded and integrated into the financial baseline.
Primavera P6 Scheduling: Build, update, and maintain logically linked project schedules within Primavera P6, ensuring proper sequencing and resource loading.
Schedule Health & Progress: Monitor schedule efficiency (SPI), track physical percent complete, and analyze the Critical Path to identify potential delays before they impact the project end-date.
Impact Analysis: Perform time-impact analysis for proposed modifications or change orders to determine their exact effect on the project timeline.
Cross-Functional Alignment: Serve as the primary bridge connecting Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Project Finance/Accounting to ensure data consistency.
Standards & Quality Control: Ensure all cost tracking and scheduling practices comply with corporate project controls, governance and contractual requirements.