Project Cost Engineer

Hargrove Engineers & Constructors•Baltimore, MD

12d•$120,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

As a Project Cost Engineer (Project Controls), you'll partner closely with Project Managers, Finance, Maintenance, Contractors, and Corporate Project Controls teams to improve project cost performance and predictability. This role involves developing, maintaining, and analyzing project budgets, forecasts, and funding reports throughout all phases of project execution. The Project Cost Engineer will serve as a subject matter expert on cost factors, contractor rates, taxation, industry cost trends, and progress measurement methodologies. Collaboration with Project Managers is key for validating scope, reviewing estimates, evaluating proposals, and ensuring comprehensive cost planning. The role also focuses on leading the development and implementation of consistent Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) methodologies, supporting integrated cost and schedule management, and providing detailed impact assessments for change management. Facilitating collaboration between owner and contractor teams on cost forecasting and performance analysis, partnering with Project Controls teams for continuous improvement, and supporting the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) process are also primary responsibilities. Additionally, the role involves coordinating with Finance and Maintenance for proper capital allocation and project accounting, and driving consistency, transparency, and accountability across a portfolio of simultaneous capital projects.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, or a related field is required. Equivalent combinations of education, certifications, training, and relevant professional experience in cost and/or accounting will be considered.
Minimum of 7 years of experience as a Cost Engineer supporting capital projects within the refining, petrochemical, chemical, or related industrial sector.
Experience utilizing SAP for project cost management and reporting.
Cost portfolio management on projects of various sizes; typically, in the range of $250M - $20MM.
Sound knowledge, proven skills, and competencies in application of project cost control principles, methodologies and tools, supporting all phases of project execution, especially around Project Cost Control, Forecasting and Reporting, within a project-oriented Owner Organization. Must be able to deliver accurate cost information, reporting and guidance to management.
Ability to manage project costs using a capital stage gate methodology.
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office products.
Ability to work unsupervised.
Ability to communicate effectively at different levels of an organization.
Understanding of Earned Value Methodologies.
Ability to manage a portfolio of many simultaneous projects.
Ability to challenge the status quo.
Cost management experience with multiple foreign exchanges.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

AACE International or Project Management Institute (PMI) certification is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop, maintain, and analyze project budgets, forecasts, and funding reports throughout all phases of project execution.
Apply Grace Project Methodology (GPM) standards and project controls best practices to support successful project delivery.
Serve as a site subject matter expert on cost factors, contractor rates, taxation considerations, industry cost trends, and progress measurement methodologies.
Collaborate with Project Managers to validate project scope, review estimates, evaluate contractor proposals, and ensure comprehensive cost planning.
Lead the development and implementation of consistent Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) methodologies that integrate with SAP reporting and schedule management tools.
Support integrated cost and schedule management through alignment of project controls processes with Microsoft Project and Primavera schedules.
Provide detailed cost and schedule impact assessments to support project change management activities and governance requirements.
Facilitate collaboration between owner and contractor teams on project cost forecasting and performance analysis.
Partner with local and corporate Project Controls teams to identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities.
Support the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) process through strategic cost analysis and long-range capital forecasting.
Coordinate with Finance and Maintenance teams to ensure proper capital allocation, project accounting, and work order settlement processes.
Drive consistency, transparency, and accountability across a portfolio of simultaneous capital projects.