Sr. Project Controls Engineer

Hargrove Engineers & Constructors•Baltimore, MD

About The Position

This role is generally responsible for planning and scheduling heavy industrial engineering projects, monitoring project costs, and estimating projects. The work will be performed under minimal supervision. The Sr. Project Controls Engineer will learn and maintain a strong working knowledge of GPM guidelines and Portfolio management tools, as well as cost budgeting and forecasting tools of the trade. They will produce project budgets and funding reports at each stage gate with the appropriate level of detail per site’s GPM guidelines and based on project size and complexity. This role becomes the site SME regarding LC area factors such as taxes as applicable to projects, cost trends, contractor hourly rates and mark-ups by discipline, and application of industry standard progress methods. The engineer will work with Project Managers (PM’s) in all phases of projects to ensure alignment of the master project scope (control estimate) and estimates/proposals received from vendors and service providers for the work. They will provide support and feedback to PM’s during bid process to ensure all potential costs have been accounted for. Additionally, they will lead in the local development of a more robust and consistent WBS/CBS approach to cost management from initial funding stage through the life of the project, resulting in cost structures that integrate well with SAP reporting as well as integrated cost and schedule management. Advancement in the application of WBS/CBS philosophy at the cost estimate stage will be coupled with a matching WBS approach to development of project schedules via MS Projects or Primavera, whereby enabling improvement and consistency in project cost forecasting. The engineer will actively engage with PMs in application of the Change Management workflow when necessary, giving in-depth assessment of cost and schedule impacts of individual changes and helping ensure proactive documentation and DOA compliance, signoffs, etc. They will work with local and central project controls teams to ensure systems, tools and processes are in place in support of continuous improvements relating to cost performance, forecasting, and cost predictability. The role plays an active part in annual AOP development, producing high-level cost analyses as needed to allow creation of a more credible forecasting approach to quarterly spend projections for the following budget year and outyears. The engineer will maintain an ongoing dialog with the Maintenance team to ensure project cost forecasts are accurate and work order settlement rules are in place for all capital reclasses. They will facilitate interfaces between Owner and Contractor cost forecasting and analyses, be an active participant in work process development and improvement, and work with Finance to ensure capital and capital expenses are clearly defined and allocated properly. Support for additional assigned duties/responsibilities is also expected.

Requirements

7 or more years of relevant industrial experience in planning, scheduling, cost control and estimating
Previous SAP Experience
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 multi-task
Ability to communicate effectively at different levels of an organization
Analytical skills
Understanding of Earned Value Methodologies
Ability to manage a portfolio of many simultaneous projects
Ability to challenge the status quo
Culturally astute
Cost management experience with multiple foreign exchanges
Authorized to work in the United States

Nice To Haves

B.S. degree. In lieu of degree, a combination of a high school education and relevant professional experience will be considered, such as professional certifications or training specific to cost and/or accounting will be given strong consideration
AACE International or Project Management Institute (PMI) certification is highly preferred

Responsibilities

Planning and scheduling heavy industrial engineering projects
Monitoring project costs
Estimating projects
Learn and maintain a strong working knowledge of GPM guidelines and Portfolio management tools, as well as cost budgeting and forecasting tools of the trade
Produce project budgets and funding reports at each stage gate with the appropriate level of detail per sites’s GPM guidelines and based on project size and complexity
Become site SME regarding LC area factors such as taxes as applicable to projects, cost trends, contractor hourly rates and mark-ups by discipline, and application of industry standard progress methods
Work with Project Managers (PM’s) in all phases of projects to ensure alignment of the master project scope (control estimate) and estimates/proposals received from vendors and service providers for the work
Provide support and feedback to PM’s during bid process to ensure all potential costs have been accounted for
Lead in the local development of a more robust and consistent WBS/CBS approach to cost management from initial funding stage through the life of the project, resulting in cost structures that integrate well with SAP reporting as well as integrated cost and schedule management
Advance the application of WBS/CBS philosophy at the cost estimate stage coupled with a matching WBS approach to development of project schedules via MS Projects or Primavera, enabling improvement and consistency in project cost forecasting
Actively engage with PMs in application of the Change Management workflow when necessary, giving in-depth assessment of cost and schedule impacts of individual changes and helping ensure proactive documentation and DOA compliance, signoffs, etc.
Work with local and central project controls teams to ensure systems, tools and processes are in place in support of continuous improvements relating to cost performance, forecasting, and cost predictability
Play an active part in annual AOP development, producing high-level cost analyses as needed to allow creation of a more credible forecasting approach to quarterly spend projections for the following budget year and outyears
Maintain an ongoing dialog with the Maintenance team to ensure project cost forecasts are accurate and work order settlement rules are in place for all capital reclasses
Facilitate interfaces between Owner and Contractor cost forecasting and analyses
Be an active participant in work process development and improvement
Work with Finance to ensure capital and capital expenses are clearly defined and allocated properly
Support additional assigned duties/responsibilities