Principal Project Controls Cost Specialist (Coal Combustion)

Principal Project Controls Cost Specialist

Location: Charlotte, NC
Employment Type: Contract (24-Month Assignment)
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (Office & Project Site Travel)

Position Overview

We are seeking a Principal Project Controls Cost Specialist to provide cost engineering and project controls support for a large portfolio of capital projects across multiple project sites. This role serves as the technical lead for cost engineering activities, supporting project teams with cost management, forecasting, budgeting, risk analysis, change management, and project performance reporting.

The ideal candidate is an experienced Project Controls professional with expertise in cost engineering, financial forecasting, and project analytics who thrives in complex EPC or utility environments.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Engineering & Project Controls

• Lead cost management activities throughout the project lifecycle, including budgeting, forecasting, cost reporting, and earned value analysis
• Develop and analyze detailed job cost reports, including cost commitments, accruals, actual cost adjustments, journal entries, contingency usage, estimate-at-completion (EAC), and variance analysis
• Review project estimates, estimate assumptions, and forecasting methodologies to improve cost predictability
• Monitor project performance and provide cost analysis, trend reporting, and financial forecasting to project leadership
• Support project scheduling, work breakdown structures (WBS), resource planning, and change management activities

Risk & Change Management

• Assist project managers with project risk identification, quantification, and mitigation strategies
• Track and manage changes to project scope, schedule, and cost baselines
• Support contingency management and project risk balancing
• Ensure compliance with project controls standards, policies, and reporting requirements

Reporting & Stakeholder Support

• Prepare and review monthly project performance reports and executive cost summaries
• Evaluate contractor and vendor cost performance
• Partner with project managers and project leadership to provide financial insights and recommendations
• Lead project controls reviews and provide technical guidance on cost engineering best practices

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, Finance, Project Management, or related field
• Minimum of 7 years of Project Controls or Cost Engineering experience (11+ years in lieu of a degree)
• Strong experience with cost management, forecasting, budgeting, scheduling, and change management on capital projects
• Advanced analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to lead complex project controls assignments with minimal supervision
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, or Project Management
• Professional certification such as PMP, CAPM, CCP, PSP, EVP, CEP, or other PMI/AACE credentials
• Experience supporting utility, power generation, industrial, EPC, or heavy construction projects
• Experience with Primavera P6, Business Objects, Prolog, Maximo, PeopleSoft, Visio, Access, Monte Carlo risk analysis, or similar project controls software
• Experience developing executive-level cost reports, forecasts, and performance dashboards