Senior Project Control Specialist

Project Controls Specialist

Location: Houston, TX

Position Type: Contract

Duration: 1-Year Contract

Hourly Rate: $59.48

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Project Controls Specialist to support the planning, cost management, forecasting, and overall financial performance of large-scale capital projects in Houston, TX.

This position will work closely with project management, engineering, procurement, construction, and scheduling teams to monitor project budgets, track progress, manage changes, and ensure projects remain aligned with cost and schedule objectives.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in project controls for large capital construction projects, with a strong background in cost management, earned value management, forecasting, and SAP.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain project controls plans, procedures, budgets, and reporting structures.
• Establish and manage Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), control budgets, and project cost tracking within SAP.
• Monitor project costs, commitments, expenditures, and forecasts to ensure alignment with approved budgets.
• Develop and maintain estimates to complete (ETC) and estimates at completion (EAC).
• Analyze project performance, identify cost variances, and provide recommendations for corrective actions.
• Apply Earned Value Management (EVM) principles to measure project progress and performance.
• Collaborate with project estimators and schedulers to establish and maintain project baselines and key milestones.
• Review contractor progress reports, invoices, change orders, and cost forecasts.
• Maintain project trend logs and evaluate potential cost and schedule impacts.
• Support project funding requirements, including Authorization for Expenditure (AFE) tracking.
• Participate in project risk assessments and incorporate findings into budgets and forecasts.
• Prepare monthly project controls reports, cost analyses, and performance presentations for project leadership.
• Coordinate with engineering, procurement, construction, and accounting teams to collect and analyze project data.
• Provide guidance and support to junior and intermediate project controls personnel.
• Support financial, administrative, and system closeout activities.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, Finance, or a related field.
• 10–15 years of project controls experience, preferably supporting large-scale capital construction projects.
• Strong experience in project cost management, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Advanced understanding of Earned Value Management (EVM), progress measurement, and performance metrics.
• Experience establishing and managing Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and cost control systems.
• Experience with SAP for project budgeting, cost tracking, and reporting.
• Strong understanding of project scheduling, estimating, change management, and risk management.
• Experience reviewing contractor costs, progress reports, invoices, and change orders.
• Background supporting moderate- to high-risk capital projects across industrial, energy, infrastructure, or similar sectors.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with multidisciplinary project teams.
• Previous field construction experience is a plus.
• Experience mentoring or providing technical guidance to junior project controls professionals is preferred.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a seasoned Project Controls professional with a strong emphasis on cost controls, forecasting, earned value management, and capital project financial performance. This individual should be comfortable working directly with project managers and construction teams, analyzing complex project data, identifying potential cost overruns, and providing actionable recommendations to keep projects on track.