Project Controls Mgr - Estimating - 90302624 - New York/Philadelphia (onsite)

Job Summary

Under minimal supervision from Director of Cost Estimating or Sr Manager-Project Controls, the Manager - Project Controls Estimating configures, supervises, and performs cost estimating activities for a mid-sized capital construction project or portfolio.  Supports attainment of department or project-specific goals and outcomes through delivery of project control services, ensuring close alignment between project control staff and project management team(s).  Assists in development, preparation, and maintenance of department policies, and supports continuous process improvement efforts.  Monitors and evaluates staff performance and provides feedback, coaching, and/or positive recognition for department personnel and decision-making that may have significant, long-term impact on the organization.  Performs additional duties as assigned. 

Essential Functions

•  Assures compliance with department and enterprise practices on project budgeting, change management, scheduling, and/or cost engineering, and related project-specific requirements. 
• Supports development, preparation, and maintenance of department policies and procedures on project cost estimation, cost breakdown structures, cost control tools and techniques, risk management, contingency development, and planning, and earned value management, incorporating current best practices used in the construction and transportation industries.
• Ensures integration of scheduling and cost engineering practices and methods, and supports implementation of schedule management policies, procedures, and performance metrics.
• Serves as lead cost engineering officer for a mid-size project, program, or portfolio with responsible charge for analyzing, developing, maintaining, controlling, and/or reporting project design and construction cost estimates and expenditures including but not limited to analyses of project cash flow, commitment plans, and funding in accordance with grant and funding contribution agreements.
• Implements KPIs to assess project/program/portfolio cost performance.   
• Assures quality and timeliness of recurring and ad-hoc team deliverables, including but not limited to estimates, schedules, forecasts, reports, analyses, and source data.
• Ensures close coordination between assigned staff and project management team.
• Oversees staff responsible for evaluation of contract change orders and amendments for impact on budget and schedule.
• Along with subordinate staff, participates in the development of the Engineering Capital Construction yearly plan, ensuring timely completion of new estimates within assigned portfolio/program/project, ensuring schedule and cost data integrity and consistency, alignment with 5-year plan, and compliance with applicable requirements.
• Supports project or portfolio management team in risk evaluation sessions or preconstruction reviews, and ensures risks are documented and assessed in terms of probability and impact. 
• Supports project and portfolio management teams in performing risk-based contingency determination in accordance with department policies, stakeholder requirements, and best practice. 
• Provides subject matter expertise on construction / engineering cost management and estimation practices, tools, and techniques.  Provides technical advice and analysis on high profile or high impact claims or disputes.  Prepares related reports, or presentations.   
• Directly or with support from staff, maintains reference cost estimating data and analyzes variances against actual costs to validate and improve accuracy of estimates.  
• Supports efforts to develop and implement initiatives for improvement of business processes and tools internally or in coordination with other departments.
• May manage consulting contracts or task orders and supervise contract staff.
• Sets goals and targets for assigned staff in support of department and company strategic objectives.  Assesses and monitors workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement; directs and implements changes.
• Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline and termination procedures.
• Performs other related duties. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Science, Business, or a related field or equivalent combination of education, training and/or relevant experience. 
• Plus 7 years of relevant work experience.
• Experience in construction project cost management and project controls on highly complex or large (>$500 million) projects.  
• Direct hands-on experience as an estimator using modern software to develop and maintain multi-discipline estimates for large complex projects.
• Relevant supervisory-level experience in large complex capital construction project scheduling or cost control while leading a team of Junior Project Controls personnel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education, training and/or relevant experience. 
• Plus 9 years of relevant work experience.
• Master’s degree in Science, Engineering, or Construction Management.
• Experience with accountability for leading and managing schedule of a large complex capital construction portfolio, project, or a substantial portion thereof. 
• Experience performing or leading cost and schedule controls for large or medium-sized capital construction projects, programs, and/or portfolios.
• Familiarity with linear scheduling.
• Prior experience with Primavera P6 and/or Deltek Acumen.
• Capital construction controls experience in the rail industry, oil and gas, energy, or pharmaceutical industry.
• One or more of the following certifications / credentials:
  • Oracle Primavera P6 certification
  • SP or RMP (PMI)
  • PSP, CEP, EVP, or CCP (AACE)
  • Chartered MRICS
  • EVMP
  • FAC-P/PM Level III 
  • PRINCE2   
  • CCA, or CDT (CSI
  • PMP or PMI-RMP
  • AACE certifications
• Hands-on experience with data analysis and visualization tools like PowerBI.
• Experience with database management and data operations (e.g., SQL).
• Experience implementing project control software and tools.
• Experience with contract claims defense and avoidance.
• Six Sigma green belt or black belt training or certification. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience leading, motivating, selecting, supervising, training, and evaluating subordinate staff.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of construction project management through all phases of the construction project lifecycle
• Understanding of principles and practices of construction contract administration, contracting methods and types; standard conditions of construction and engineering contracts (AIA, EJCDC).
• Familiarity with tools, techniques, and procedures related to project schedule management, control, and forecasting in large and/or complex capital construction projects.
• Knowledge of project risk management principles, practices, standards, and methods, including understanding of schedule risk analysis and Monte Carlo method.
• Applied knowledge of statistical analysis methods
• Experienced in processes, methods, techniques, standards, and best practices of construction project cost estimation, cost management, and earned value management in large and/or complex capital construction projects.
• Experience employing modern software tools and cost databases (e.g., Hard Dollar, RSMeans) to develop and maintain cost estimates on large and/or complex construction projects, and extracting data to generate analysis and status reports.
• Integration of estimating and scheduling processes, tools, systems, and data.  
• Use of internal financial system data or external benchmarking to validate and improve estimates.
• Ability to develop and establish construction project performance metrics, performance analysis, dashboards, and progress reports.
• Understanding of project financial reporting, forecasting, and analysis and monitoring capital project / program / portfolio funding and/or budget.
• Ability to clearly organize and present project portfolio reports, and other related portfolio technical information
• Ability to research, analyze, evaluate performance gaps, and implement new business processes, tools, methods, and techniques to improve performance or output.
• Experience with establishing standard practices and business processes pertaining to project control’s function, including drafting or updating of technical specifications, procedures, or policies.
• Past experience delivering staff training, both on the job and through preparation and delivery of group instructional sessions
• Skill in researching, analyzing, and applying contracts, agreements, policies, laws, rules, and regulations to ensure compliance at all levels within areas of responsibility.
• Advanced Excel user skills
• Intermediate to advanced PowerPoint skills
• Skill in communicating complex information clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing across all levels
• Effectiveness working diplomatically across teams with varying objectives.
• Strong focus on collaboration, team building, and customer service.
• Valid Driver’s License or ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related functions.

Environmental Conditions/Physical Demands