Lead Project Controls Specialist Estimating - 90385662 - Philadelphia (Hybrid)

Your success is a train ride away!

As we move America’s workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.

Are you ready to join our team?

Our values of ‘Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First’ are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, ‘Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security’ are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES:

The Lead Cost Estimator is responsible for development of cost estimates for capital projects and maintenance programs. The Lead Cost Estimator is an expert user of the tools, systems and work processes to effectively control and report on cost and forecasts for a project. Individuals in this role may develop project dashboards, schedules, cost performance reports and risk registers in close collaboration with the assigned Project Manager and other team members. Lead Cost Estimators work under moderate supervision of a senior level Controls Practitioner or PMO Director and may matrix into a project or program team.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Must be able to work with the Project Manager and team to develop cost estimates supporting project budget baseline at various levels of project scope definition maturity.
• Collect estimate inputs such as project scope information, drawings, project schedule, execution strategies to support development of cost estimate.
• Develop and maintain basis of estimate document supporting development of project cost estimate.
• Perform QC checks on estimates prepared by fellow Estimators on the team.
• Develop cost estimate by identifying work packages, quantifying scope elements, estimating direct cost line items and construction indirect costs, and estimating project “soft” costs such as project management, construction management, etc.
• Apply appropriate cost escalation to estimate following business process estimating guidelines for Cost Flow and Escalation.
• Support development of project budget contingency to account for estimate uncertainties and potential project risks events
• Participates in risk evaluation sessions or pre-construction reviews, and ensures risks are documented and assessed in terms of probability and impact to enable project team development of risk mitigation plans and contingencies
• Creates the budget estimates for construction and engineering projects and programs using InEight Estimate application. Applies standard construction estimating concepts, practices and procedures as well as particular railroad discipline (electric traction, signals, structures, track or applicable general construction) for estimate development
• Support estimating of cost impacts on project due to owner directed changes and review of contractor submitted change order estimates
• Integrate cost and schedule data as well as information for vendors and external entities to facilitate schedule and budget performance reporting
• Support Cost Engineering and Scheduling teams with estimate data on regular basis
• Assist Project Manager with maintenance and baseline reviews of project budgets in accordance with approved project parameters.
• Manages Project Controls data via EPPM, SharePoint or any other approved EPMO systems and tools
• Adheres to Amtrak Enterprise Project Management methodology and Engineering PMO procedures
• Assures quality and timeliness of recurring and ad-hoc deliverables of position
• Assists in junior estimators preparation of cost estimate reports or presentations
• Identifies opportunities for improvement in processes, methods, or tools
• Support management in leading initiatives for developing business processes within Cost Estimating
• Utilize and support improvement of existing enterprise tools, systems and work processes to assist Project Management Practitioners in effective development, management control and reporting on budget estimates
• Visits future and ongoing construction project sites to support cost estimate development and gain knowledge of craft/discipline scope of work
• Performs other related duties of position

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in creating rough order-of-magnitude estimates for conceptual construction projects.
• Experience in reviewing 3rd party estimates and validating them.
• Experience in benchmarking estimates to ensure they are in line with historical projects of similar nature.
• Experience creating detailed and resource loaded estimates for general construction projects. This would include resources such as labor, material, and equipment
• Working knowledge of project controls, financial skills (budget management, financial reporting)
• Experience using Professional Estimating Software such as InEight Estimate (Hard Dollar), Sage Estimating (Timberline), Gordian RSMeans Online, Procore, HCSS HeavyBid, Trimble Viewpoint
• Experience with Project Controls management relating to cost, estimating and scheduling at a project level.
• Strong oral and written communication skills across all levels • Strong focus on collaboration, team building, and customer service
• A working knowledge of the divisions of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
• Experience using Professional Estimating Software, SharePoint, Microsoft Application Suite including but not limited to Excel, Access, Power BI
• Bachelor's degree or any equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Must have work authorization in the United States.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Effectiveness working diplomatically across teams with varying objectives.
• Minimum 6 years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor's degree.
• Ability to organize and present project portfolio reports, proposals, and other related portfolio information.
• Work experience with Project Controls software and tools used by the Amtrak Capital Delivery such as InEight Estimate, Primavera P6, Masterworks, WebWEE, Deltek Acumen, Maximo, and XER Toolkit
• Knowledge of contracts and contract administration including its assessment and implementation at each phase of the project
• Experience/Knowledge in using AACE Cost Estimating Recommended Practices.
• AACE-CCP\CEP\EVP certification
• Experience creating detailed estimates for railroad construction projects pertaining to but not limited to work associated with track laying machine, electric traction, interlocking replacement/renewal, communications and signal and high-speed rail environment
• Transportation industry experience
• Master’s degree in relevant field of study.

WORK ENVRIORNMENT:

• Office building environment.
• Hybrid work schedule, 1 day per week in the office with 4 days remote.
• Work in cubicle setting; stand, sit, bend, twist, use file drawers.
• Sit at computer to complete assignments, projects, and majority of tasks.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Occasional travel as needed.

COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: 

Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.

The salary/hourly range is $94,300-$122,256. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, internal equity, etc. Depending on an employee’s assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee’s base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position and/or long-term incentive plan compensation. In addition to your salary, Amtrak offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes health, dental, and vision plans; health savings accounts; wellness programs; flexible spending accounts; 401K retirement plan with employer match; life insurance; short and long term disability insurance; paid time off; back-up care; adoption assistance; surrogacy assistance; reimbursement of education expenses; Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility; Railroad Retirement sickness and retirement benefits; and rail pass privileges. Learn more about our benefits offerings here.

Requisition ID:163535
Posting Location(s):Pennsylvania

Work Arrangement:04-Hybrid Weekly 
Job Family/Function:Engineering 
Relocation Offered:No 
Travel Requirements:Up to 25% 

You power our progress through your performance.
 

We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions. 

Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen. 

Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.  

In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.

In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses. 

Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Amtrak is an EOE/Affirmative Action Minority/Female employer, and we welcome all to apply. We consider candidates regardless of race/color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions), national origin/ethnicity, age, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.