Project Controls Mgr - 90167764 - Philadelphia

Job Summary

The Project Controls Manager working in the Capital Delivery (CAPD) central organization will work with Delivery Arms Project Teams in CAPD coaching and advising on Cost Engineering, Change Management and other project controls procedures and guidelines.

The Project Controls Manager will apply Project Controls tools, data analytics, systems and work processes to ensure projects are compliant with Amtrak procedures, processes and guidelines. Individuals in this role will work with the Director Project Controls in drafting and/or updating department policies or procedures, supporting continuous improvement efforts, providing feedback, coaching, and/or mentoring project teams and project control practitioners, to assist with compliance with company and CAPD standards.

Essential Functions

•  Advises and coaches on all aspects of Cost Engineering, Change Management and other project controls procedures, processes, guidelines, and utilization of Amtrak’s Project Management Information System to record required project status updates.
• Supports Project Teams in understanding the Change Management process including creating Project Change Request (PCR), utilizing Project Contingency, Change Control Board (CCB) and creating funding request/reprogramming. Reviewing quality of PCR to ensure all steps are documented and in adherence with Amtrak and CAPD standards.
• Works with the Director Project Control on the update, development, preparation, and maintenance of CAPD procedures and guidelines for cost control, cost engineering, contingency utilization, and earned value management, utilizing best practices, and requirements, and incorporating standards and techniques from recognized organizations such as AACE and PMI.
• Develops and/or utilizes reporting mechanisms (forecast, schedules, project risks, and other indicators) on project performance against plan, to ensure a cohesive picture of the project or portfolio performance.
• Advises and trains project teams and project controls practitioners on how to accurately complete the monthly forecast and other regular reporting. Reviews the accuracy of reports and provides feedback on issues or inconsistencies.
• Works with project teams to ensure timely completion of monthly Project Overall Status Reporting (POSR) and performs quality checks and audits on project data submitted.
• Supports the Fiscal Year Annual Operating Plan process and works with project teams reviewing timelines and requirements to ensure cost data integrity, and alignment of the projects Annual, 5-year plan and Life of Project financials.
• Advises and assists project teams on the use of project management systems and tools, Power BI dashboard, policies, procedures and guidelines and the SharePoint site.
• Supports or leads efforts to develop and implement initiatives for improvement of business processes and tools, in coordination with other internal departments.
• Creates workflow diagrams, SOPs, procedures, training materials, guidelines, and other similar products to support the business functions.
• May be assigned as the Project Controls Subject Matter Expert or Manager on a project.
• Performs other related duties in support of Capital Delivery.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, or higher, in Science, Engineering, Business Administration, Construction, or Project Management. Training, education, and relevant work experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 7 years of relevant project controls work experience.
• Advanced knowledge and experience with project cost controls and change management functions.
• Intermediate knowledge of other functions. including scheduling, estimating, and quality control.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of project management through all phases of the project lifecycle.
• Understanding of project financial reporting, forecasting, analysis, and monitoring capital project/program/portfolio funding and/or budget.
• Ability to analyze technical information and communicate to a nontechnical audience.
• Experience or training working in a PMIS project management information system.
• Advanced experience with Change Management processes
• Strong analytical skills
• Advanced Excel skills
• Demonstrated use of project controls and analytical tools.
• Ability to review and understand project and portfolio systems and data to analyze project performance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Institute (PMI) or Associate for the Advancement of Cost Engineering AACE Certification.
• Capital construction controls experience in the rail industry, transportation industry, or similar.
• Experience with developing processes, procedures, guidelines, tools and training in a PMO or center of excellence.
• Experience using Primavera P6 or other scheduling system.
• Experience utilizing Earned Value Management. Experience using PowerBI or Power Apps to create data applications.
• Experience implementing project control software and tools.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Seven (7) years of direct hands-on experience as a cost analyst, cost estimator, cost engineer, scheduler, or other project controls experience.
• A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position.  
• Knowledge of principles and practices of project management through all phases of the project lifecycle.
• Familiarity with business processes, techniques, and procedures related to project cost engineering/cost management and cost estimation in large and/or complex capital construction projects.
• Experience writing policies, procedures, guidelines, technical manuals, or training materials.
• Knowledge of planning and forecasting tools, methods, techniques, standards, and best practices, including resource management, progress measurement, and earned value management for construction or engineering projects.
• Experience in preparing written procedures, guidelines, presentations, and analyses.
• Understanding of project financial reporting, forecasting, analysis, and monitoring capital project/program / portfolio funding and/or budget.
• Understanding construction project performance metrics, performance analysis, dashboards, and progress reports.
• Ability to understand 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 technical specifications, procedures, or policies.
• Able to facilitate training on the job or by preparation and delivery of group instructional sessions.
• Ability to understand policies, procedure guidelines, and processes, and disseminate information to various teams with varying levels of experience.
• Experience using a Project Management Information System PMIS.
• Understands or can quickly learn various Amtrak systems, such as PMIS, SAP, Ariba on Demand, and Maximo.
• Demonstrated Intermediate to Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Skill in communicating complex information clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, across all levels.
• Effectively working diplomatically across teams with varying degrees of project management experience.
• Strong focus on collaboration, team building, and customer service.
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.