Lead Project Controls Specialist - Cost - 90351908 - Chicago

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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.

 

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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 Project Controls Specialist - Cost, plans, manages, and executes cost engineering and control activities for capital construction projects or portfolios. Under general direction from the Sr. Project Controls Manager and Project Management team, the Lead Cost Engineer performs analysis of cost performance; develops estimates; creates and manages budgets; and liaises frequently with Amtrak’s Capital Finance Team. Lead Cost Engineer 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). Works with project teams on regular reporting of project financial performance.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

 

• Serve as Lead Project Controls Specialist - Cost for a complex project, program, or portfolio, responsible for analyzing, developing, maintaining, controlling and reporting project design and construction cost budget, forecasts and expenditures. These forecasts include analyses of project cash flow, commitment plans, and funding in accordance with grant and funding contribution agreements. 
• Assist in development of annual operating plan, including working closely with project managers to estimate costs for upcoming fiscal year as well as out years. Work with Capital Finance to refine plan as necessary. Oversee administration of department budget, including managing off cycle reprogramming requests for new or adjusted funding on projects and preparation and/or approval of purchase requisitions. 
• Perform monthly analysis and report cost performance, develops “bottom-up” forecasts quarterly to evaluate performance against Total Life of Project Cost and Schedule. Provide detailed analysis to project team to improve project performance and forecasting as well as to Capital Finance team to support corporate reporting and grants management. 
• Review and vet invoices, receipts them into Amtrak’s Ariba-on-Demand system and develop monthly accruals. Liaise with Finance on journal entries and corrections. 
• Assure compliance with department and enterprise practices on project budgeting, forecasting, change management, scheduling, cost controlling and related project-specific requirements. Support maintenance of department policies and procedures on project cost control, cost breakdown structures, cost control tools and techniques, risk management, contingency determination, management and draw-down, and earned value management. Incorporate current best practices used in the construction and transportation industries. 
• Work with Project Management team to develop and submit Change Requests to adjust the fiscal plan or annual AOP.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

 

A combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Education: Bachelor's Degree in Project Management, Construction Management, Engineering, Science, Business, or a related field. Required education may be substituted for additional relevant experience in excess of the minimum requirements outlined below, on a two-for-one year basis. Required specialized experience in area of assignment: 

 

• Experience leading both cost and schedule controls for capital construction projects, programs, and/or portfolios.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of construction project management through all phases of