Principal Project Controls Specialist – Power Generation

Principal Project Controls Specialist – Power Generation

Location: Hamlet, NC
Employment Type: Contract
Work Arrangement: Remote/Charlotte Initially, with Future Onsite Mobilization

Position Overview

We are seeking a Principal Project Controls Specialist to provide cost management and project controls leadership for a major power generation construction project. This role is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and analyzing project controls data across cost, contracts, WBS, schedules, resources, forecasting, and earned value management.

The ideal candidate will have extensive EPC project controls experience, advanced cost forecasting capabilities, and direct experience supporting power generation construction projects.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Management & Project Controls

• Establish and maintain project cost baselines, budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting
• Lead earned value management (EVM), variance analysis, and project trend reporting
• Develop cost estimates, manage monthly accruals, and maintain project cost systems
• Integrate cost and schedule data to support project forecasting and critical path decisions
• Manage project contingency, risk reserves, and overall cost performance
• Review change orders and evaluate cost and schedule impacts

Forecasting & Reporting

• Develop monthly project controls reports, forecasts, and performance summaries
• Analyze project trends and identify risks or opportunities impacting cost and schedule
• Support project funding requests with detailed cost and schedule analysis
• Coordinate with vendors and contractors to validate cost, schedule, and progress information
• Support field walkdowns and project performance verification

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and coordinate project controls activities across the project team
• Serve as a technical subject matter expert for cost and project controls methodologies
• Partner with Project Managers, Project Directors, schedulers, contractors, and vendors
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior project controls professionals
• Lead implementation of project controls standards, tools, and best practices

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Finance, Business Administration, or related field
• 10+ years of related project controls experience
• Lead-level experience supporting complex EPC power generation projects
• Experience with Combined Cycle, Simple Cycle, Solar, Battery Storage, or similar power construction projects
• Expert knowledge of cost forecasting, budgeting, earned value management, and project controls methodologies
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and cost management system skills
• Experience with Primavera P6, EcoSys, Maximo, or similar project controls platforms
• Valid driver's license
• Ability and willingness to mobilize to the project site in Hamlet, NC

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced EcoSys administration, configuration, and management experience
• Experience developing EcoSys training materials and training project teams
• Power BI or Web BI data migration and reporting experience
• Familiarity with LoadSpring, Acumen Fuse, or similar project controls applications
• Master's degree in Project Management, Finance, Business Administration, or related field
• AACE, PMI, or related certifications including CCP, EVP, CEP, PSP, PMP, PMI-SP, or CAPM
• Experience with MS Project, Business Objects, Prolog, Passport, Visio, Powerplant, or PeopleSoft