Project Controls Engineer

Ascend Elements is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. Its patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology directly synthesizes new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. The results are lower cost, better performance batteries with fewer discarded in landfill, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. Ascend Elements is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.

We are currently hiring a Project Controls Engineer! This role will be responsible for providing detailed conceptual estimates from pre-construction schematic and design documents and detailed construction estimates from construction plans and specifications. Project scopes are generally less than $50 million or for designated components on large, complex projects.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

Cost Estimation and Budgeting

• Develop and implement the project controls execution plan, ensuring alignment with cost management best practices
• Participate in the project estimating process, ensuring that project cost estimates align with contractual requirements and scope.
• Defining and structure the Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS), Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), and Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) in financial and progress systems.
• Ensure cost coding system is properly applied, and information flow is correct and complete

Cost Tracking and Monitoring

• Establish and maintain cost control systems to track actual expenditures against budgets and commitments.
• Analyze and interpret cost trends, performance metrics, and cost variances.
• Monitor actual progress vs. planned progress, including engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, and commissioning status.
• Provide timely and accurate Cost and Progress Measurement Data, ensuring the accuracy of project cost forecasting

Earned Value Management (EVM) & Progress Measurement

• Demonstrate understanding and application of Earned Value Management (EVM) principles for measuring project performance.
• Set up and maintain the progress measurement system, ensuring accurate tracking of project milestones and deliverables.
• Ensure that Issued for Construction (IFC) quantity take-offs are properly tied to turnover systems.
• Audit quantity take-offs and reported installed quantities for consistency with project progress reports.

Forecasting and Financial Control

• Develop and maintain the cost forecasting system and cost reports, ensuring alignment with project objectives.
• Prepare project cash flows and cost spread analysis.
• Undertake monthly cost forecasting and trend analysis, identifying deviations and proposing corrective actions.
• Monitor and analyze committed costs, actual vs. budget performance, and cost productivity metrics.

Change Management and Risk Control

• Support change management efforts, including developing cost estimates for change verification.
• Monitor variations from the original scope of work, capturing and assessing related impacts on costs and schedule.
• Assist with contract amendments, ensuring cost implications are properly documented and managed.

Reporting and Communication

• Prepare and present project cost reports and variance analysis reports to project stakeholders.
• Support accounting with cost-to-billings reconciliations and invoicing reviews.
• Provide accurate and timely reporting on cost and progress measurement data to management.
• Generate spreadsheet and PowerBI analysis reports for cost and progress management review.

Procurement and Subcontractor Cost Management

• Work closely with procurement and subcontract management teams to verify progress and earned value against invoices received.
• Ensure the cost coding system is properly applied and information flow is complete.
• Monitor cost commitments related to material procurement and subcontractor services.
• Support the Subcontract Management team in tracking variations and processing accruals.

Compliance and Best Practices

• Adhere to internal project control processes and ensure compliance with industry cost management best practices.
• Ensure that financial processes align with contractual requ