Project Controls/Scheduler

Black Box; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Black Box is seeking a Junior-Mid Project Controls Specialist (Schedule & Cost) to support data center delivery programs with scheduling, cost forecasting, labor planning, and reporting across structured cabling and technology infrastructure scopes.

The role offers mentorship under senior controls staff and opportunities to grow in a fast-paced environment while ensuring real-time data reflects field conditions and project milestones.

Qualifications

• Foundational knowledge of project controls in construction or data center environments.
• Experience with schedule and cost tracking and reporting.
• Understanding of Earned Value concepts and cost forecasting.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and update detailed project schedules aligned with milestones.
• Track direct labor hours, headcount, and installation costs against the plan.
• Support Earned Value metrics, cost forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Collaborate with PMs, Superintendents, Field Leads, and procurement teams.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor's degree in construction management or engineering

Tools

Primavera P6

Microsoft Project

SAP/Oracle ERP

Job description

Summary

The Junior-Mid Project Controls Specialist (Schedule & Cost) supports Black Box's data center delivery programs by assisting with the development, maintenance, and analysis of project schedules, cost forecasts, labor plans, and project controls reporting for structured cabling, network infrastructure, and low-voltage scopes.

This position is designed for an individual who has a foundational understanding of construction planning, scheduling, cost controls, or field execution and is looking to further develop their Project Controls career within complex, fast-paced data center environments.

Working under the direction of the Director of Project Controls and/or Senior Project Controls Lead, the Junior-Mid Project Controls Specialist will work closely with Project Managers, Superintendents, Field Leads, Procurement, and other Project Controls team members to ensure schedule, labor, cost, and progress information accurately reflects current project conditions.

The position will receive guidance and mentorship from senior Project Controls personnel while progressively assuming greater responsibility for assigned project areas, buildings, work packages, or smaller projects as experience and proficiency develop.

Success in this role requires strong attention to detail, analytical capability, willingness to learn, and the ability to translate field execution information into accurate and meaningful Project Controls data.

What You Will Do:

Project Controls Execution - Data Center Delivery

Support assigned data center projects as the Project Controls Specialist (Schedule & Cost), focused on structured cabling, network installation, and technology infrastructure scopes.

Develop, maintain, and update detailed project schedules aligned with GC milestones (DEC-C Ready, ENS Ready, PR, SC) and Black Box installation sequencing.

Track and forecast direct labor hours, headcount, and installation productivity against the schedule.

Monitor project costs including labor, material (OFCI / OFOI), expenses, and change impacts.

Ensure schedules and cost data accurately reflect real-time field conditions, access constraints, and material readiness.

Cost & Schedule Monitoring

Perform weekly schedule updates and progress tracking based on field input and installation status.

Support cost tracking, forecasting, and variance analysis across active buildings and work packages.

Assist with Earned Value metrics (CPI, SPI), labor curves, and installation productivity trending.

Support change order reviews, bid leveling, and cost impact assessments related to scope changes or sequencing adjustments.

Maintain alignment between schedule, cost, and resource plans across Black Box reporting tools.

Risk Identification & Mitigation Support

Identify potential risks related to schedule logic, access handovers, material delays, and labor availability.

Escalate schedule and cost risks to senior Project Controls leadership with supporting data.

Assist in maintaining project risk registers and tracking mitigation actions.

Support schedule reviews to ensure critical path and phasing logic reflect data center execution realities.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Support

Work closely with Project Managers, Superintendents, and Field Leads to ensure alignment between planning and execution.

Coordinate with procurement teams to align material deliveries with installation sequencing.

Support communication between jobsite teams and Senior Project Controls Leads.

Participate in coordination meetings with GCs, trade partners, and internal Black Box leadership as required.

Provide clear, concise schedule and cost updates to support decision-making.

Needs for Success:

Strong working knowledge of project controls fundamentals within construction or data center environments.

Experience supporting data center, structured cabling, or low-voltage infrastructure projects preferred.

Proficiency in Primavera P6 and/or Microsoft Project for detailed schedule updates.

Experience tracking labor hours, headcount, and productivity against schedule.

Familiarity with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or equivalent for cost tracking.

Foundational understanding of Earned Value Management (EVM) concepts.

Strong skills in Microsoft Excel; exposure to Power BI or Tableau is a plus.

Understanding of GC milestone structures, phased turnovers, and multi-building execution.

High attention to detail with strong documentation and reporting discipline.

Ability to manage multiple priorities across fast-moving job sites.

Clear verbal and written communication skills.

Ability to work effectively with field teams, PMs, clients, and vendors.

Self-motivated, execution-focused, and eager to grow within Black Box's Project Controls organization.

What You Bring to the Table:

High school diploma or equivalent.

Bachler degree in construction management, engineering or equivalent field experience.

Minimum 5+ years as a construction planner / scheduler for projects with contract values in excess of $15 million.

Preferred professional certifications:

Project Management Institute Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)

Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP)

Project Management Institute Project Management Professional (PMP)

Supervisory Responsibility:

N/A

Work Location and Travel:

At Site Location - Abilene, Texas

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Black Box is a leading technology solutions provider. Our mission is to accelerate our customers' business by valuing relationships with our team members, clients and stakeholders. By continuously growing our knowledge, we remain relevant in the market and are in a superior position to help customers design, deploy and manage their IT infrastructure. Through our values, such as innovation, ownership, transparency, respect and open-mindedness, we deliver high-value products and services through our global presence and 2,500+ team members in 24 countries and growing. Black Box is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGC Networks.

Black Box is an equal opportunity employer. Black Box does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status, and endorses those policies and practices which seek to recruit, hire, train and promote the most qualified persons into available jobs.