Project Controls Specialist

Piper Companies; Petersburg (VA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401K

Sick leave

Job summary

Piper Companies is seeking a Project Controls Specialist (Cost Controls) to support a major pharmaceutical capital expansion. The role will establish and strengthen project controls across multiple projects, partnering with project leadership, engineering, and external stakeholders in a hybrid Petersburg, VA setting.

The ideal candidate has extensive cost controls experience on large capital projects, strong budgeting and forecasting skills, and a track record of executive reporting.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering cost controls on large capital projects.
• Experience with owner-side project organizations and leadership teams.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, financial tracking, and executive reporting skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost management across multiple capital projects including budget development, commitments, forecasting, and expenditure analysis.
• Prepare and maintain project financial reports, variance analyses, and dashboards for PMs and executives.
• Support governance and capital approval by providing cost status, funding forecasts, and risk assessments.
• Collaborate with engineering, construction, procurement, and PMO to ensure consistent cost control throughout lifecycles.
• Help build scalable project controls methodologies and reporting frameworks for a growing capital program.

Skills

Cost controls

Budgeting

Forecasting

Executive reporting

Stakeholder collaboration

Job description

Piper Companies is seeking a Project Controls Specialist (Cost Controls) to support a major capital expansion program within the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. This Project Controls Specialist (Cost Controls) will play a key role in establishing and strengthening project controls processes across a growing portfolio of capital projects, partnering closely with project leadership, engineering teams, and external stakeholders in a hybrid environment based in Petersburg, Virginia.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost management activities across multiple capital projects, including budget development, commitment tracking, forecasting, and expenditure analysis.
• Prepare and maintain project financial reports, variance analyses, and performance dashboards for project managers and senior leadership.
• Support governance and capital approval processes by providing accurate project cost status, funding forecasts, and risk assessments.
• Collaborate with engineering, construction, procurement, and PMO teams to ensure consistent cost control practices throughout project lifecycles.
• Assist in building scalable project controls methodologies and reporting frameworks to support a rapidly expanding capital program.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience providing cost controls support on large-scale capital construction, industrial, or manufacturing projects.
• Proven background working directly with owner-side project organizations and supporting project leadership teams.
• Strong expertise in project budgeting, cost forecasting, financial tracking, and executive-level reporting.
• Ability to manage competing priorities while supporting multiple active projects simultaneously.
• Preferred experience within pharmaceutical manufacturing, API production facilities, oil & gas, or nuclear environments; experience supporting capital portfolios exceeding $50M is highly desired.

Compensation

• Salary Range: $170,000 - $240,000
• Contract Duration: 12-24 Months
• Location: Petersburg, VA (3-4 Days Onsite Weekly)
• Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, sick leave if required by law, and 401K

Application Details

• Posting Date: 11/03/2026
• Apply By Date: 12/03/2026

Keywords

Project Controls, Cost Controls, Cost Engineering, Capital Projects, CAPEX, Program Controls, Portfolio Management, Construction Management, Project Governance, Budget Management, Cost Forecasting, Financial Reporting, Variance Analysis, Earned Value Management, Project Financials, Capital Planning, Construction Cost Management, Industrial Construction, Manufacturing Facilities, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, API Manufacturing, Facility Expansion, New Construction, Facility Modernization, PMO, Project Management Office, Cost Tracking, Forecast Management, Change Control, Risk Management, Cost Performance Analysis, Capital Investment Projects, Engineering Projects, Owner's Representative, EPC, Procurement Management, Stakeholder Management, Multi-Project Environment, Project Reporting, Construction Finance

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