SENIOR DIRECTOR, PROJECT CONTROL (SCHEDULING)

LA Metro; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

LA Metro is seeking a senior-level program controller to direct staff responsible for capital project budgets, schedules, reports, and governance. The role coordinates with multiple Metro units to ensure timely execution and alignment with strategic goals.

Ideal candidates bring five-plus years in project controls for major capital projects, exposure to rail/transit construction, and strong CPM, Excel, and financial analysis skills.

Qualifications

• Five years of management-level experience administering project controls for major capital projects.
• Experience on rail transit engineering and construction projects preferred.
• Strong budgeting, scheduling, and reporting skills.
• Proficiency with CPM methods and critical path scheduling.

Responsibilities

• Directs staff responsible for developing and monitoring project budgets and schedules.
• Prepares monthly reports for executive management and project managers.
• Coordinates with planning and other departments to transfer projects to program management.
• Develops and updates project management plans and funding policies.
• Ensures compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Budgeting

Scheduling

CPM

Leadership

Staff development

Financial analysis

Risk management

Communication

Project management

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Engineering, Construction, Business, Economics

Master's Degree preferred

Tools

Primavera P6

Deltek Acumen Fuse

Microsoft Project

Excel

Job description

Directs and manages staff responsible for developing, monitoring, and reporting on the life of major capital projects, including schedule and budget preparation, financial administration, and program management activities to ensure effective coordination with all Metro functional units for successful execution.

Recruitment Timelines

Interviews are projected to be scheduled for the week of 8/24/2026. These dates are subject to change. We encourage you to monitor your governmentjobs.com profile and emails for the latest updates.

• Develops, oversees, and manages the Capital and Operating budgets, schedules, and work progress of multiple major capital projects; prepares monthly reports and provides support to executive management and Project Managers
• Develops and updates Capital Project (CP) workbooks and work-breakdown-structures (WBS) for bus and rail projects
• Ensures that the management team interfaces effectively with involved departments and consultants to establish and adhere to project budget, schedule, quality, and safety requirements
• Establishes organizational short- and long-range goals, objectives, strategic goals, and Project Management Plans
• Directs the development of management strategies in conjunction with the preparation of comprehensive formal Project Management Plans (PMP) to achieve agency goals and objectives and resolution of problems
• Directs the preparation of cost estimates, budgets (Project and Fiscal Year), labor and non-labor budget forecasts, staffing plans, and project schedules; updates forecasts and budgets monthly
• Oversees development of annual construction and other capital budgets
• Prepares various budget amendments/adjustments
• Develops, implements, and updates budget and funding policies and procedures for construction and other capital programs
• Trains staff on budget models and funding systems
• Advises supervisor, staff, and management on budget and funding issues
• Directs preparation of project revenue, funds, and expenditures forecasts
• Confers with management on construction expenditure plans and revenue forecasts
• Coordinates with Planning and other departments for the transfer of projects to Program Management
• Directs development of long-range staffing and funding plans for design and construction
• Supports funding agreement and grant contract negotiations and multi-year grant contract administration; prepares out-of-cycle funding requests
• Assists in the development of supporting documentation for funding and grant agreements with federal, state, and local agencies
• Conducts funding and schedule studies on construction projects
• Prepares and presents various reports and analyses to management and the Board of Directors, such as Annual Program Evaluation (APE) reports, quarterly variance reports, and mid-year adjustments and fund transfers
• Prepares presentations for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) meetings
• Coordinates with Accounting, Treasury, and Capital Planning on data collection, review, and analysis of project costs and revenues
• Reviews and approves requisitions and invoice payments
• Conducts meetings with staff and consultants
• Represents Metro before the public and external agencies
• Directs, supervises, trains, mentors, and motivates assigned staff
• Tracks contractor and consultant expenditures and staff labor hours
• Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency's safety vision and goals; and maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees

May be required to perform other related job duties

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Engineering, Construction, Business, Economics, or a related field; Master's Degree in a related field preferred

Experience

• Five years of relevant management-level experience administering project control activities for major capital projects, including developing, monitoring, and entering budgets; experience working on rail transit engineering and construction projects preferred

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

The following are the preferred qualifications:

• Experience managing multi-disciplinary project controls teams, including directing, supervising, training, and mentoring scheduling staff
• Experience developing and maintaining integrated master schedules using the Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Experience reviewing and managing contractor and consultant schedules on major transit projects
• Experience preparing and reviewing schedule delay analyses and reporting schedule statuses to leadership and stakeholders
• Experience determining delay entitlement and recommending time extensions for compensable and non-compensable delays
• Experience utilizing scheduling software for complex transit projects such as but not limited to Primavera P6, Deltek Acument Fuse, Microsoft Projects and Excel

Knowledge of

• Theories, principles, and practices of capital and operating budgets, scheduling, finance, configuration management, and information systems for major public works projects
• Applicable federal, state, and local regulatory requirements and standards
• Projection techniques for determining staffing and resources
• Developing budget and estimates using bottom-up approach
• Various Metro department functions
• Preparing and writing Board reports
• Finance and budget systems
• Applicable business software applications
• Modern management theory

Skill in

• Planning, organizing, and directing the work of a variety of projects
• Differentiating between capital and operating budgets
• Establishing and implementing policies and procedures
• Determining strategies to achieve goals
• Reconciling data from different reports and sources
• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, recommending solutions, and evaluating outcomes
• Exercising sound judgment and creativity in making decisions
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Writing clear and concise Board reports
• Interacting professionally with various levels of Metro employees, the Board of Directors, and outside representatives
• Mediating and negotiating
• Dealing with difficult people
• Directing, supervising, training, mentoring, and motivating assigned staff
• Using spreadsheet software

Ability to

• Work under deadlines
• Work with Metro's financial and budget systems
• Plan financial and staffing needs
• Make financial decisions within a budget
• Compile, analyze, and interpret complex data
• Prepare comprehensive reports and correspondence
• Represent Metro before the public
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements
• Travel to offsite locations
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

• This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements
• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
• Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• This classification is at-will and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the hiring authority
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Communicating through speech in the English language required