Senior Project Controls Specialist

Planet Group; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 143,270,000 - 157,597,000; Full time

Job summary

Planet Group in Detroit is seeking a Senior Project Scheduler/Estimator to develop, maintain and analyze project schedules and cost estimates, ensuring alignment with timelines and budgets.

The role provides expertise in planning and estimating, mentors junior staff, and supports project controls initiatives. Hybrid work includes 3 days in-office and 2 remote, for a 15-month contract.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management or a related field.
• Seven or more years of relevant professional experience in project scheduling, estimating or project controls.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience developing and implementing project controls, processes and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management software.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a collaborative, matrixed environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and analyze project schedules and/or cost estimates to support project planning and execution.
• Partner with project management teams to establish project plans, milestones, budgets and resource requirements.
• Lead the development and analysis of project schedules and estimates, identifying potential risks, delays and cost impacts.
• Monitor project progress, identify variances and recommend corrective actions and recovery plans.
• Prepare schedule reports, forecasts, progress updates and trend analyses for project stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain project controls, methodologies, standards, processes and best practices.
• Ensure the accuracy, quality and reliability of project estimates and schedules.
• Support project claims, time impact analyses, delay assessments and schedule recovery efforts, as needed.
• Maintain historical project data, documentation and lessons learned to improve future project performance.
• Provide technical guidance, coaching and training to project estimators, schedulers and other technical personnel.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement through industry benchmarking, new technologies and improved project controls.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and manage multiple project priorities in a matrix environment.
• Develop and maintain master and detailed project schedules, including milestones, work breakdown structures (WBS), activities and dependencies.
• Assign labor, equipment and cost resources to scheduled activities and perform resource leveling.
• Monitor schedule performance, identify critical path impacts and communicate potential delays to project leadership.
• Prepare schedule forecasts, progress reports, trending analyses and recovery plans.
• Evaluate schedule changes and recommend alternative approaches to maintain project timelines.
• Apply scheduling methodologies, including critical path method (CPM), schedule integration and schedule performance analysis.
• Utilize Primavera P6 and other project scheduling tools to develop and maintain project schedules.
• Develop and review project cost estimates at various stages, including conceptual, preliminary and definitive estimates.
• Analyze labor, material, equipment, subcontractor and other project costs.
• Establish project contingencies based on estimate maturity, risk assessments and project requirements.
• Evaluate cost assumptions, market conditions and estimating methodologies to improve accuracy.
• Develop estimating models, forecasts, cash flow projections and cost analysis reports.
• Support project budgeting, cost optimization, life cycle costing and financial analysis.
• Identify cost risks and opportunities and recommend strategies to improve project cost performance.

Skills

Project scheduling

Estimating

CPM

Primavera P6

MS Office

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management or a related field

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Office

Project management software

Job description

Job Title Senior Project Controls

Location: Detroit MI 48226

Contract 15month contract

Schedule: Hybrid -3 days onsite

Pay: $50-$55 per hour

Senior Project Scheduler / Estimator

Job Summary

The Senior Project Scheduler / Estimator supports project management teams by developing, maintaining and analyzing project schedules and cost estimates to ensure projects are completed efficiently and within established timelines and budgets.

This role provides technical expertise in project planning, scheduling and estimating, including developing processes, tools, standards and best practices. The position also mentors and guides less experienced team members, supports project controls and identifies opportunities to improve project performance. This is an individual contributor role with no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and analyze project schedules and/or cost estimates to support project planning and execution.
• Partner with project management teams to establish project plans, milestones, budgets and resource requirements.
• Lead the development and analysis of project schedules and estimates, identifying potential risks, delays and cost impacts.
• Monitor project progress, identify variances and recommend corrective actions and recovery plans.
• Prepare schedule reports, forecasts, progress updates and trend analyses for project stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain project controls, methodologies, standards, processes and best practices.
• Ensure the accuracy, quality and reliability of project estimates and schedules.
• Support project claims, time impact analyses, delay assessments and schedule recovery efforts, as needed.
• Maintain historical project data, documentation and lessons learned to improve future project performance.
• Provide technical guidance, coaching and training to project estimators, schedulers and other technical personnel.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement through industry benchmarking, new technologies and improved project controls.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and manage multiple project priorities in a matrix environment.

Scheduling Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain master and detailed project schedules, including milestones, work breakdown structures (WBS), activities and dependencies.
• Assign labor, equipment and cost resources to scheduled activities and perform resource leveling.
• Monitor schedule performance, identify critical path impacts and communicate potential delays to project leadership.
• Prepare schedule forecasts, progress reports, trending analyses and recovery plans.
• Evaluate schedule changes and recommend alternative approaches to maintain project timelines.
• Apply scheduling methodologies, including critical path method (CPM), schedule integration and schedule performance analysis.
• Utilize Primavera P6 and other project scheduling tools to develop and maintain project schedules.

Estimating Responsibilities

• Develop and review project cost estimates at various stages, including conceptual, preliminary and definitive estimates.
• Analyze labor, material, equipment, subcontractor and other project costs.
• Establish project contingencies based on estimate maturity, risk assessments and project requirements.
• Evaluate cost assumptions, market conditions and estimating methodologies to improve accuracy.
• Develop estimating models, forecasts, cash flow projections and cost analysis reports.
• Support project budgeting, cost optimization, life cycle costing and financial analysis.
• Identify cost risks and opportunities and recommend strategies to improve project cost performance.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management or a related field.
• Seven or more years of relevant professional experience in project scheduling, estimating or project controls.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience developing and implementing project controls, processes and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management software.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a collaborative, matrixed environment.

Preferred Qualifications

For Scheduling:

• Four or more years of experience using Primavera P6.
• Experience developing and managing complex construction, engineering or capital project schedules.
• Knowledge of critical path scheduling, resource loading, schedule analysis and recovery planning.

For Estimating:

• Four or more years of construction estimating experience on large-scale projects.
• Experience with conceptual, parametric and definitive cost estimates.
• Knowledge of cost modeling, risk analysis, contingency planning and project forecasting.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work independently while collaborating with cross-functional project teams.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing project requirements and priorities.
• May require the ability to work in a power plant environment, including climbing stairs and working in hot or confined spaces.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and other project functions to ensure schedule alignment and accurate progress reporting.
• Support project management with schedule analysis, forecasting, and recommendations.
• Maintain schedule integrity and ensure schedule data is accurate, current, and aligned with project objectives.

Qualifications & Experience

• 3-5 years of professional project scheduling experience, preferably supporting construction or capital projects.
• Strong hands-on experience with Primavera P6.
• Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining Integrated Master Schedules (IMS).
• Experience with construction planning, scheduling, progress measurement, and schedule controls.
• Experience supporting utility and/or EPC projects strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of project scheduling principles, critical path analysis, milestones, baselines, and schedule performance.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Project Management, and other cross-functional teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced project environment.

Work Location

• Preference will be given to local candidates.
• Hybrid work schedule: 3 days per week in the office and 2 days remote.