Project Controller

Apache Industrial Services · United States

Job Description

Position Title: Project Controls

Position Reports To: Director, Project Controls

Position Summary

This role is responsible for monitoring and controlling project performance through cost management, forecasting, labor productivity analysis, earned value, schedule awareness, change management, and performance reporting. The position will work closely with Project Management, Operations, Field Supervision, Finance, and Project Controls leadership to provide accurate visibility into current project performance and expected outcomes.

Experience supporting industrial insulation or mechanical insulation work is strongly preferred, as a significant portion of the role will involve analyzing insulation production, installed quantities, labor performance, remaining scope, and forecasted completion.

Essential Functions

Monitor overall project performance against approved budgets, forecasts, schedules, and production expectations.
Develop and maintain project cost forecasts, including Estimate to Complete (ETC) and Estimate at Completion (EAC).
Review labor hours, cost performance, installed quantities, and earned progress to identify productivity trends.
Analyze earned versus burned labor hours and communicate areas of overperformance or underperformance.
Monitor Project Performance Factor (PF), CPI, earned value, and other project performance indicators.
Assist with development and maintenance of manpower forecasts and labor histograms.
Review current manpower levels against remaining scope and forecasted labor requirements.
Analyze actual production rates and use current performance to support accurate completion forecasting.
Validate percent complete and earned value against actual field progress and approved Rules of Progress.
Analyze insulation productivity by scope, area, quantity, and labor classification.
Support forecasting of remaining insulation quantities, labor hours, and completion dates.
Understand common insulation measurement units and production drivers, including square feet, linear feet, fittings, equipment, and specialty applications.
Support weekly and monthly project performance reporting.
Identify cost, schedule, productivity, and execution risks and escalate concerns to project leadership.
Perform variance analysis between budget, actual cost, earned progress, and forecast.
Assist project leadership with corrective-action planning when projects are trending outside of expectations.
Support project schedule reviews and evaluate the impact of current production on milestone and completion dates.
Coordinate with scheduling personnel to ensure progress updates reflect actual field conditions.
Support change-order management, including identification, tracking, documentation, pricing support, and status reporting.
Assist with quantifying labor, material, equipment, productivity, and schedule impacts associated with change orders.
Track project obstructions, delays, rework, and other impacts that may affect cost or schedule performance.
Maintain supporting documentation for potential change orders, claims, and productivity-impact analysis.
Review labor allocations and cost coding to ensure costs are being captured accurately.
Assist with project billing and earned revenue analysis as required.
Reconcile project performance information between field reporting, Procore, accounting systems, and internal dashboards.
Review material and equipment information when it impacts project cost, productivity, or forecast.
Prepare project performance summaries for Project Managers, Operations leadership, and executive management.
Participate in project reviews, forecasting meetings, WIP meetings, and other project-performance discussions.
Maintain accurate and organized project-control documentation.

Education & Experience

Required Qualifications

Previous experience in Project Controls, Cost Control, Project Engineering, or a related construction-management function.
Strong understanding of construction cost control and forecasting.
Experience analyzing labor productivity and project performance.
Ability to understand budgets, actual costs, commitments, earned progress, and remaining cost.
Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
Ability to analyze data and clearly communicate findings to project and operations leadership.
Strong attention to detail and ability to independently validate information.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced construction environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous industrial insulation or mechanical insulation experience is strongly preferred.
Experience supporting insulation productivity, installed quantities, labor forecasting, or earned value.
Familiarity with insulation systems for piping, ductwork, equipment, fittings, and related specialty applications.
Understanding of insulation production measurements such as square feet and linear feet.
Experience supporting large industrial, commercial, mission-critical, or data center construction projects.
Experience with earned value, Rules of Progress, PF, CPI, ETC, and EAC forecasting.
Experience creating and maintaining manpower forecasts or labor histograms.
Experience with Procore.
Experience with ERP or construction accounting systems.
Experience with Power BI or similar reporting and visualization platforms.
Experience supporting change-order development and productivity-impact analysis.
Familiarity with scaffolding, painting/coatings, fireproofing, or firestopping is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex project data.
Strong understanding of the relationship between field production, labor, cost, schedule, and project profitability.
Ability to identify trends, variances, and potential risks before they significantly impact project performance.
Ability to translate field production data into meaningful project-control information.
Strong knowledge of construction cost-control and forecasting principles.
Ability to evaluate labor productivity, remaining scope, and manpower requirements.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the ability to work with large sets of project data.
Ability to use project management, accounting, and reporting systems to reconcile and validate information.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to challenge assumptions, ask questions, and independently validate information.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to communicate project performance information clearly to Project Managers, Operations leadership, and executive management.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced construction environment.
Ability to work collaboratively with Project Management, Operations, Field Supervision, Finance, Scheduling, and Project Controls teams.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands

Ability to work effectively in an active construction environment and interact with field personnel, project management, and operations teams.
May require periodic visits to active construction sites to validate field progress, production, manpower, and project conditions.
Must be able to navigate construction sites safely when required, including areas with uneven surfaces, stairs, elevated work areas, construction equipment, and varying weather conditions.
Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) when visiting or working on active construction sites.
Position may require extended periods of sitting, working at a computer, reviewing documents, and analyzing project data.
Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and through electronic communication.
Occasional travel may be required based on project needs.

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