Senior Project Controls Specialist

Job Title: Senior Project Controls Specialist

Job Description

This Senior Project Controls Specialist role focuses on supporting complex construction and infrastructure projects by leading scheduling, cost control, and performance reporting activities. You will work on a wide range of projects, including infrastructure, mission critical facilities, industrial, electrical, and civil works, with values ranging from $5 million to $1 billion. Starting with smaller assignments and progressing to larger, more complex programs, you will help implement consistent project controls standards and provide clear, data-driven insights that support successful project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Support the Project Controls Manager in implementing project controls standards, processes, and reporting practices across multiple projects.
• Develop, maintain, and manage detailed project schedules in Primavera P6, including bid schedules built directly from project plans and specifications.
• Break down estimates into work packages, load costs and resources, and create cost- and resource-loaded schedules using Critical Path Method (CPM) techniques.
• Track and analyze project performance using earned value management metrics such as Planned Value (PV), Earned Value (EV), Cost Performance Index (CPI), and Schedule Performance Index (SPI).
• Communicate key performance indicators and project status clearly to project teams and leadership to support timely decision-making.
• Monitor project progress, update schedules with actual performance data, and identify schedule and cost impacts resulting from delays, scope changes, or emerging risks.
• Perform schedule variance and cost variance analysis, and prepare change order impact assessments and forecasts for schedule and budget outcomes.
• Collaborate closely with Project Managers and Field Supervisors to develop and maintain work breakdown structures (WBS) and resolve discrepancies between schedule, cost, and field progress.
• Identify, assess, and help mitigate schedule and cost risks by providing early warnings and recommending corrective or preventive actions.
• Prepare accurate and timely project controls reports, dashboards, and status updates, proactively flagging conditions that could impact project objectives.
• Assist with training and mentoring project teams on project controls tools, processes, and best practices to improve consistency and quality of project data.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, balancing priorities and meeting deadlines while also supporting special initiatives as needed.
• Coordinate with document control and project coordination functions to ensure project data, drawings, and records are accurate, complete, and properly maintained.
• Support cost control and cost analysis activities, including tracking budgets, commitments, and expenditures, and assisting with financial reporting using relevant software.
• Contribute to quality control of project controls deliverables, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with organizational standards.

Essential Skills

• 10-15 years of experience in project controls with a mix of scheduling and cost control responsibilities.
• General construction experience across a variety of project types, such as infrastructure, industrial, electrical, and civil projects.
• Proficiency in Primavera P6 for developing, maintaining, and analyzing project schedules, including bid schedules.
• Strong background in project scheduling using Critical Path Method (CPM), including cost- and resource-loaded schedules.
• Hands-on experience with cost control, cost analysis, and project controls reporting.
• Solid understanding of earned value management, including use of PV, EV, CPI, and SPI to evaluate project performance.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Excel, for data analysis, reporting, and dashboard creation.
• Experience with project coordination, document control, and data entry related to project controls.
• Ability to interpret construction plans and specifications and translate them into detailed schedules and work breakdown structures.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex schedule and cost information clearly to project teams and leadership.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or an equivalent technical field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience working with financial or project-related software for tracking budgets, costs, and project performance.
• Knowledge of electrical construction or projects involving electrical systems.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with quality control processes related to project controls deliverables and reporting.
• background in inventory control and inventory-related data tracking for construction projects.
• Familiarity with project scheduling and controls for a broad range of facilities, such as commercial buildouts, healthcare facilities, data centers, universities, hotels, laboratories, government facilities, and office buildings.
• Ability to mentor and train project teams on project controls tools and best practices.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail when managing multiple concurrent projects.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced project environment with evolving priorities.
• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally throughout the Midwest region, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan, as needed for project site support.

Work Environment

This role is based in a modern office environment located approximately 20 miles from Chicago, with operations centered in an office in Willowbrook, IL. The facility features a large office space with a kitchen, conference rooms, and open cubicles that encourage collaboration and communication. Behind the office, a warehouse supports project fabrication activities, creating close alignment between office and field operations. The organization maintains a lively, employee-focused culture, with regular work events such as meet-and-greets for new employees, quarterly activities, and an annual holiday gathering. Approximately 150 employees work on site, contributing to a close-knit and supportive atmosphere. Standard working hours are 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with work performed on site five days a week. The role involves occasional travel to job sites and other locations throughout the Midwest, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan, with all travel expenses covered. You will support a diverse portfolio of projects, including infrastructure, mission critical facilities, industrial installations, electrical systems, and civil works, ranging in value from $5 million to $1 billion. Projects may include commercial buildouts, new buildings, healthcare facilities, data centers, universities, hotels, laboratories, government facilities, and office buildings, offering exposure to a wide variety of technical and operational environments.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Willowbrook, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $62.50 - $67.31/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Willowbrook,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 10, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.