Job Description

Project Controls Principal

****This position is eligible for relocation assistance.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Project Controls team within the System Planning & Projects Division at Colorado Springs Utilities. We are seeking a dynamic, energetic, and customer-focused professional to serve as a Project Controls Principal Our team of dedicated professionals supports the successful delivery of critical infrastructure projects through the effective application of project controls practices, tools, and systems throughout the project lifecycle.

As a municipal utility, Colorado Springs Utilities is investing in and expanding its capital infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of our community. In this role, you will have the opportunity to influence project teams, drive successful project outcomes, and help ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget. If you are passionate about continuous improvement and operational excellence, we invite you to join our team and help shape the future of utility infrastructure in Colorado Springs.

Key Areas of Focus:

• Serve as lead to junior controls team members, providing leadership, coaching, and mentoring
• Lead and provide oversight for controls projects and initiatives
• Develop and implement project controls and monitoring procedures to ensure the achievement of project scope, schedule, and cost objectives
• Collaborate with planning, engineering, technology, project management, accounting, controls and finance teams regarding project controls processes, procedures, and tools
• Participation and facilitation in cost management and prioritization for projects and initiatives
• Collect, build, and analyze project cost and time data to establish a baseline of information and communicate variances, and support reporting information
• Provide quality assessments and overview of compliance with project management methodologies to ensure reduction in delivery risk, ensure successful implementation/construction, and transition to operations
• Develop and produce reports to keep project, program, controls team and management informed on project progress; examples of reports may include labor productivity, schedule status, financial analysis, cost performance, and earned value curves and reports on either direct or indirect activities
• Benchmark, analyze, and measure the effectiveness of existing business processes and metrics in order to develop sustainable, repeatable and quantifiable process improvements
• Research and analyze information to provide management with the tools to develop effective strategies, allocate resources, prioritize projects, utilize personnel, develop organizational structures, and manage resources
• Conduct complex cost-benefit, labor, economic, financial, and systems analyses, identify trends, evaluate data, formulate innovative plans, prepare and deliver reports, and expertly present information to key stakeholders internal and external to the organization
• Support identification of risks that may affect project costs and schedules

Who you are...

• Bachelor's degree in Cost Management, Construction Management, Engineering, Project Management, Finance, Accounting, or a related field is highly preferred
• Years of demonstratable experience in cost engineering and planning/scheduling within a construction and engineering environment
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered in lieu of the experience requirement
• Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is preferred
• Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International (AACEi) certifications are preferred
  

We are also looking for the following skills and experience:

• High emotional intelligence and ability to lead others through positive influence and persuasion regarding policies, processes, practices, and procedures
• Possess technical and practical application of engineering, procurement, and construction functions
• Expert knowledge of tools to assist with performing duties, with software such as a PM SaaS tool, Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), Microsoft products such as Excel, Word, Teams, Power BI. Knowledge of Microsoft Project and/or Oracle Primavera Project Planner (P6) is a plus
• Exercise sound independent and professional judgment in solving problems and coordinating issues with management, colleagues, and vendors
• Excellent written and verbal communication and negotiation skills

*Selected candidate must have a valid, unrestricted driver's license, as you may be traveling to project sites.

What this opportunity offers...the chance to collaborate with team personnel to develop and support the consistent use of project delivery tools, processes, and procedures. As a member of SPP, you will be part of a team that plans and delivers projects and programs that serve the natural gas, electric, water, wastewater, and technology needs of the Colorado Springs community. Our team of dedicated professionals assists in meeting the needs of our citizens and organization by ensuring infrastructure assets are delivered efficiently through their project lifecycle with the effective application of project controls skills, tools, and systems. Come be part of a team making a difference in the lives of our customers every day! Our people are the heart and soul of our company.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (1/3 of the time), and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, or pull objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary only if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other criteria are met.
• Positions in this class typically require reaching, standing, walking, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

Our Commitment to Our Employees…
Our people are the heart and soul of Colorado Springs Utilities. They keep the lights on, gas flowing, water coming in, and wastewater leaving. We don't just say people are important – we prove it! That’s why we are honored to invest in protecting the health and financial security of our employees and their families through our rich benefits program.

Time Off to Recharge

• Vacation – Start with 13 days annually, increasing to 24 days with tenure
• Personal Leave –3 days per year
• Paid Holidays –12 paid holidays per year
• Sick Leave – 12 days per year for personal or family health needs
• Vacation Buy – Option to purchase up to 40 additional hours annually

Health & Wellness – Benefits elected are effective the first of the following month

• Medical Plans: Three comprehensive options, including a $0 premium High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with Health Savings Account (HSA) eligibility
• Zero Health: Access to hundreds of medical services at no cost
• Dental & Vision: Two dental plans and one vision plan
• Family Building-Benefits: Support for fertility, preservation, adoption, and surrogacy
• Wellness Program: A voluntary program that rewards you for prioritizing self-care! If you're enrolled in a our medical plan, you and your spouse can earn up to $600 in HRA or HSA contributions by completing healthy activities
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Pre-tax contributions for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Health Savings Account (HSA): Available with HDHP

Financial & Retirement Security

• Pension Plan: Colorado PERA provides retirement benefits and peace of mind
• Supplemental Retirement Plans: PERAPlus 401(k), MissionSquare Roth IRA, and 457 plans
• Disability Coverage: Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance available
• Life Insurance: Employer-paid coverage with optional supplemental plans

Additional Support

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support for mental health, stress, legal, financial, and work-life balance
• Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $5,250 annually to support continued education
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: As a qualifying employer, your student loan payments may be eligible for loan forgiveness