What does a project controls specialist do?
A project controls specialist is responsible for establishing project management procedures to achieve project goals and objectives by following clients' specifications and requirements within the budget limitations and timetable. Project controls specialists implement strategic techniques to mitigate potential project risks and promote maximum productivity by conducting regular meetings to monitor the project's progress. They also coordinate with the clients for the updates, as well as informing them of any plan adjustments. A project controls specialist maintains strict quality control processes to ensure the efficient development of the project for timely deliverables.
Project controls specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real project controls specialist resumes:
- Lead the alliance partners, wearing the GE hat, in the development and integration of the EPC schedule.
- Manage retrofit projects for progressive stamping equipment.
- Review MRP report, verify the demand and place orders.
- Certify FSO responsible for facility security and personnel DOD clearance and security maintenance through JPAS.
- Generate forecast for first period option for project and assist in tracking accruals to produce monthly cost report.
- Reconcile and analyze actual expenditures, perform budget transfers, monitor trend status and maintain continuity of WBS structure.
- Develop overall CPM engineering, procurement and construction master schedule for weekly project coordination meeting with the project team.
- Enter and maintain project data in ERP system, including jobs, milestones, phases, etc for management.
- Ensure consistent integration of scope, schedule, and costs within the reporting systems critical path method (CPM).
- Maintain reporting program records in an organize manner so that adequate documentation is available to support the program's EAC.
- Supervise office manager and payroll administrators with entry of daily time and expenses, WBS verification, and week ending reports.
- Communicate the requirements of customer orders to manufacturing plant through creation and maintenance of electronic sales orders and input into MRP system
- Review subcontractor accruals for accuracy.
- Maintain all system documentation in AutoCAD.
- Implement commodity installation tracking tools providing faster integration of work progress into EAC and dashboard-style progress reporting.
Project controls specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Project Controls Specialists are proficient in Project Controls, Project Management, and Work Breakdown Structure. They’re also known for soft skills such as Business skills, Leadership skills, and Technical skills.
We break down the percentage of Project Controls Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Project Controls, 12%
Increased systemic efficiency and enhanced staff performance by successfully supporting implementation of project control processes, procedures, systems and tools.
- Project Management, 9%
Managed all project documentation (includes: engineering/technical, correspondence, project management) generated by company and by subcontractors.
- Work Breakdown Structure, 6%
Developed work breakdown structures and prepared several presentations to assist in analyzing problems and the development of issue resolution recommendations.
- Primavera P6, 5%
Contributed and assisted with the development of a project schedule utilizing Primavera P6 establishing a Generic Template for the Cryogenic Division.
- Construction Management, 4%
Developed alternate work and recovery schedules as required utilizing Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, HVAC and Instrumentation construction management experience.
- Cost Control, 4%
Performed monthly forecasting, variance and trend analysis reporting to senior management and recommended different measures for cost control.
"project controls," "project management," and "work breakdown structure" are among the most common skills that project controls specialists use at work. You can find even more project controls specialist responsibilities below, including:
Business skills. The most essential soft skill for a project controls specialist to carry out their responsibilities is business skills. This skill is important for the role because "construction managers need to prepare and follow project budgets, hire and manage staff, and coordinate with other workers and managers." Additionally, a project controls specialist resume shows how their duties depend on business skills: "planned and prepared business case to acquire primavera p6 software and was successful in the acquisition and implementation of the software. "
Leadership skills. Many project controls specialist duties rely on leadership skills. "construction managers must effectively delegate tasks to construction workers, subcontractors, and other lower level managers to ensure that projects are completed accurately and on time.," so a project controls specialist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways project controls specialist responsibilities rely on leadership skills: "provide cost management leadership for the construction of a $6 billion ethylene cracker complex. "
Technical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of project controls specialists is technical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday project controls specialist duties, as "construction managers must have an applied knowledge of concepts and practices common in the industry, such as construction technologies, contracts, and technical drawings." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "included interfaces for sap and enovia to swap data concerning tdps (technical data package) and purchase orders. "
The three companies that hire the most project controls specialists are:
- CDM Smith67 project controls specialists jobs
- Fluor Corporation58 project controls specialists jobs
- Burns & McDonnell52 project controls specialists jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable project controls specialist resume templates
Build a professional project controls specialist resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your project controls specialist resume.
Compare different project controls specialists
Project controls specialist vs. Field manager
A field manager is an individual who manages a staff of field representatives that travel to customers' sites to promote their products or services. Field managers must hire new employees and arrange in-house and vendor training programs to ensure they have a full understanding of their responsibilities. They must evaluate all their field employees and generate reports highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each member of the team. Field managers may work in different industries that have outside sales representatives such as pharmaceutical companies, computer repair companies, or HVAC companies.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between project controls specialists and field manager. For instance, project controls specialist responsibilities require skills such as "project controls," "work breakdown structure," "primavera p6," and "construction management." Whereas a field manager is skilled in "minor maintenance," "patients," "customer service," and "medicare." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Field managers tend to make the most money working in the telecommunication industry, where they earn an average salary of $91,615. In contrast, project controls specialists make the biggest average salary, $90,141, in the professional industry.field managers tend to reach lower levels of education than project controls specialists. In fact, field managers are 7.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Project controls specialist vs. Site manager
The tasks of a Site Manager may vary, but the responsibility will always revolve around supervising the construction project and its employees, making sure that the project is completed within the allotted time, budget, and quality. Site Managers are required to have great communication and leadership skills as they are often the ones to engage with the clients and coordinate with the employees. Moreover, It is also the Site Manager's responsibility to ensure the safety of employees, prepare site reports, conduct quality control procedures, assess and solve problems, negotiate contracts, and secure permits needed for the project.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real project controls specialist resumes. While project controls specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "project controls," "work breakdown structure," "primavera p6," and "construction management," site managers use skills like "customer service," "safety procedures," "oversight," and "osha."
Site managers earn a lower average salary than project controls specialists. But site managers earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $88,272. Additionally, project controls specialists earn the highest salaries in the professional with average pay of $90,141 annually.In general, site managers achieve lower levels of education than project controls specialists. They're 5.7% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Project controls specialist vs. Cost engineer
A cost engineer is responsible for projecting cost and expenses reports for the production process, identify and mitigate risks, and develop strategic techniques to reduce the excessive financial loss for project buildings. Cost engineers conduct data and statistical analysis to measure time deliverables and quality checks to ensure profitability and adherence to business objectives. They research and negotiate materials from trusted suppliers and vendors with high-quality products that would meet construction designs and client specifications.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, project controls specialists are more likely to have skills like "primavera p6," "status reports," "project performance," and "powerpoint." But a cost engineer is more likely to have skills like "cost models," "cost reduction," "design changes," and "primavera."
Cost engineers make a very good living in the energy industry with an average annual salary of $101,020. On the other hand, project controls specialists are paid the highest salary in the professional industry, with average annual pay of $90,141.cost engineers typically earn similar educational levels compared to project controls specialists. Specifically, they're 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Project controls specialist vs. Construction manager
A construction manager oversees a construction site and its workers, ensuring efficiency in the workforce and overall operations. They work in an office within the construction site to meet and coordinate with architects, contractors, and clients. They must also hire the required workforce, identify and resolve issues, maintain daily reports and communication with clients, and prioritize a safe work environment. Above all, they must see that all of the required protocols are met, including the target completion time and budget.
Types of project controls specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
