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Project Controls Specialist Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

STV

Senior Project Controls Specialist

Fairfax, VA

$128K - $146K/yr

STV is seeking a Senior Project Controls Specialist to support the Project Controls Department in our Fairfax, VA / Washington, DC region offices. This role is designed for a highly experienced ...

Dar Group

Senior Project Controls Specialist

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$150K - $180K/yr

Job Summary We are seeking a Senior Project Controls Specialist (Scheduler) to work for our PMCM group on various rail/transit CMCI projects. The candidate will support projects with clients such as ...

Dar Group

Senior Project Controls Specialist

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$150K - $180K/yr

Job Summary We are seeking a Senior Project Controls Specialist (Scheduler) to work for our PMCM group on various rail/transit CMCI projects. The candidate will support projects with clients such as ...

Stantec

Program Controls Specialist

Washington, DC · On-site

We are strategizing, planning, and implementing projects that help clients achieve their ... Your Opportunity We are currently looking to add a Program Controls Specialist to support program ...

Sol Systems

Project Controls

Washington, DC · On-site

$130K - $140K/yr

Sol Systems is seeking a full-time Project Controls member who will analyze, evaluate, and create internal projections for contractor project schedules during a project's construction phase. The role ...

Sol Systems

Project Controls

Washington, DC · Hybrid

$130K - $140K/yr

Sol Systems is seeking a full-time Project Controls member who will analyze, evaluate, and create internal projections for contractor project schedules during a project's construction phase. The role ...

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All JobsProject Controls Specialist JobsProject Controls Specialist Jobs in Washington

Project Controls Specialist information

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How much do project controls specialist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for project controls specialist in Washington is $49.65, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $40.82 and $57.74 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a project controls specialist?

Project Controls Specialists are professionals who monitor, analyze, and report on various aspects of project performance, such as cost, schedule, and risk. They play a key role in ensuring that projects are completed on time and within budget by providing accurate data and forecasts to project managers and stakeholders. Their responsibilities typically include developing project schedules, tracking progress, managing budgets, and identifying potential issues before they impact project delivery. Project Controls Specialists often work in industries like construction, engineering, and energy, where large-scale projects require close oversight.

What does a project controls specialist do?

As a project controls specialist, you track employee performance during a project and support all managers involved with this project. In this role, you may report any problems with the project, help ensure the schedule and budget match the objectives of the project, and otherwise ensure operations conform to the plan. This is often an intermediate managerial role that works directly below the primary project manager, but above the employees who are doing most of the actual work on the project. Most project control specialists focus on large, complex projects, and may help with several different projects at the same time.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a project controls specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Project Controls Specialist, you need expertise in project management, cost control, scheduling, and data analysis, typically supported by a degree in engineering, construction management, or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Primavera P6, MS Project, and Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS), as well as relevant certifications such as PMP or AACE, is highly valuable. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills distinguish top performers in this role. These skills ensure projects remain on track, within budget, and risks are proactively managed for successful project delivery.

What are some common challenges faced by project controls specialists when managing large-scale projects?

Project Controls Specialists often encounter challenges such as integrating data from multiple sources, maintaining up-to-date project schedules, and ensuring cost control across various project phases. Managing communication between different departments and adapting to frequent changes in project scope or timelines are also common hurdles. Proactively addressing these issues requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective collaboration with project managers, engineers, and stakeholders.

What is the difference between Project Controls Specialist vs Cost Analyst?

AspectProject Controls SpecialistCost Analyst
CredentialsPM certifications, industry-specific trainingFinance or accounting certifications, such as CPA or CMA
Work EnvironmentConstruction, engineering, or infrastructure projectsCorporate finance, manufacturing, or government agencies
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in project-driven industries like construction and engineeringCommon in finance, manufacturing, and government sectors

While both roles involve financial and project data, a Project Controls Specialist focuses on overall project scheduling, risk management, and performance tracking, whereas a Cost Analyst primarily analyzes project costs and budgets. The roles often overlap but differ in scope and focus, with the Project Controls Specialist managing broader project controls and the Cost Analyst concentrating on cost specifics.

Is project controls a good career?

Project controls is a valuable career path that involves planning, scheduling, cost management, and risk analysis to ensure project success. Professionals in this field often use tools like Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project and may pursue certifications such as PMI-SP or AACE certifications. It offers opportunities across industries like construction, engineering, and manufacturing with a focus on analytical skills and attention to detail.
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Project Controls Specialist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Project Controls Specialist job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,269 per year, or $49.6 per hour.

Project Controls Specialist

Mclean, VA • On-site

American Real Estate Partners LLC
Real Estate • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about American Real Estate Partners LLCexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

Headquartered in the Greater Washington area, American Real Estate Partners (AREP) is a US-based leading institutional fund manager and real estate partner with over $13 billion deployed across key U.S. markets. Specializing in data center, residential, industrial, and office assets, AREP has acquired more than 34 million square feet of Class A real estate and currently manages over 25 million square feet.
PowerHouse Data Centers, a wholly owned division of AREP, is a developer and owner of next-generation data centers and provides technical real estate solutions for hyperscalers across the country. Backed by strategic joint venture partnerships, PowerHouse leverages its proven leadership and best-in-class technical expertise to deliver innovative real estate solutions.
Position Summary
The Project Controls Specialist (PCS) is responsible for the full financial and schedule reporting package for an assigned project or project set, serving as the primary point of contact for its data integrity. Working independently within that scope, the Specialist keeps operational data accurate, synchronized, and actionable across Project Management, Project Accounting, and project leadership. The Specialist synthesizes cost and schedule data to identify emerging risk before it becomes variance, develops and maintains the primary financial inputs that drive the Project Team dashboards, and informally guides team members on tools and reporting standards.
The Project Controls Specialist reports to the Program Manager, Technical Operations and has a hybrid work schedule of 4 days a week in-office and 1 day remote opportunity at HQ in McLean, VA.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Forward-Looking Cost Controls
    • Independently lead the generation and maintenance of complex project budgets, multi-year forecasts, and draw schedules in collaboration with Project Directors, optimizing capital deployment and tracking across the assigned project or project set.
    • Develop and standardize proactive financial reports, including advanced Estimate-to-Complete (ETC) and Estimate-at-Complete (EAC) analyses and scenario-based S-Curve modeling, to predict and mitigate potential budget variances.
    • Conduct and present variance analysis (Actual vs. Budgeted vs. Projected vs. Planned) directly to Project Directors, providing clear, actionable financial health narratives for the assigned project or project set.
    • Serve as the primary liaison and system owner for Finance and Accounting, ensuring data integrity across enterprise systems, including Northspyre and Oracle Primavera Cloud, to support strategic decision-making.
  • Contracts and Change Management
    • Lead the financial validation and processing of complex change orders and high-value invoices, guaranteeing all commitments align with contractual benchmarks and project logic.
    • Manage the end-to-end change control process, implementing best practices to mitigate scope creep and ensuring every financial adjustment is meticulously documented and integrated into the broader portfolio forecast and business plan.
    • Directly manage the project contract ledger, ensuring strict compliance in tracking lien waivers and retention to satisfy rigorous joint venture and financing requirements.
    • Lead the preparation and submission of project documentation required for quarterly audit compliance and specialized tax structures.
  • Schedule Controls and Executive Reporting
    • Collaborate closely with the Director of Scheduling to oversee the integrity of the Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) within Oracle Primavera Cloud (OPC), analyzing schedule performance index (SPI) data to inform executive-level decision-making.
    • Design, develop, and maintain executive reporting frameworks and dashboards that provide high-fidelity, predictive visibility into project risks, milestones, critical path items, and workforce constraints.
    • Support the standardization of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) across all active and upcoming projects in the portfolio to ensure consistency and comparability.

Key Qualifications & Competencies
  • Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Finance, Engineering, related field or additional significant relevant working experience in lieu of degree. Candidates with Master's degree are strongly encouraged to apply.
  • 5+ years of progressive experience in project controls, project accounting, or project management, with a focus on major capital projects.
  • Demonstrated experience independently managing budgets and complex schedules for major-scale industrial, infrastructure, or data center projects is required.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (especially financial modeling in Excel) and working proficiency with enterprise project controls software.
  • Demonstrated working proficiency with Oracle Primavera Cloud (OPC) or P6 is required.
  • Reputation, Relationships & Stakeholder Trust: Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships across cross-functional teams, acting as a trusted point of contact for both technical project leads and financial partners.
  • Communication & Influence: Ability to synthesize project data into a concise narrative and present variance analysis and RAID updates directly to Project Directors.
  • Technical & Functional Expertise: Working mastery and demonstrated use of industry-standard project management and accounting tools, with a focus on Northspyre and Oracle Primavera Cloud (OPC) or P6.
  • Agility & Adaptability: Proven ability to manage competing, high-priority deadlines and complex financial models across the assigned project or project set.
  • Communication Style: Clear, professional communication and presentation style that prioritizes transparency, accuracy, and organizational alignment.

Benefits & Compensation
We believe our success begins with yours.
We offer a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your eligible family members, Paid Time Off (PTO), a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), life and supplemental life insurance, and short- and long-term disability insurance. Our package also includes a 401(k) plan with an employer match, Employee Assistance Program, an Employee Discount Program, and Financial Wellness Service.
Offered base salary will be determined based on qualifications, relevant experience, geography, and scope of the role at the time of hire. This position may be eligible for an annual bonus. We welcome the opportunity to discuss a salary range higher or lower than the range posted, depending on a candidate's specific skills, experience, and qualifications.
Anticipated Base Salary Range
$130,000-$150,000 USD
AREP offers a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your eligible family members, a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), life and supplemental life insurance and short and long-term disability insurance. Our package includes Paid Time Off, Parental Leave, 401(k) plan with employer match, Employee Assistance Program and Employee Discount Program.
AREP is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, as well as any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
If you require special accommodation, please email HR@americanrepartners.com.
AREP does not accept unsolicited resumes or identifiable candidate information from third-party recruiters. Any unsolicited information will not be considered for engagement purposes.

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