Cost Controls Engineer

At Pioneer Management Consulting, we believe people are at the heart of every successful transformation. We started Pioneer in 2009 with a simple idea: create jobs people love, serve companies we admire, and fund start-ups that are driving innovative good in the world. Built on our three core values; Humble, Hungry, Connected, we deliver world-class consulting with small-town heart and hustle. We are an elite team of problem solvers who unabashedly love business.We partner with clients to solve critical business challenges while fostering environments where individuals and teams can thrive. Team Pioneer brings curiosity, empathy, and expertise to every interaction, ensuring that change is not only implemented but embraced. When you join Pioneer, you become part of a collaborative, supportive community dedicated to making a real difference. We’re a team of moms, dads, coaches, explorers, and creators who do meaningful work together.The Role: Join a cross-utility program team delivering a very large high‑voltage transmission project. You will lead unified cost and schedule governance across three utilities to ensure alignment to the program baseline, maintain the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and consolidated cost baseline, and provide executive‑level visibility into progress, risks, and performance trends.ResponsibilitiesGovernance: Lead unified cost and schedule governance across utility organizations, ensuring consistent application of the program baseline and governance processes.Integrated Master Schedule: Maintain, update, and validate the IMS; link all scope, phasing, and milestone elements to the consolidated schedule.Cost baseline: Maintain and update the consolidated cost baseline; link cost accounts to schedule work packages and phasing.Budgeting & forecasting: Oversee budgeting, monthly forecasting, and variance analysis at both project and program levels.Executive reporting: Produce concise monthly executive reports summarizing progress, key risks, change impacts, and performance trends; present to executive sponsors as required.Cross‑functional coordination: Coordinate with engineering, procurement, construction, project controls, and finance to synchronize cost, schedule, and risk data and assumptions.Change control: Drive change control and impact assessment processes; document and maintain traceability of changes and their cost/schedule consequences across program phases.Templates & setup: Create and deliver a cost control template and related guidance; work within an existing scheduling template and adapt linkages to cost and risk.Risk integration: Ensure schedule and cost risk inputs (contingency, probabilistic analyses) are applied consistently and reflected in forecasts.Quality assurance: Review and validate contractor/vendor schedule and cost submissions for compliance with program baseline and governance standardsDeliverables (examples)Updated IMS with traceable links to scope and cost accounts — delivered monthly.Consolidated cost baseline and monthly forecast package with variance analysis.Cost control template, user instructions, and training materials for PMs and cost owners.Monthly executive dashboard and narrative summarizing status, trends, and recommended actions.Change control register and impact assessment log with traceability to baseline and approvals.Alignment plan for coding structures, reporting cadence, and tools across the three utilities.Required qualificationsTechnical skills: Deep hands‑on experience with IMS maintenance and baseline control; strong cost control and forecasting expertise; ability to link WBS/CBS to schedule logic.Tools: Proven proficiency with industry scheduling and cost tools (e.g., Primavera P6, Asta, MS Project, Oracle/ERP cost modules, Deltek Cobra or equivalent) and Excel for modeling and reporting.Change control & risk: Experience leading formal change-control processes and performing impact assessments; familiarity with probabilistic schedule/cost risk analysis.Stakeholder management: Strong communicator with experience presenting to C‑suite/executive sponsors and aligning cross‑functional teams.Location & logistics: Must be available to work onsite in Minneapolis for periodic program meetings and stakeholder sessions; comfortable coordinating across remote teams.Contract terms & compensationTerm: 12 months (1099 contractor).Location: Minneapolis, MN (onsite presence required periodically).Hours: Full‑time (typical consulting expectation) with flexibility to support executive meetings; ability to work occasional evenings/weekends during major baselines or approvals.Compensation: Competitive market rate for senior project controls consultants; rate commensurate with experience and certifications. Likely between $70-$100/hr, dependent on years, industry, and relevant project experience. Start: Immediate availability preferred.