Expert Project Controls Analyst

Requisition ID # 175177 

Job Category: Business Operations / Strategy 

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Energy Delivery

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: Oakland

Department Overview

As a company, we are working to enhance and improve our project delivery and execution on major projects $25 million or more. Major Projects' goal is to continue to establish consistent and robust project management practices and governance across the enterprise enabling breakthrough outcomes in service of our hometowns.​​​​​​​

Position Summary

This job is represented by Engineers and Scientists of California (ESC) subject to collective bargaining.

The Expert Project Controls Analyst demonstrates advanced expertise in Cost Management, Schedule Management, and/or Earned Value Management. This role provides strategic leadership and technical guidance across project controls systems and functions, including the development and implementation of standards and tools. The expert analyst is a recognized authority in proactively identifying opportunities for improvement and applying deep knowledge to resolve complex challenges with minimal oversight.

This role will serve as a lead in one or more of these three key knowledge areas: Cost Management, Schedule Management, and/or Earned Value Management.

PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job.  The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity.

The annual salary range is:

CA Minimum, $143,976

CA Maximum, $179,988

Job Responsibilities

Demonstrates proficiency in the duties and responsibilities of a Senior-level Project Controls Analyst. In addition, performs advanced tasks requiring greater autonomy, strategic oversight, and leadership, including:

• Resolve problems with complex scope. Assignments may require complex solutions. Works independently with limited feedback from supervisors. Expected to apply creative solutions, techniques, and approaches to work assignments. Customarily and regularly use discretion and independent judgment in fulfilling these job functions.
• Assists lower classification of Project Controls Analysts and works with the supervisor. Interacts with Managers and Directors to influence, design, and implement processes. Internal contacts include project team members and company management across various departments. Has specialized technical expertise and provides information and training as appropriate in the assigned specialized area.

Cost Management

• Partner with Business Finance and Program Management to translate strategic objectives into detailed annual budgets and ensure alignment with organizational targets.
• Reconcile forecasts with historical spend and future cost drivers to maintain accuracy and consistency across financial plans.
• Lead monthly and quarterly cost variance reviews, identify root causes for deviations, and present actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Develop dynamic forecasting models incorporating key drivers such as labor, material, and contractor costs; perform scenario analyses to support informed decision-making.
• Design and automate advanced budget tracking dashboards (e.g., Power BI) to visualize spend versus plan in real time.
• Establish standardized datasets and definitions for cost categories, ensuring data integrity and consistency across reporting tools.
• Provide predictive insights using trend analysis and KPIs (e.g., unit cost) to influence investment decisions and optimize resource allocation.

Schedule Management

• Develops tools and provides analysis to ensure accurate, integrated project timelines that drive on-time delivery and resource optimization.
• Review and validate contractor/internal resource schedule submissions for accuracy, baseline integrity, and legitimacy of delay or scope change claims; enforce schedule specifications and standards.
• Integrate contractor schedules into enterprise tools to provide a unified view of project timelines and dependencies.
• Conduct forward-looking schedule analysis to forecast milestone completion, identify risks, and recommend corrective actions to mitigate delays or accelerate progress.
• Establish and enforce schedule quality standards, including logic ties, float analysis, and critical path accuracy, to ensure reliable reporting and decision-making.
• Develop tools to perform schedule change impact analysis, including comparing schedule versions, documenting changes, and assessing implications for project timelines.
• Collaborate with Earned Value Management analysts to link schedule performance metrics (SPI, CPI) with cost and progress indicators for holistic project control.
• Create dashboards and reports that connect schedule trends to resource needs and budget impacts; communicate risks and mitigation strategies to leadership.

Earned Value Management

• Track and analyze key earned value metrics to assess cost and scope performance against annual targets.
• Identify trends and variances in cost and schedule data, forecast year-end outcomes, and highlight risks to compliance with scope and budget.
• Partner with scheduling teams to ensure EV data aligns with contractors and internal schedules for accurate forecasting and milestone tracking.
• Investigate variances between planned and actual performance, providing actionable insights and recovery strategies to leadership.
• Build and automate EV dashboards and scorecards integrating cost, schedule, and scope data for real-time visibility and improved decision-making.
• Communicate complex EV findings in clear, actionable recommendations to support leadership decisions on resource allocation and corrective actions.
• Develop and enforce EVM standards and methodologies, ensuring consistency and compliance across projects.
• Provide predictive insights using EVM data to forecast project completion dates and final costs, influencing strategic planning.

Knowledge / Abilities

Exhibits comprehensive proficiency in all knowledge and skill areas expected of a Senior Project Controls Analyst. In addition, applies advanced skills and expertise in the following areas:

• Demonstrated extensive knowledge and experience across key analyst functions supporting electric, gas, and/or power generation projects. This includes proficiency in schedule and cost development and analysis, data management, financial analysis, project budgeting, cycle forecast monitoring, and financial performance reporting. Proven track record of effectively managing project controls within each functional area of responsibility.
• Applies advanced judgment and experience to independently manage complex assignments, often with limited direction, delivering high-impact results.
• Expert-level proficiency in SAP, MS Excel, Word, or project scheduling tools (e.g., Primavera P6), and reporting platforms.
• Provides leadership, direction, and expert support to project teams, ensuring alignment with objectives and promoting effective execution across schedule, cost, and performance.
• Successfully negotiate cost-effective solutions beneficial to our customers and PG&E.
• Apply extensive knowledge of concepts, principles, and practices in a specific field or area of expertise to resolve complex problems.
• Demonstrates strong technical and communication skills.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• A four (4) year BA or BS Degree from an accredited curriculum in the US or the equivalent from outside the US. See below for experience and in lieu of education.

• Candidates must have relevant experience gained through a minimum of seven (7) years as a project analyst (PCA, Sr. PCA, PMA, Sr. PMA). This includes a mastery of journey and senior job duties and demonstrated knowledge and ability to perform the duties of the expert-level PCA. External hires must have a minimum of eight (8) years of applicable experience.

• Current certification in one of the following:

  • Earned Value Professional (EVP)
  • Project Scheduler Professional (PSP)
  • Certified Cost Professional (CCP)

*In lieu of a four (4) year degree, candidates may qualify with eleven (11) or more years of directly related work experience in areas such as accounting, construction management, project scheduling, or project controls, with responsibilities comparable to those outlined for this role. External hires must have a minimum of thirteen (13) years of applicable experience.