About the position

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow? A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for. This position is based in Minneapolis, MN 55401 on a hybrid (3 days per week in office) work schedule. It can be hired at Level I, II, or Senior, depending on candidates' overall experience, qualifications, background, and interview results. Regional Project Control Specialist (Level I) Annual Base Salary Range \$62,500 - \$88,766 Position Summary This position is responsible for supporting management by executing schedule, cost, or work order creation for capital projects. Coordinates with project stakeholders to obtain regular updates. Assists the Project Managers in providing more accurate forecasting of project expenditures. Regional Project Control Specialist (Level II) Annual Base Salary Range \$71,900 - \$102,100 Position Summary This position is responsible for the development and analysis of cost analysis reports, development and analysis of project schedules, support for project lifecycle execution or a combination thereof on organizationally strategic projects. Coordinate with Project Managers to assemble the budget and forecast data to provide integrated reporting. Supports initial and on-going project set up in the work and asset management system. Advise and assist in the initial development of financial work breakdown structure, accounting, estimating, and reporting. Advise and assist in the development of the schedule work breakdown structure, resource loading & profiles, and adherence to organizational performance index. Functional integration of schedule and financial software. Assists department leads with creation and coordination of short- and long-term work profiles. Provides regional training and mentoring to various stakeholders and project control personnel as a subject matter expert. Regional Project Control Specialist (Senior Level) Annual Base Salary Range \$82,800 - \$117,600 Position Summary This position is responsible for developing and promoting department standards for project controls practices. Advises and assists in the initial development of project control methods for large projects including work breakdown structure, accounting, scheduling, estimating, and reporting. Provides direction to various project personnel and project controls specialists as needed to prepare project schedules, project tracking methods, Cost Activity Reports and project metrics for effective project management.

Responsibilities

• Creates capital projects schedules and interviews Project Managers to validate project scope inclusion in schedule.
• Defines critical path and validates that the project schedule is aligned with the project cash flow.
• Provides project Cost Analysis Reports, reporting to management, and other project controls services as requested.
• Execution of work orders per corporate standards with-in the corporate ERP platform.
• Demonstrates super user capabilities with the Online Project Management or ERP system.
• Provides Project Management with individual, plant and regional reporting on a regular basis.
• Promotes Project Office concept and communicates and establishes the Project Controls function with the Project Office.
• Understands, demonstrates, and communicates the use of Work Breakdown Structures in project control.
• Understands and applies project controls metrics, including but not limited to Earned Value Analysis, Cost Performance Index and Schedule Performance Index or work-flow auditing.
• Facilitates continuous improvement towards business area KPI targets.
• Incorporates the six-step process into all capital project schedules.
• Expands schedule detail as needed.
• Recommends resources as needed for additional project schedule and cost development.
• Supports the Project Managers with standardized reporting for regional capital project stakeholders regarding project level business area capital expenditures.
• Establishes, implements and monitors the availability, accuracy and usefulness of project cost analysis reports and key performance indicators for use at the individual project level up to executive management.
• Develop, maintain and promote project schedules as a project management tool.
• Progressively elaborate schedule details to identify critical path.
• Support Project Managers by assessing the reporting of work progress against the project baseline.
• Maintain subject matter expert proficiency of the corporate tool and knowledge of industry standard software tools.
• Assists Project Managers and other project personnel in preparing project Cost Analysis Reports and various cost analyses.
• Facilitate execution of strategic projects for all aspects of project cost controls.
• Understands, demonstrates and communicates the use of Work Breakdown Structures in project cost control.
• Responsible for understanding and integrating capital cost reporting tools and applications, including the Work and Asset Management System.
• Demonstrates super-user capabilities with the Work and Asset Management System, and other financial systems.
• Works in conjunction with Capital Project Analyst, Capital Asset Accounting, Tax, Regulatory finance and other areas of Xcel Energy and the business area to facilitate integration of financial aspects and impacts for Capital Projects.
• Understands Sarbanes Oxley key controls and provides and reporting and tracking for all key controls applicable to a capital project.
• Provides training for internal and external stakeholders on process and function within the overall project management process.
• Provides mentoring on the work and asset management system and/or scheduling software in relation to execution, control, analysis and reporting.
• Provides training for project personnel regarding project controls and its function within the overall six step project management process.
• Provides direction to less experienced project controls personnel to plan and schedule assigned projects.
• Assists Project Managers and other personnel in preparing project related reports, schedules, and cost analysis.
• Initial setup of large projects for all aspects of project controls.
• Promotes the Project Office concept and communicates and establishes the Project Controls function within the Project Office.
• Maintains a thorough, current knowledge of new and innovative techniques in the project planning, scheduling, and cost estimating fields.
• Represents the department in meetings and in efforts to promote standard project practices throughout the business area.
• Provides ongoing support for the optimal performance of the Online Project Management System.
• Demonstrates super user capabilities with the Online Project Management System
• Provides detailed tracking and reporting of project control metrics including Earned Value, Cost Performance Index, Schedule Performance Index, project costs to date, cost variance, schedule variance and resource allocation and utilization.
• Performs resource leveling analyses as required.
• Establishes Work Breakdown Structure standards in conjunction with Sr. Specialist, Project Cost Controls.
• Provides project controls individual and group training.

Requirements

• Associates Degree in engineering, construction, finance, or related field and/or three (3+) years of relevant experience with the use of scheduling software or cost control tools.
• Practical knowledge and experience in overall project scheduling and reporting methods.
• Detailed knowledge of project planning and execution methods and practices.
• Comprehensive understanding of company policies, procedures and financial obligations that would apply to projects.
• Expert in standard server software applications such as e-mail, spreadsheet, word processing, database, as well as scheduling applications.
• BS/BA Degree in Construction Management, Business, Finance or technical field (or a combination of education and experience providing equivalent knowledge) and relevant experience with project planning, cost estimating, scheduling, forecasting and financial analysis.
• 5+ years related project controls experience.
• Practical knowledge of overall project control, estimating, and reporting methods.
• Expert level knowledge of one or highly proficient in both: Cost control for application in project cost estimating, organization, and control. Scheduling for project planning and monitoring/control methods and practices.
• Comprehensive understanding of company policies, procedures and financial obligations that would apply to projects.
• Proficient in standard server software applications such as e-mail, spreadsheet, word processing, database, as well as scheduling and cost estimating software applications.
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university, or equivalent relevant experience with knowledge of project planning, scheduling and cost estimating techniques.
• 10+ years related experience.
• Practical knowledge of overall project control, estimating, and reporting methods and working knowledge scheduling and cost control for application in project cost estimating, organization, and control.
• Detailed knowledge of project planning, scheduling, and monitoring/control methods and practices.
• Comprehensive understanding of company policies, procedures and financial obligations that would apply to projects.
• Expert in standard server software applications such as e-mail, spreadsheet, word processing, database, as well as scheduling and cost estimating software applications.

Nice-to-haves

• Preferred past experience with Enterprise based scheduling tool, Project & Portfolio Management tool, Business Objects and SAP software programs is desirable.
• Preferred: Professional certification through PMI, ASCE, or other accredited organization.
• Past experience with software tool development for project management desirable.

Benefits

• Annual Incentive Program
• Medical/Pharmacy Plan
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
• Health Care Reimbursement Account
• Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA)
• Transportation Reimbursement Account
• Short-term disability (STD)
• Long-term disability (LTD)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transit programs
• Employee recognition program
• Pension
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO)
• Parental Leave Benefit