Lead, Project Controls Analyst (Project Planning & Cost Controls)
Senior project-controls subject-matter expert at real estate fund manager AREP (including its PowerHouse Data Centers division), setting company-wide standards for capital project budgets, ETC/EAC forecasting, change management, and Primavera-based schedules while mentoring junior analysts. Hybrid role based at the McLean, VA HQ.
- Compensation
- $140K–$150K / yr
- Location
- McLean, VA
- Work setup
- Hybrid
- Seniority
- Lead
- Employment
- Contract
- Experience
- 10+ years
- Category
- Project management
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Finance, Engineering, related field, or significant relevant experience in lieu of degree
- 10+ years of progressive experience in project controls, project accounting, or project management, focused on major capital projects
- Expert experience independently managing budgets and complex schedules for major-scale industrial, infrastructure, or data center projects
- Complete mastery of advanced financial modeling in Microsoft Excel
- Administrative mastery of enterprise project controls software
- Expert proficiency with Oracle Primavera Cloud (OPC) or P6
- Ability to act as definitive technical subject-matter expert, providing leadership and mentorship to analysts and cross-functional teams
- Expert ability to synthesize complex, high-volume data sets into concise strategic narratives for executive presentations
- Exceptional, executive-ready communication and presentation style
- Proven ability to manage competing, high-priority deadlines and complex financial models
Nice to have
- Master's degree
Full 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 Lead Project Controls Analyst (Lead PCA) is the authoritative subject-matter expert within Project Controls. The Lead PCA directs the standardization and implementation of project and portfolio-level financial analysis across the organization. This role operates with complete independence, requires no oversight, and is responsible for establishing best practices, providing technical guidance, and serving as the senior analytical bridge among Project Management, Project Accounting, and Executive Leadership. The Lead PCA oversees the most critical and complex capital projects and drives advanced, forward-looking financial strategy, governance, and corporate reporting. The Lead PCA manages the integrity and strategic use of all financial inputs that proactively manage portfolio risks, inform corporate-level decision-making, and mentor junior controls staff.
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
- Direct and govern the process of supporting Project Directors and Project Teams with the generation and maintenance of budgets, multi-year forecasts, and draw schedules, optimizing capital deployment and tracking across the entire portfolio.
- Own the development and standardization of proactive financial reports, including advanced Estimate-to-Complete (ETC) analysis, Estimate-at-Complete (EAC) analysis, and scenario-based S-Curve modeling, establishing portfolio-wide metrics and mitigation standards.
- Review, approve, and present executive-level variance analysis (Actual vs. Budgeted vs. Projected vs. Planned), providing clear, strategic financial health narratives for Leadership.
- Serve as the technical owner and strategist for Project Controls, driving system optimization and data governance within enterprise systems, including Northspyre and Oracle Primavera Cloud, for corporate strategic decision-making.