Project Controls - AI

Summary

The Project Controls role serves as the subject matter expert for project controls within the subsidiary, responsible for providing oversight, guidance, and independent review of project management practices and project financial performance. This role ensures consistency, accuracy, and discipline in project controls, including cost management, forecasting, reporting, and adherence to contractual requirements.

The position works closely with Project Managers and operational leadership to review project data, challenge assumptions, identify risks, and improve overall project performance. While not directly responsible for project execution, this role provides critical oversight and accountability to ensure projects are managed in alignment with company expectations and industry best practices.

This is a highly collaborative role that operates across project teams, finance, and leadership, strengthening controls, reinforcing standards, and driving improved visibility and decision-making.

The salary range for this position is $86,189-$144,228 per year.

This position comes with a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, a 401(k) plan with a 3% match, paid time off (PTO), and company-paid holidays. 

Please Note: This posting is intended to build our talent pool for future opportunities.  Although there is not an immediate opening for this position, applications will be kept on file and reviewed when opportunities become available.

This position is telecommute eligible. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (including but not limited to)

• Serve as the subject matter expert for project controls, including planning, scheduling, cost management, forecasting, and reporting.
• Review and assess project budgets, forecasts, Estimate at Completion (EAC), and Estimate to Complete (ETC) for accuracy, completeness, and reasonableness.
• Validate project financial and operational reporting, including cost tracking, revenue recognition, and progress measurement.
• Review and evaluate project schedules (e.g., CPM schedules), ensuring alignment with scope, sequencing, and contractual requirements.
• Identify variances, trends, and risks across cost, schedule, and performance, and provide actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Provide independent oversight of project performance, ensuring adherence to established processes, controls, and contract requirements.
• Challenge assumptions, forecasts, schedules, and reporting presented by project teams to ensure realistic and supportable projections.
• Support project startup through review of project setup, cost structures, work breakdown structures, and reporting frameworks.
• Partner with Project Managers to strengthen schedule discipline, forecasting accuracy, and overall project controls practices.
• Provide focused oversight on complex, high-risk, or high-visibility projects, including recovery planning and risk mitigation strategies.
• Support change management processes, including evaluation of impacts to cost, schedule, and overall project performance.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of project controls processes, tools, and reporting practices within the subsidiary.
• Drive consistency in project controls practices through reinforcement, coaching, and alignment with established standards.
• Identify gaps in project controls execution and recommend improvements to strengthen operational performance and predictability.
• Develop and maintain reporting that provides leadership with visibility into project financial health, risks, and trends.
• Coordinate with Finance and Shared Services to ensure alignment in reporting, forecasting, and financial data.
• Provide leadership with analysis, insights, and recommendations to support informed decision-making.
• Maintain clear communication with project teams, operations, and executive leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Supervision

May provide functional guidance and oversight to project teams or project controls staff; no direct supervisory responsibility required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business Administration, Finance, or related field.
  • Equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible project controls or project financial management experience on a one-to-one basis.
• Ten (10) years of experience in project controls, including cost, schedule, and performance management within construction, environmental, or infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a subject matter expert, lead, or advisor in project controls or project performance oversight.
• Strong knowledge of project controls practices, including CPM scheduling, cost management, forecasting, and progress measurement.
• Experience reviewing and validating project schedules, financials, and performance reporting.
• Strong understanding of contract types (e.g., fixed price, cost reimbursable, time and materials) and associated controls.
• Experience working directly with Project Managers and operational leadership in a project-driven environment.
• Proficiency in scheduling and project systems (e.g., Primavera P6, Microsoft Project) and financial/reporting systems.
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting federal government contracting projects and familiarity with applicable regulations.
• Experience supporting complex, multi-project portfolios in construction, environmental, or infrastructure environments.
• Experience developing or improving project controls processes, systems, or reporting frameworks.
• Experience with earned value management (EVM) or advanced project performance metrics.
• Experience working within a multi-entity or shared services organizational structure.
• Experience with data visualization or reporting tools (e.g., Power BI or similar).
• Knowledge and experience within Alaska Native cultures.

Shareholder Preference 

Pursuant to applicable law, preference will be given to qualified Ahtna Native Corporation Shareholders, Descendents, and Spouses in all phases of employment. 

Core Competencies

• Project Controls Expertise – Deep knowledge of cost controls, forecasting, and project financial management.
• Independent Judgment & Oversight – Evaluates and challenges project performance with sound judgment.
• Analytical Thinking – Identifies trends, risks, and opportunities through data analysis. Process Discipline & Improvement – Drives consistency and continuous improvement in practices.
• Business Acumen – Understands financial drivers, contract structures, and operational impacts.
• Collaboration & Influence – Successfully influences without direct authority.
• Communication – Clearly communicates complex information to technical and operational audiences.

Working Environment

Generally, an indoor office environment with frequent interruptions, often noisy, high-paced atmosphere, with tendencies of having an extremely heavy workload.  This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands (including but not limited to)

Frequent sitting for prolonged periods of time, using hands/fingers requiring dexterity and coordination to handle files and single pieces of paper, reaching with hands and arms for items above and below desk level, talking, hearing, and seeing (up close, at a distance, along the periphery, with depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus); walking from place to place within the office with occasional use of stairs and no elevator available; bending, pushing, pulling, and standing for up to 2 hours; occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds such as small office equipment, files, stacks of paper, reference and other materials. 

Work is generally performed in an office setting with the ability to speak and receive phone communications often.  Work requires computer usage with strength, dexterity, coordination, and visual acuity to use keyboard and video display terminal, and other office equipment

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Schedule:   Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm or as business/operational needs dictate

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience, 10 years of project controls experience, project performance oversight expertise, project systems proficiency, and a valid driver's license.

Key Responsibilities

• reviewing project controls
• analyzing project performance
• developing reporting

Skills & Tools

Microsoft Office, Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Power BI

Job Details

• Category: Project and Program Management
• Seniority: Senior Level
• Commitment: Full Time
• Workplace: Remote — Anchorage or Renton or Golden or Monterey or Aiea or Greenacres or United States
• Salary: USD 86,189 – 144,228 / year
• Languages: English

Benefits

• 401k matching
• Generous paid time off
• Retirement plan

About Ahtna

A diversified organization delivering construction, environmental, and infrastructure project services. — Industry: Construction