Capital Projects Cost Controls Engineer

Capital Projects Cost Controls Engineer

Location: Defiance, OH (Onsite)
Employment Type: Contract (Hourly)
Schedule: 40 hours/week; overtime as approved
Duration: Contract, estimated start 4Q 2025 through 2026

About the role

As a core member of the Project Controls organization, you will report directly to the Project Controls Manager and be embedded onsite to support active construction and capital improvement work. Your focus: disciplined cost control, rigorous change management, precise forecasting, and seamless contractor coordination that keeps complex projects on budget and on track.

A day in the life

• Walk the site with a safety-first mindset, then sync with contractors to surface emerging changes early.
• Receive, develop, and track Field Change Requests (FCRs); validate scope alignment and assemble supporting documentation.
• Lead weekly contractor sessions to review and negotiate Field Change Notices (FCNs) and secure approvals.
• Summarize approved FCNs by contractor and work with Procurement to issue formal change orders.
• Review invoices against executed contracts and approved FCRs; perform onsite verification as needed.
• Build monthly cost reports, update contract summaries, and feed contractor forecasts with evidence-based inputs.
• Create, maintain, and report Earned Value Management (EVM) metrics for assigned contracts.
• Track cash flow across capital and expense budgets, pinpointing and explaining variances.
• Review the master project schedule and contractor schedules to flag cost/schedule linkages.
• Support contract closeout, complete vendor/contractor documentation, and apply back charges when required.
• Lead contractor performance evaluations with the broader project team.

What you'll deliver

• Trusted cost governance through accurate tracking, analysis, and reporting.
• Transparent change control from FCR intake to FCN approval and change order issuance.
• Clear explanations of monthly variances and defensible forecasts to guide decision-making.
• Complete, audit-ready contract files from kickoff through closeout.

What you bring

• Strong grounding in project controls and cost engineering practices.
• Hands-on experience with field change management, cost reporting, forecasting, and contract administration.
• Analytical rigor paired with excellent organization and problem-solving abilities.
• Advanced communication skills—verbal, written, and presentation.
• Collaborative interpersonal style to work effectively across functions and with contractors.
• Discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Preferred exposure

• Familiarity with paper production equipment and manufacturing environments.
• Experience with Oracle Aconex or similar document control systems.
• Background supporting large capital or industrial construction programs.

Proficiencies

• Project Management
• Construction Management
• Accounts Payable (AP)