Project Controls Lead Analyst

Join Energy Northwest as a trusted advisor and strategic partner, delivering expert business consulting services across a diverse portfolio of Capital and O&M projects. In this role, you will champion best practices in planning, scheduling, budgeting, financial analysis, and risk management to ensure projects meet organizational goals and industry standards. Your leadership will drive sound business decisions, foster collaboration, and uphold rigorous financial and schedule controls aligned with GAAP and contractual requirements.

As a key member of the Project Controls team, you will provide oversight and guidance on Earned Value Management (EVM), develop and monitor project cost schedules, and deliver actionable insights through variance analysis and performance reporting. You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping long-range plans, mentoring staff, and enhancing processes to optimize efficiency and accountability. This is an opportunity to influence high-impact projects, work closely with senior leaders, and contribute to the success of a mission-driven organization committed to excellence in energy solutions.

GENERAL SUMMARY

Serve as a trusted advisor by providing business consulting services to designated project groups for a broad range of both Capital and Operation & Maintenance (O&M) projects. Promote sound business decisions and best practices in the areas of planning, scheduling, budgeting, financial analysis, schedule/cost control, and effective risk management is support of Energy Northwest business requirements. Monitor customer business processes and project performance to ensure sound business and financial controls are instituted. Ensure that budget, cost, and schedule practices conform with generally accepted accounting principles, industry standards, and contractual requirements.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Responsible for leading with minimal supervision the development, coordination, tracking and execution, to include:

• Provide Project Controls oversight of assigned Capital and O&M projects and adhere to Earned Value Management (EVM) principles.
• Regular and proactive collaboration within the department and external customers
• Provide technical direction and support to project managers through regular touchbase meetings.
• Develop project cost schedule using project cost estimates and project manager input using available tools and processes.
• Monitor project performance against the baseline schedule by analyzing variances and trends.
• Provide monthly analysis and financial summaries to supported managers and Corporate Finance.
• Develop recommendations for corrective actions to project managers to recover cost and schedule deviations back to the established baseline schedule.
• Recommend changes to the Long-Range Plan based on current project performance and lessons learned through project controls.
• Ensure identified risks and opportunities are tracked and monitored using the appropriate tools.
• Understand and process approved project baseline changes following the change management process.
• Process monthly journal entries into the financial system.
• Assist with the onboarding and training of new Project Controls staff.
• Review journal entries for accuracy prior to posting in the financial system.
• Review baseline changes to ensure adherence to Project Controls procedures and practices.
• Maintain Project Controls P6 schedule layouts.
• Provide Project Controls and EVM initial and refresher training to project managers and project supervision.
• Providing coaching and feedback to Project Controls Analysts and reinforce standards and expectations for both EN and Project Controls.
• Review variance explanations to ensure alignment with Project Controls standards and expectations.
• Coordinate and facilitate monthly Project Status Report (PSR) review meetings with supported project groups.
• Identify and propose changes and or improvements to Project Controls processes.

Perform any special assignments and exhibit leadership qualities and demonstrate proficiencies using gained knowledge through experience and education.

Participation on the Emergency Response Organization (ERO) when designated. And support the biennial refueling outage.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and 10 years of industrial level experience working with financial/accounting/budgeting/risk position, preferably within a large company or profit center,

• OR an AA degree and 12 years of industrial level experience working with financial/accounting/budgeting/risk position, preferably within a large company or profit center,

• OR a High school diploma or GED and 14 years of industrial level experience working with financial/accounting/budgeting/risk position, preferably within a large company or profit center.

Pay Range

Midpoint:

Typically, selected candidates are hired between the minimum and midpoint of the range, based on applicable experience and qualifications, market rate, internal equity, and budgetary allowances.

Offers will be negotiated based on each candidate's qualifications.

Incentive Compensation

This role may be eligible to participate in our annual incentive plan. Incentives are earned based on employee performance against defined metrics and company goals.

Benefits

Energy Northwest (EN) provides a phenomenal benefits package. Washington State also has no state income tax, and the Tri-Cities provides a cost-of-living lower than the national average.

EN offers substantial retirement benefits through three retirement programs including the Washington State Public Employees' Retirement System pension plan (PERS), a 401(k) savings plan with an employer match component, and a 457(b) savings plan. EN also offers multiple options for medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance coverage. Other voluntary benefits may include flexible spending accounts (FSAs), tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment, childcare subsides, health reimbursement arrangement (HRA VEBA), health savings account (HSA), supplemental life insurances, credit monitoring/identity theft insurance, and more! Qualifying employees will typically start a personal time accrual rate of 160 hours per year and EN provides nine paid holidays throughout the Calander year; personal time accruals grow significantly at various service intervals.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate due to race, color, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, national origin, veteran status or on the basis of disability.

EEO is the law, click here to learn more.