Cost controller Jobs in Ottawa, ON

Job Description

Reporting to the Project Controls Lead, the Project Controls Specialist owns the integrated project controls function — uniting cost control and planning/scheduling into a single, coherent view of project performance. The successful candidate will maintain the cost-loaded master schedule, manage budgets and forecasting, apply Earned Value Management (EVM) across both cost and schedule, and translate complex data into clear, actionable insight for project leadership and stakeholders. Working in collaborative and Integrated Project Delivery environments, the incumbent partners with Chandos and joint-venture teams, trade partners, commercial, procurement, and finance groups, and owner representatives to proactively mitigate cost and schedule risk in support of safe, on-time, on-budget delivery.

This role supports Chandos’ most complex and nationally significant capital programs. Chandos is supporting the delivery of a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project in the National Capital Region, a large-scale, multi-phase program with complex stakeholder, security, and coordination requirements. Specific project assignment will be confirmed during the recruitment process.

Planning & Scheduling

• Master Schedule Management: Develop, maintain, and manage the integrated master construction schedule in Primavera P6 — logic-tied, cost- and resource-loaded, and reflective of actual field progress and critical-path impacts.
• Schedule Integration: Ensure compliance and execution of sub-trade and partner schedules, directing full integration and coordination across all project schedules, including scope-specific schedules for bid packages.
• Resource & Progress Management: Oversee resource allocation and leveling; validate weekly and monthly progress against baseline and milestones, and develop recovery schedules and mitigation plans as required.
• Collaborative Planning: Contribute to Target Value Design and collaborative (pull / last-planner) planning sessions within IPD and lean delivery environments.

Cost Control

• Cost Engineering & Budget Management: Own budget formulation, cost coding, commitment tracking, and cost-to-complete forecasting, maintaining strict fiscal discipline across the project lifecycle.
• Cash Flow & Forecasting: Develop and maintain cash flow forecasts, contingency and management-reserve tracking, and contingency draw analysis
• Commercial & Procurement Alignment: Interface with commercial, procurement, and finance teams to align commitments, progress billings, subcontractor evaluations, and final forecasting.

Integrated Performance, Change & Risk

• Earned Value Management: Establish and maintain EVM baselines, measure cost and schedule performance (CPI/SPI), analyze variances, and recommend corrective actions.
• Change Management: Assess the cumulative cost and schedule impacts of trends, scope variances, and field changes through the change control process, including delay analysis appropriate to the contract type.
• Risk Analysis: Participate in risk register reviews and quantitative cost and schedule risk assessments to identify and proactively address exposure and bottlenecks.
• Reporting & Analytics: Compile and distribute project controls reports, dashboards, and executive KPIs, translating complex cost and schedule data into clear, actionable insights.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Organize and lead project controls, planning, and scheduling meetings with internal teams, trade partners, and owner representatives
• On-Site Validation: Perform on-site data validation during scheduled on-site rotations to ensure the accuracy and integrity of reported cost and progress.

Qualifications

• Education: Diploma or degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Architectural Technology, Commerce, or a related technical discipline.
• Years of Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in project controls — spanning cost control and planning/scheduling — on large-scale capital construction projects. Candidates with 10+ years will be considered for senior-level responsibilities.
• Professional Certifications: Certified Cost Professional (CCP), Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP), Project Management Professional (PMP), or Gold Seal designations are considered an asset.
• Technical Competencies: Strong command of Earned Value Management (EVM), cost/schedule integration, critical-path scheduling, resource loading and leveling, cost forecasting, cash flow modeling, work breakdown structures (WBS), delay analysis, and quantitative risk analysis.
• Software Knowledge: Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6 and advanced Microsoft Excel for financial modeling; Microsoft Project, Power BI for data visualization, and project cost-management/ERP systems are considered assets.
• Industry Experience: Experience on complex industrial, institutional, government, or heavy-civil projects. Familiarity with Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), alliance, or design-build models is a significant asset; nuclear, defence, or other secure-site experience is highly valued.
• Site Access & Security: Ability to obtain and maintain the site access and security clearance required for the assigned project, including Government of Canada security clearance and/or nuclear site access; Controlled Goods Program registration may be required.
• Communication & Stakeholder Skills: Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to constructively challenge assumptions and present cost and schedule metrics clearly to project, owner, and executive stakeholders.

Work arrangement: This is a hybrid position with a rotational on-site requirement (a minimum of three days on-site OR as required by the client, depending on project assignment), with the balance of time worked remotely. Travel and living allowances are provided to cover boarding and lodging for on-site rotations. On-site periods support cost and progress validation, collaborative planning sessions, and stakeholder coordination; remote periods support analysis, schedule maintenance, forecasting, and reporting

Additional Information

Chandos is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture and this includes our recruitment and hiring process.

We recognize that our differences are our greatest strengths. We uncover talent. We nurture talent. And then we give people the tools they need to use their talent to create a positive impact.

• We are 100% employee owned. Every person who works for Chandos can become an owner. There is only one class of units at Chandos, because we believe everyone should be treated equal. We talk about being an entrepreneurial-minded organization and you can be sure we mean it!
• Competitive wages
• Well rounded employer paid benefits program including health, dental, vision care and employee assistance program
• RRSP matching program to aid and prepare employees for long-term financial security
• Educational assistance for employees who wish to pursue job-performance enhancing education
• Recognition and annual salary reviews program
• Leadership conferences that allow employees to connect and collaborate
• Regular company-wide engagement opportunities

Vacancy Status

We are actively recruiting for this position.

AI Disclosure

Although Chandos’ applicant tracking system has the technical capability to support AI features, our recruitment process does not use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants. All hiring decisions are made by qualified human reviewers.

Compensation Transparency

Expected Salary: $100,000 to $130,000 CAD Annual Salary

The base salary range for this role is listed above and may vary based on your experience.

This position also includes a competitive bonus program. Throughout the interview process, we’ll discuss your background to determine the best alignment for your experience level.