Project Controls Mgr; Sawtooth Bridges Replacement

Job Summary

Amtrak is delivering one of the most significant and complex rail infrastructure programs in the nation — the multi-phased Sawtooth Bridges Replacement Program, delivered through a CMAR model and consisting of major bridge replacements, heavy civil works, and integrated rail systems.

The Principal Project Manager – Project Controls is responsible for planning, directing, and executing all program-level cost control, forecasting, schedule oversight, performance reporting, and document management activities. This role functions as the program’s central controls authority, ensuring that leadership receives accurate, timely, and actionable information that supports strategic decision-making.

Operating with minimal oversight from senior program leadership, the Principal PM leads the integrated PM/CM controls team (consultants and Amtrak staff) and ensures alignment between all project controls disciplines—cost, schedule, risk, change, contingency, reporting, document management, and financial compliance. The role is accountable for the uniform implementation of Amtrak standards, industry best practices, and program-specific requirements.

• Lead development, maintenance, and validation of program cost forecasts, budget updates, and monthly/quarterly financial reporting.
• Manage cost activities, including estimate reviews, variance analysis, earned value, budget transfers, and contingency drawdown.
• Oversee program cost and forecasting models to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and timely reporting to internal and external stakeholders.
• Support preparation of the Annual Operating Plan, ensuring alignment with the 5-year strategic plan and funding requirements.
• Ensure quality, accuracy, and completeness of all program control artifacts submitted to Amtrak, FRA, NJ TRANSIT, and other partners.
• Oversee master program schedules and integrated construction schedules; validate baseline updates, logic, sequencing and risk impacts.
• Coordinate with PM/CM teams to monitor schedule progress, identify delays, assess critical path impacts, and develop recovery recommendations.
• Ensure schedule reporting aligns with Amtrak requirements and third-party obligations.
• Ensure compliance with Amtrak project management standards and policies, third-party requirements, industry best practices, and program-specific requirements in the delivery of the programs control functions.
• Support formal change management processes, validating cost, schedule, and risk impacts for proposed changes.
• Coordinate with risk management teams to integrate risk exposure into cost and schedule forecasts.
• Oversee the full document control lifecycle, ensuring accuracy, integrity, archiving compliance, and workflow efficiency.
• Lead PM/CM controls staff in managing submittals, RFIs, transmittals, and document workflows.
• Ensure adherence to Amtrak’s systems-of-record (SharePoint, EPPM, Procore, AIMS, SAP).
• Support leadership in preparing briefing packages for Amtrak executives, FRA representatives, grant partners, and external stakeholders.
• Provide expert guidance to the Project Director on cost, schedule, and performance issues requiring attention or intervention.
• Champion best practices, process improvement, and consistency across project control functions.
• Perform additional tasks as assigned to support program delivery.

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education, training and/or relevant experience.
• Plus 7 years of relevant work experience.

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education, training and/or relevant experience.
• Plus 9 years of relevant work experience.

• Experience supporting mega projects or large capital programs with multiple packages.
• Demonstrated ability to produce monthly/quarterly archiving deliverables, performance reports, and compliance documentation for capital delivery and federal partners.
• Strong skills in cost forecasting, schedule analysis, earned value, and KPI reporting.
• Ability to synthesize complex data for clear communication to leadership, partners, and non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing performance metrics and validating data accuracy.
• Strong organizational, communication, and cross-team coordination skills.
• Proficiency in SharePoint, SAP, Power BI, Maximo, EPPM, Procore, and related tools

Preferred:

• Background in project management and/or project controls.
• Experience with railroad, heavy civil, or bridge mega projects.
• Ability to analyze technical information and communicate to a nontechnical audience
• Knowledge of contracts and contract administration
• Advanced Excel and data analytics capabilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication across all levels of the organization.