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Cost Controls Manager

Los Angeles, California, United States

About the Positions

We’re seeking Cost Controls Managers to support large, complex heavy civil infrastructure programs, including highways, roads, bridges, transit (bus and rail), aviation (international airports), and water/wastewater projects delivered through both traditional and alternative delivery methods. You’ll hold the cost position on an assigned program: what the work was budgeted at, what it is forecast to cost now, and what the gap between those two numbers means for funding and delivery decisions. This bank spans managers running cost control on a single program through leaders running the cost function across a portfolio.

This post is for future roles and not for a specific opportunity that is available right now. We accept applications and conduct interviews in advance of upcoming hiring needs. When a candidate is selected, their profile is activated in our talent pool for this specialty area. We notify our talent pool candidates first whenever we have a project need.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Develop and maintain the cost baseline for an assigned program, including budget structure, work breakdown and cost coding, and the change control workflow that keeps the baseline current.
  • Produce monthly cost forecasts, estimates at completion, and cash flow projections, and explain the variance against the approved budget in terms the program can act on.
  • Review payment applications, cost reports, and invoices against contract terms, verified progress, and the approved schedule of values, then recommend approval or adjustment.
  • Evaluate change order and claim pricing for cost reasonableness, and track the cost exposure of pending changes so the program sees the number before it is committed.
  • Monitor contingency and management reserve, track drawdown against the program’s remaining risk, and recommend when contingency is released, held, or replenished.
  • Analyze earned value and cost performance data across contracts, and flag adverse trends early enough that corrective action is still available.
  • May lead monthly cost reviews with program leadership, including cost reports, trend analysis, and scenario models that support funding and delivery decisions.
  • Coordinate with finance and accounting groups and with the scheduling, estimating, risk, and contract administration teams so budget, commitment, and expenditure data reconcile across systems.
  • Prepare cost reporting and audit documentation for local, regional, state, and federal funding agencies, and maintain the audit trail behind every reported number.
  • May lead and develop cost control analysts and specialists, including review of their work products and consistency of method from one contract to the next.
  • Coordinate with construction management and discipline leads on the cost drivers behind each contract’s forecast.

Attributes

  • Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Excellent multi-tasking and organizational skills.
  • Collaborative mindset that fosters teamwork, trust, and positive relationships.
  • Natural curiosity, problem-solving abilities, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in construction management, civil engineering, accounting, or finance, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • 10+ years of cost control experience for large (>$500M), complex, heavy-civil infrastructure projects.
  • Experience developing and maintaining program budgets, cost baselines, work breakdown structures, and cost coding on active construction programs.
  • Experience producing cost forecasts, estimates at completion, cash flow projections, and earned value and variance analysis.
  • Experience reviewing contractor payment applications, cost reports, and change order pricing against contract terms and verified progress.
  • Experience leading, supervising, or coordinating cost control staff, including review of their work products and consistency of method between them.
  • Experience with industry standard program cost management and cost modeling software (e.g., Oracle Unifier, e-Builder, Kahua, Microsoft Excel, etc.).
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite/Office 365 (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in construction management, civil engineering, accounting, or finance.
  • Active professional certifications such as CCP or EVP (AACE), CCM (CMAA), and/or PMP (PMI).
  • Experience leading the owner’s cost control function on a program exceeding $1B in construction value.
  • Experience supporting owner’s representative, program management, or construction management assignments on transportation, transit, aviation, or water and wastewater programs.
  • Experience setting contingency and management reserve policy on a multi-year capital program, including drawdown tracking and replenishment decisions.
  • Experience defending program cost reporting in grant, funding agency, or oversight reviews, including reconciliation against the owner’s enterprise financial systems.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Power BI, Oracle Cloud Analytics, or other dashboard KPI reporting software.

Compensation Details

Expected Salary: $120k-$200k/year ($58-$96/hour). Luster provides the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might offer for this position based on the successful candidate’s level and years of experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, education, certifications, licenses, geographic location, etc. Luster reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range depending on circumstances not related to any status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

Just LOOK at the Benefits We Offer!

  • Unlimited flexible time off
  • Paid holidays
  • Paid parental leave
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Flexible spending accounts (healthcare and dependent or elder care)
  • Long-term disability insurance
  • Short-term disability insurance
  • Life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment
  • 401(k) plan with guaranteed employer contribution
  • Formal career planning and development program
  • $2,500 annually toward professional development
  • Wellness program with monthly wellness stipend
  • Company cell phone or cell phone plan reimbursement
  • Free personalized meal planning and nutrition support with a registered dietitian
  • Free personal financial planning services
  • Employee assistance program
  • Employee discounts
  • Employee referral bonus

Specific plan details and coverage for each benefit noted above will be provided upon offer.

If you wish to be considered for a position where there is not an active job posted, please search for our 'General Application' and apply. 

Luster is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to criminal history, race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. This employer participates in E-Verify. The employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee's I-9 to confirm work authorization.

All positions may be subject to a background check and drug test once a conditional offer of employment is made for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities, in accordance with all applicable local, state, and/or federal regulations.

This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

Luster does not accept unsolicited resumes from any third-party. In the absence of a signed agreement, Luster will not consider or agree to payment of any kind. Any unsolicited resumes presented to Luster personnel, including those submitted to Luster hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Luster. 

Please email hiring@luster.com for accommodations necessary to complete the application process.

 

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