Associate - Project Controls (Mokena)
Job Title: Associate - Project Controls Company: Accelerated PM Job Type: Full-time Job Location: Mokena, Illinois Position Overview: Accelerated PM is seeking an Associate specializing in Project Controls to provide support for a growing project management consulting firm. This position will serve as a leader responsible for creating and effectuating company-wide standards. The Associate will help the company to advance its processes, procedures, systems and tools to improve company organizational performance functions. The successful candidate will provide leadership across planning, execution, performance monitoring, financial oversight, and reporting of internal improvement initiatives. This role requires a person who can operate independently, manage competing priorities, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and translate requirements into executable plans and measurable results. This position is structured to provide broad exposure to project management principles and practices, offering an opportunity to develop leadership capabilities. Location/Travel: This is a hybrid position; the on-site work location will be in Mokena, Illinois. Periodic travel may be required. Duties and Responsibilities: Provide overall leadership and direction for planning, organizing, executing, monitoring, and controlling assigned work. Serve as a key point of contact with company representatives regarding technical, programmatic, schedule, cost, performance, and project-execution matters. Be able to develop statements of work, task requirements, and customer priorities and transform them into actionable project plans, assignments, milestones, and deliverables. Develop and implement project management procedures, execution strategies, and design workflows necessary to support successful performance of company initiatives. Direct and coordinate teams and ensure assigned personnel understand priorities, responsibilities, deliverables, schedules, and performance expectations. Evaluate and manage the acquisition and implementation of software tools based on priorities, technical requirements, and company needs. Monitor project execution against established scope, schedule, budget, milestones, and performance requirements. Research and recommend new tools, data practices, or visualization techniques, including enhancing the use of AI across the company. Identify issues, constraints, and performance concerns; develop and implement appropriate mitigation and corrective-action strategies. Manage and control financial and administrative aspects of projects and initiatives in accordance with requirements, including budget monitoring, resource planning, forecasting, expenditure tracking, and financial performance. Monitor deliverables and milestones to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant completion. Develop and present project status reports, performance metrics, briefings, forecasts, and management-level presentations. Facilitate project reviews, status meetings, technical discussions, and customer meetings; document decisions, action items, risks, and required follow-up. Evaluate project performance and recommend adjustments to priorities, resources, schedules, or execution strategies when necessary. Support change management activities by evaluating impacts to scope, cost, schedule, resources, and contractual requirements. Maintain effective communication among project representatives, project leadership, and other stakeholders. Ensure project documentation, records, reports, and administrative activities are maintained in accordance with applicable company requirements. Provide leadership and guidance to personnel and promote accountability, collaboration, and consistent project-management practices. Support continuous improvement by identifying lessons learned, process improvements, and opportunities to improve project efficiency and performance. Minimum Required Education and Experience: B.S. degree in Engineering or Business with a minimum 10 years of relevant experience in a professional environment. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. Experience deploying AI to improve business practices and organizational functions. Demonstrated experience managing complex tasks. Experience implementing systems and tools that promote process improvements, financial, and administrative activities. Demonstrated experience interfacing directly with customers and other stakeholders. Strong understanding of project management principles, including scope, schedule, cost, risk, resource, performance, and change management. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and commonly used project management, collaboration, and reporting tools. Beneficial/Preferred Qualifications: Interest in and experience with implementing software and tools that promote process improvement. Promotion of a high degree of customer service. Experience with all phases of Project Controls. Familiarity with project-driven execution. Experience managing geographically-dispersed project teams. Experience developing or implementing project-management procedures, governance structures, and performance-management processes and tools. Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or other relevant professional certification. Compensation Details: Salary: $140k - $200k, depending on experience and qualifications. Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including PTO, paid holidays, Simple IRA, and health/dental/vision insurance.
