Senior Advisor, Project Controls

• Global company with a world class reputation for safety and performance
• Collaborative work environment
• Inclusive project controls team
• Role based in Salt Lake City, Utah
• Hybrid work schedule is available

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Advisor – Project Controls to join the Development Project Controls team. The role will primarily support the cost controls efforts for large capital projects and/or studies reporting on a weekly and monthly cadence within the Kennecott Utah Copper business. The ideal candidate will possess an understanding and application of project processes and Project Controls practices.

In this role, you will contribute through applying technical/professional knowledge to solve problems and recommend solutions.  You will also contribute to process improvements. You will work independently with minimal guidance and will provide support to the assigned projects teams.  You will be a critical member of an integrated project controls team.  Reporting to the Superintendent -Project Controls, you will: 

• Assist in the development of Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), control accounts and control budgets for assigned project; and enter/update WBS, budget and control account data in the applicable cost management systems (Prism, SAP, etc.)
• Monitor commitments and incurred costs, and assist project managers with cost data entry, review and reconciliation as part of the monthly performance reporting process.
• Analyze project cost variance and performance, presenting key findings to project managers.
• Coordinate regularly with and keep key team members, project sponsors and other stakeholders informed regarding project status, cost performance, meeting outcomes, and other critical information in a timely manner.
• Assist in the reconciliation of contingency and allowance account per approved trends; and enter corresponding data into the applicable cost control systems, ensuring consistency of cost data across reports.
• Support project managers with monthly forecasting and trending efforts. Once reviewed and approved, input project forecasts into the applicable systems and reports.
• Integrate schedules with cost control accounts for planning and execution, coordinating with senior schedule advisor to ensure proper cost loading of project schedules.
• Ensure that requisitions and project costs are properly coded in the system per approved project WBS.
• Review delegated T&M invoices for completeness and accuracy.
• Coordinate data collection for physical progress for various control accounts – working directly with contractors to accumulate and collect monthly performance data (labor hours, cost details, and field-installed quantities).
• Manage and coordinate the use of cost control software and ensure alignment with RTK standards.
• Support process improvement initiatives.
• Ensure that the highest standard of safety performance is maintained by adherence to all Rio Tinto Kennecott (RTK) Keep Each Other Safe requirements on all occasions.

What you’ll bring:

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A college or university degree and 5+ years of related work experience that provides knowledge and exposure to fundamental theories, principles and concepts.
• Demonstrated competence performing structured work assignments using existing procedures to solve routine or standard problems.
• Open to receiving instruction and direction from others, and ability to work independently with minimal guidance.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable conducting project review meetings and keeping participants engaged/focused on key issues and actions at hand.
• Experience with monthly and annual forecasting and cost tracking.
• Experience with accruals processes and posting journal entries for month-end reconciliation.
• Experience with computer system applications, including Word, Excel, and SAP.

It will also be beneficial if you have:

• Broad understanding of project management and project controls.
• Knowledge of project-based software tools and cost management software (Prism preferred)

What we offer   

We are committed to providing our employees with a generous benefits package. You will be recognized for your contributions, thinking, collaboration, and hard work.  You will have the satisfaction of knowing you have contributed to helping the world progress. 

We provide: 

• A safety-focused and inclusive working environment. 
• A competitive salary package with annual cash incentive awards (STIP) for eligible employees.
• Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits.  
• An excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution and a generous 401k matching program. 
• A generous Rio Tinto employee share program, which allows you to purchase Rio Tinto Company shares. 
• A Comprehensive leave policy which covers all moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, paid bereavement and sick leave.
• A favorable child-caregiver leave program (Up to 100% salary top-up). 
• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing. 
• Ongoing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family to help in addressing educational opportunities, addiction treatment, depression, stress, domestic issues, financial management, and legal concerns.
• Our team and industry experts are here to support and work with you to explore your learning potential and career goals

Where you’ll be working

Our Kennecott mine is a world-class, fully integrated copper mining operation, including a concentrator, smelter and refinery, located just outside Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States. We produce copper, precious metals including gold and silver, molybdenum, tellurium and sulfuric acid. Kennecott has been mining and processing minerals from the rich ore body of the Bingham Canyon Mine since 1903, and is one of the top producing mines in the world, comprising approximately 11 percent of U.S. annual copper production.