Project Controls Lead in Calgary

Vista Projects is an integrated engineering firm who has been solving complex challenges in the energy industry since 1985. We are innovators at our core, continually finding better, smarter ways to design and deliver oil and gas projects. We are proud to contribute to some of the most exciting low-carbon and synthetic fuel developments in North America. For our people, that means meaningful, varied work and a real chance to shape how modern engineering gets done.

The world needs energy, and better engineering makes the projects that deliver it safer, more efficient, and more sustainable. Our multi-discipline teams have designed some of the most challenging and successful projects in the North American energy sector, from early-stage studies and pilots to large-scale commercial expansions. We take pride in doing that work well and continuously improving how we do it.

What You Would Do in This Role

The Project Controls Lead is responsible for managing project controls activities and deliverables across multiple projects, including cost control, scheduling, forecasting, change management, earned value, and project performance reporting. The Lead provides mentoring and training to project controls professionals, including schedulers and project controls analysts, and works closely with clients, project managers, engineering disciplines, and Project Services.

Duties include:

• Leading project controls activities across multiple projects and ensuring the quality and timely delivery of cost control, scheduling, forecasting, change management, and performance reporting deliverables.
• Liaising with clients, project managers, Project Services, and engineering disciplines on project controls requirements, performance, risks, and priorities.
• Leading cost reporting, forecasting, earned value analysis, change management, and project performance analysis.
• Reviewing project budgets, commitments, actual costs, incurred costs, and Estimate at Completion (EAC) and identifying significant trends and variances.
• Assessing forecast risks and identifying potential impacts to project cost and schedule.
• Supporting budget development, estimating, cash-flow forecasting, and project setup.
• Identifying trends and potential scope changes and ensuring they are communicated and managed through the appropriate Management of Change process.
• Leading and participating in interactive planning sessions with project and engineering teams.
• Developing and maintaining resource-loaded schedules and supporting resource planning.
• Reviewing schedules with project personnel and establishing and maintaining approved baselines.
• Progressing and updating schedules at the required reporting frequency with input from project disciplines.
• Reviewing schedule logic, progress, resource loading, critical path, float, and schedule variances.
• Analyzing schedule changes and reporting impacts, critical areas, risks, and potential mitigation strategies.
• Integrating project risk information into schedule and forecast reviews and mitigation planning.
• Providing schedule look-aheads and proactively identifying upcoming, delayed, or at-risk deliverables.
• Maintaining Primavera P6 templates, layouts, and scheduling standards.
• Performing ad hoc cost, schedule, and project performance analysis to support project decision-making.
• Periodically reviewing project controls processes, procedures, templates, and standards, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions.
• Planning and managing team responsibilities, priorities, objectives, and project milestones.
• Managing team performance, including mentoring, coaching, training, and development.
• Providing input to, and participating in, Human Resources activities, including recruitment, performance management, discipline, and terminations.
• Performing other duties as requested.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of cost control experience and 6 years of planning and scheduling experience; experience may be concurrent as part of broader project controls roles.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a senior, lead, or supervisory project controls role, including planning and scheduling responsibilities.
• Strong knowledge of project controls principles, including cost, scheduling, progress measurement, forecasting, change management, and earned value.
• Advanced proficiency with Primavera P6.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills for analysis and reporting.
• Strong focus on quality and attention to detail while maintaining a whole-project perspective.
• Strong verbal and written communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and mentor others.

Preferred

• Field construction planning and scheduling experience.
• Experience with Power Query and Power BI for data analysis, automation, and reporting.
• Graduate degree in a related field.

Why People Like at Vista

Vista has been recognized by Great Place to Work as one of the Best Workplaces in Canada, a Best Workplace for Mental Health, and a Best Workplace for Women. These awards reflect how our team feels about working here.

What our people value most is how we work together. You will join experienced leaders and mentors who are genuinely invested in your growth, in teams built around collaboration rather than silos. We hire capable people, trust them to do their best work, and treat them as people rather than employee numbers.

Vista offers all employees a challenging and rewarding work environment where you will contribute to meaningful projects across the energy industry, talented, collaborative colleagues, competitive compensation and benefits, flexible work schedules, and an inclusive organization that values diversity.

Note: As part of the interview process, there will be a technical testing component that will take up to two hours and can be completed at home on your own timeline. Candidates may be required to complete a security clearance procedure prior to receiving an offer.