Project Specialist I

Duquesne Light Company, headquartered in downtown Pittsburgh, is a leader in providing electric energy and has been in the forefront of the electric energy market, with a history rooted in technological innovation and superior customer service. Today, the company continues its role as a leader in the transmission and distribution of electric energy, providing a secure supply of reliable power to more than half a million customers in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Duquesne Light Company is committed to creating a culture of inclusion. We value and respect the unique differences and experiences of our employees. We believe that our differences lead to better collaboration, innovation and outcomes. We want you to join our team!

Overall Purpose

The Project Planner position is an integral part of the Operations Project Management Team, which manages capital projects and programs. The Project Planner will provide project controls expertise to Project Managers within the organization. While utilizing Project Manager and project team input, the Project Planner is responsible for building schedules to capture all scope for the entire project lifecycle. Capital project schedules are created using critical path methodology (CPM) within Oracle Primavera P6 Professional and are cost and resource loaded. The Project Planner ensures compliance with scheduling best practices and documented scheduling procedures. Project planners provide invaluable analysis in the areas of project performance, schedule health, and resources/costs. Experience with project performance standards, specifically Earned Value Management, is an asset to the team. Project planners are expected to proactively identify performance-related issues and risks to the Project Manager and provide potential solutions. The Project Planner will review updates, analyze results, and identify necessary modifications to the schedule as the project progresses.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Planner is the Project Controls expert with the project team. To fulfill this function, Project Planners are expected to:

Develop Schedules

• Apply scheduling best practices and comply with documented procedures
• Help the PM decompose the work breakdown structure (WBS) and identify activities to account for all scope to the appropriate level of granularity
• Support WBS Dictionary development
• Cost and resource load schedule activities
• Build an activity network to generate a critical path
• Establish and maintain a project baseline in compliance with change control procedure
• Utilize rolling wave planning to align with gate approval process

Execute Processes

• Support business cycle to include schedule status, analysis, report generation, and monthly project review
• Execute monthly schedule closing process which includes schedule status, schedule health analysis, store period performance, and capture a monthly rolling baseline
• Support annual Business Plan development
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness of project controls deliverables
• Generate established and ad hoc P6 reports, layouts, dashboards, and forecasts for stakeholders
• Provide variance and performance indices using established earned value management system
• Lead the change control process on assigned projects

Analyze

• Run what-if scenarios as needed to analyze potential impacts, changes, or portfolio balancing
• Review contractor schedules and performance data to confirm accuracy and compliance to the contract requirements
• Evaluate and provide causes and potential corrective actions for monthly variances and performance indices
• Monitor critical and sub-critical paths
• Provide float analysis to project team

Collaborate

• Facilitate project progress if the Project Manager is unavailable
• Input schedule updates and identify impacts to the schedule or cost
• Assist Project Manager with project closeout activities
• Interact with project team including, but not limited to, engineering, procurement, construction, and contractors to obtain updates or identify changes
• Create major milestones, outages, and handoff activities to enhance communication between groups and management
• Work with others throughout the organization to identify and implement efficiency improvements
• Provide mentorship and coaching on project controls topics

Education/Experience Required

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Project Management, or other applicable discipline. In lieu of a bachelor's degree, a commensurate combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Seven (7) years of relevant experience

Physical Requirements and Work Location

Work location is a combination of office environment, work from home, and field work as needed. Desk and computer work is required. Must possess valid driver's license and be able to drive to various company locations.

Scope

Primary focus is on daily deliverables, outputs, and reporting. Accountable for managing one's own time and work flow and leads projects and/or large project steps. Work is complex in nature requiring the incumbent to draw on previous knowledge to perform role. Acts independently the majority of the time, requiring guidance in only complex situations. Has well established capabilities, acts as a resource to less experienced staff on moderately complex issues.

Decision Impact

Problems and issues faced are vague and require analysis of multiple sources of information for solution. Draws on significant past experience to perform role. Accountable for direct level of reasoning and decision making.

Storm Roles

All Non-Union Employees will serve in storm roles as appropriate to their role and skillset. Please be sure to discuss storm roles with the hiring manager for this position, as duties can vary across the Company. Examples of storm roles could include but aren't limited to duties such as: working with operations for service center support or with the communications, customer service or government affairs teams to respond to public and customer requests for information, etc.

Data Governance

Utilize data to make business decisions as appropriate for the position, support data stewardship activities and partner with IT on underlying data needs.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Duquesne Light Company is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all people in all aspects of the employment relationship, without discrimination because of race, age, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity or status as a Vietnam era or special disabled veteran or any other unlawful basis, as defined by applicable law, and fostering a workplace free of unlawful discrimination and retaliation. This policy affects decisions including, but not limited to, hiring, compensation, benefits, terms and conditions of employment, opportunities for promotion, transfer, layoffs, return from a layoff, training and development, and other privileges of employment. An integral part of Duquesne Light Company's commitment is to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws concerning equal employment and affirmative action.

Duquesne Light Company is committed to offering an inclusive and accessible experience for all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. Our goal is to foster an inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone has the opportunity to be successful.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening, apply for a position, or participate in the interview process, connect with us at HR@duqlight.com and describe the specific accommodation requested for a disability-related limitation.