Research Specialist jobs in Chicago, IL

We Are:

Fermilab is America's premier laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. We support discovery science experiments in Illinois and at locations around the world, including deep underground mines in South Dakota and Canada, mountaintops in Arizona and Chile, CERN in Europe and the South Pole.

We are strategic risk takers, innovators, and collaborators. We are engineers, scientists, technicians, administrative professionals. We are over 2,000 employees advancing knowledge for the benefit of humankind. Fermilab has been at the forefront of particle physics for more than 40 years. We build world-leading accelerators and detectors to conduct some of the most advanced particle physics experiments possible. We collect and analyze the data from those experiments with some of the most powerful computers in the world. We conduct this research on a 6,800-acre prairie, 35 miles outside Chicago, a treasure that has been designated a National Environmental Research Park.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supports the line managers, project managers and project teams in implementing, and maintaining project controls systems (e.g., planning, scheduling, control, reporting, and performance measurement requirements).
• Participates in project start-up on moderately complex and moderate in scope projects assignments. Assists project controls with the moderate direction of higher-level specialists.
• Prepares proposals for projects with low to mid-range level of risk and assists in developing detailed project controls plans, statements of work, and other types of planning documents.
• Constructs and maintains time-phased budgets, work schedules, work breakdown structures, and cost account plans reconciling discrepancies, and bringing issues to the attention of the manager or higher-level project controls staff.
• Maintains the Earned Value Management System, scheduling systems, and cost processors; creates diagrams of workflow using workflow systems.
• Monitors and analyzes progress of project requirements; identifies issues that could impact project success and brings them to management's attention.
• Provides efficient, effective, and responsive project controls to ensure that assigned projects comply with Lab and customer project controls requirements.
• Creates and maintains diagrams of workflow using current systems.
• Interfaces with the project's technical staff, financial staff, project managers and the functional managers on all aspects of cost controls and scheduling. Provides a development plan and annual performance goals relating to Lab objectives.
• Provides input and suggestions on expanding procedures for implementing project controls methodologies or project controls tools, this includes deadlines and schedules for report production, methodology for project change control and milestone tracking, tailoring project controls systems and tools to assigned area within specific guidelines.
• Trains lower-level specialists of all aspects of project controls.
• Liaises between the line and project managers and the Office of Project Management Oversight; builds and maintains effective working relationships with Project Controls staff, internal customers, and other support staff.
• Abides by and is responsible for performing all duties in accordance with all environmental, health and safety regulations and practices pertinent to this position.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in an applicable discipline such as construction management, business, etc., plus 5 years of experience in Project Management; or equivalent on projects with a minimum value of $10M, or additional years of work-related experience as shown below:
• Associate in Science (AS) or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree with 9 years of relevant experience on projects with a minimum value of $10M
• High school or GED graduate with no degree, and 11 years project controls/project management experience on projects with a minimum value of $10M

Applicable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Demonstrated ability to use MS Office and Excel including Pivot tables. Competent with project scheduling tools, such as Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project. Experience with EVMS Cost processing tool is preferred. Good communication skills. Contributes effectively within a diverse workforce and upholds Fermilab's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Fermilab is an Equal Opportunity Employer and believes a diverse and inclusive environment based on mutual respect is essential to our mission. Fermilab is committed to recruiting and developing the most hardworking people and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, country of birth, geography/postal code, disability, marital status, parental or gestational status, or other non-merit factor.

REAL-ID Requirement for access to Fermilab Campus
Fermilab and FRA requires all members of the public to produce a REAL-ID, or equivalent, to access the Fermilab Campus for interviews or career events. A list of acceptable forms of ID can be found here: If a candidate is selected for an interview but does not possess any of the equivalent documents, we may schedule a virtual interview.