Program Controls Specialist - Utility Field Safety Operations

Program Controls Specialist – Utility Field Safety Operations Location: Somerset, NJ Job Type: Full-time Schedule: Monday through Friday, with field support as needed Anticipated Assignment: Utility field safety program support; contingent upon client award or notice to proceed Travel: Local travel to utility field locations as needed About Us CARIAN is a purpose-driven, woman-owned consulting and advisory firm dedicated exclusively to the power sector. We partner with leading electric and gas utilities to provide strategic advisory and disciplined execution across program management, business intelligence, and field execution oversight. Guided by integrity, trust, excellence, and accountability, our team helps deliver complex capital programs and build the resilient energy infrastructure that communities depend on. Position Overview CARIAN is seeking a Program Controls Specialist – Utility Field Safety Operations to support cost, schedule, forecasting, manpower planning, workforce deployment tracking, reporting, and program controls for utility field safety operations. This role provides visibility into field coverage, staffing demand, labor hours, utilization, schedule changes, open issues, training readiness, and program performance. The Program Controls Specialist will work closely with the Program Manager, field supervisors, operations coordinator, safety leadership, and internal stakeholders to maintain accurate reporting and support informed decision-making. This is not a pure cost analyst or desk scheduler role. The successful candidate must be comfortable working with field-driven data, manpower plans, workforce forecasts, schedule changes, and operational reporting in a utility or construction environment. Key Responsibilities Support cost, schedule, manpower planning, workforce forecasting, deployment tracking, and program reporting Maintain staffing plans, field coverage trackers, manpower forecasts, labor-hour reports, utilization summaries, and deployment dashboards Track planned versus actual field coverage, schedule changes, staffing gaps, open positions, replacement needs, and upcoming resource demand Develop and maintain weekly and monthly program reports for internal leadership and client stakeholders Support forecasting of field personnel needs by region, work location, schedule, shift, classification, and anticipated workload Track issue logs, action items, risks, schedule impacts, staffing constraints, and follow-up items through closure Coordinate with the Program Manager and field supervisors to validate field updates, schedule changes, hours, and coverage status Coordinate with the Program Operations Coordinator to align reporting with onboarding, credentialing, training, badging, and access-readiness status Review labor-hour trends, staffing utilization, overtime, inactive time, redeployment needs, and resource availability Support invoice, timesheet, expense, and reporting reconciliation as needed Build and maintain Excel-based trackers, dashboards, charts, and management reports Identify data inconsistencies, reporting gaps, and operational trends that require management attention Provide clear, timely, and accurate information to support program decisions, client updates, and workforce planning Qualifications 3+ years of experience in project controls, program controls, workforce planning, scheduling, PMO support, field operations reporting, or related analytical roles Experience tracking cost, schedule, labor hours, manpower, staffing forecasts, resource plans, or field deployment data Strong Excel skills, including formulas, pivot tables, data validation, charts, and structured reporting Ability to organize field-driven data into clear dashboards, trackers, reports, and management summaries Strong analytical skills with attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through Ability to work with program managers, field supervisors, safety teams, recruiting, HR, finance, and client stakeholders Strong written and verbal communication skills Ability to support fast-moving field operations with changing schedules, staffing needs, and reporting priorities Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint Ability to work from the Somerset, NJ office and travel locally to field locations as needed Preferred Experience 5+ years of relevant experience Experience supporting utility, construction, infrastructure, field services, safety-sensitive, or contractor oversight programs Experience with manpower planning, workforce deployment, headcount forecasting, utilization tracking, or large field-team reporting Experience with Power BI, Smartsheet, SharePoint, Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, or similar reporting/scheduling platforms Experience supporting electric or gas utility programs, transmission and distribution work, substations, construction management, or field operations Familiarity with credential tracking, training status, access readiness, or field compliance reporting Experience preparing executive-level reports, client-facing dashboards, weekly status reports, or performance summaries Why CARIAN Purpose-driven work – Help deliver infrastructure that powers communities Industry reputation – Trusted by leading utilities for our reliability and results Career growth – Opportunities to lead major programs and mentor high-performing teams Collaborative culture – Join a team that values delivery excellence and long-term relationships Competitive total rewards – Strong compensation, full benefits, 401(k) match, and meaningful work Equal Employment Opportunity CARIAN is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire and develop talent based on qualifications, performance, and business needs. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. As a women-owned firm dedicated to the power sector, we are committed to building a team that reflects professionalism, expertise, and integrity at every level. Compensation The base salary range for this role is $80,000 – $120,000 annually. This range represents a good-faith estimate at the time of posting; actual compensation will depend on experience, qualifications, skills, project assignment, and business needs. CARIAN offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, holidays, and 401(k) participation with company match. This position may also be eligible for discretionary bonus incentives or other compensation programs based on company and individual performance.