COST/SCHEDULE ASSISTANT

Job Description:

COST/SCHEDULE ASSISTANT

Description

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

Assists with managing cost and scheduling forecasts and reports for individual major capital projects, project administration support and departmental budgets, and delivery of reports to the project manager, including master schedule reports for program management leadership.
Supports the finance and administrative team by managing Program Management’s comprehensive budget development, staff resources, and executive and administrative initiatives.
Recruitment Timelines : Exams are projected to be scheduled for the week of May 18th, 2026 , and interviews are projected to be scheduled for the week of June 1st, 2026 . These dates are subject to change. We encourage you to monitor your governmentjobs.com profile and emails for the latest updates.

Application cut-off: Please be aware that only the first 75 applicants will be guaranteed consideration for this position.

Examples of Duties

• Assists supervisors in developing engineering and construction models to monitor and forecast project costs/schedules
• Prepares and assists with overseeing the work of Project Control Staff and consultants
• Administers Information Systems by granting access, removing access, managing licenses, and helping with system issues
• Coordinates, prepares, updates, and reviews monthly project cost forecasts and timetables/schedules and provides results to team members
• Coordinates and updates quarterly master schedule
• Assists with recommending options and methods to reduce costs and improve timeliness
• Prepares and reviews special studies of medium complexity
• Supports reporting of overall project finances/schedules to management
• Reviews invoices and funding allocations for accuracy
• Assists with the review and updating of cost reports for accuracy and compliance with laws, regulations, and requirements; coordinates the delivery of monthly cost reports from others
• Assists with the evaluation of change orders and amendments for impact on budget/timetable
• Assists with development and implementation of departmental budgets and ensures all project budget/scheduling changes are approved
• Assists in tracking consultants' monthly performance and expenses
• Maintains and compiles financial/schedule records, reports, and analyses of medium complexity
• Represents project team in meetings with engineers, contractors, consultants, and outside agencies
• Trains ELTP (Entry Level Trainee Program) participants and co-workers
• Coordinates services from other Metro departments to support project forecasts
• Assists with program and project administration support

May be required to perform other related job duties

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field

Experience

• None; experience performing project cost/scheduling, budget or program/project administration work preferred

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions
• Exposure to hazards during site visits

Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

The following are the preferred qualifications:

• Experience utilizing budget and financial information systems, such as Power Bi, FIS, SAP, and/or related applications, for management reports and presentations
  
• Experience utilizing design applications, such as Canva, Adobe Express, etc., for performance reporting
  
• Experience using Microsoft Office tools, including Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, for financial management oversight
• Experience working in a public sector environment
  

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Theories, principles, and practices of budgeting, accounting, scheduling, and cost forecasting
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations
• Department policies and procedures
• Sources of estimating data in the construction industry, such as labor and equipment productivity rates, composition of standard crews, construction cost indexes, etc.
• Applicable cost, scheduling, and other business software applications, including SharePoint

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Performing non-complex to medium complex cost/scheduling work in support of capital projects
• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, and recommending solutions
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Interacting professionally with various levels of Metro employees, systems users, and outside representatives

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Analyze cost, schedule, and budget data
• Produce required deliverables and meet deadlines
• Organize and manage time efficiently
• Assist in making financial/scheduling decisions within a budget/timeframe
• Compile and analyze data
• Represent Metro before the public
• Prepare comprehensive reports and correspondence
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements
• Travel to offsite locations to gather cost and schedule status updates
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

• This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements
• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
• Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• This classification is at-will and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the hiring authority when classified as an Intermittent, Emergency, Annuitant, or Temporary employee, is assigned to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) or Board Clerk's Office, and/or reporting directly to the LACMTA Board of Directors
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Communicating through speech in the English language required

(KC)

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program . Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.
Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro locations:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Open: Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Metro Talent Hub
8501 S. Evermont Place
Los Angeles, CA 90044
Open: Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

East Los Angeles Customer Center
4501 B Whittier Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Open: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm
(Closed Sun & Mon)

Wilshire/Vermont Customer Center
3183 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 174
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Open: Monday through Friday, 10am-6pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Rosa Parks Customer Center
Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station
11720 Wilmington Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Open: Monday through Friday, 6am to 6:30pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.

*Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.

*Please refer to the applicable benefit type (Regular or Temporary)*

BENEFITS FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES

Benefits cover probationary or regular full-time (working at least 40 hrs/week) employees of Metro.

We offer a range of high-quality medical, dental and vision plan options as well as health care spending accounts for you and your family. Metro will cover a significant portion of your health care premiums.

Medical/Dental/Vision Plan - Employee has the choice of 3 separate medical plans and 3 dental plans. A separate vision plan is included in each medical plan.

Group Life Insurance - PTSC pays for an amount equal to your annual salary, rounded up to the nearest $1,000. Minimum amount of life insurance is $30,000.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance - PTSC provides $50,000 coverage for each employee. Additional voluntary coverage in amounts up to $500,000 is available at favorable premium rates.

Long-Term Disability Insurance - 100% employer paid. Provides employees with a minimum income of 60% of earnings after six months of disability. Buy up or buy down options available.

Holidays - 12 days a year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Cesar E Chavez, Juneteenth,Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Time off with Pay (TOWP) - Compensates employees who are on approved absence from work for reasons such as illness, injury, medical and dental appointments, personal business, vacation, or observance of (a) religious holiday.
Years of Service Annual Accrual
Hire date - 5 years 20 days
Beginning of 6th - 10th year 25 days
Beginning of 11th - 15th year 30 days
Beginning of 16th + years 35 days

Pension Plan - PTSC retirement plan is the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Vesting is five (5) years. Minimum retirement age is 52, based on the 2% at 62 formula.

Other Benefits: Transportation passes for employees and/or eligible dependents; Medicare; Tuition reimbursement; credit union membership; SDI; Deferred Compensation Plan; 401(K) Thrift plan; EAP; Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; Flexible work schedules; and Jury Duty Pay.

BENEFITS FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES

Temporary (Contingent) employees are eligible for the following benefits only:

• Kaiser medical insurance
• Public Pension Plan
• 457/401K Plan
• Flex Spending
• Paid Sick Time
• Fare Media
• Rideshare Subsidies
• Metro One Fitness membership

For more information on the Benefits Enrollment for Contingent Employees, please visit LA Metro’s Pension & Benefits website at benefits.metro.net

Closing Date/Time: 5/4/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$68,744.00 - $103,084.80 Annually