Senior Cost Analyst
for sections: About the role, Responsibilities, Requirements, Qualifications, Skills, Benefits, Pay, Schedule. Only include sections that have real specific content. We must not repeat job title. Must not include Job ID etc. Remove boilerplate. Must preserve all substantive info. We need to parse the posting. Key info: Salary Range $85,035.00 - $127,553.00. Description: final salary depends on qualifications; those with 8+ years can expect offers up to midpoint. Metra provides full pay ranges so candidates can consider growth potential. Click here to learn more about our benefits! (but we remove application instructions and links). Also mention benefits: we have a line "Click here to learn more about our benefits!" but no details of benefits given. So we cannot create Benefits section unless posting actually states them. It only mentions benefits generically but no specifics. According to rule: never create Pay/Schedule/Benefits sections unless posting actually states them. It does state Pay (salary range). So we can include Pay section with that info. Benefits: not specific, so omit. Schedule: not mentioned. So omit Schedule. About the role: we have description of role: Metra's Capital Delivery Department..., reporting to Director..., responsibilities etc. So we can put About the role section summarizing role description. Responsibilities: list of primary duties (the bullet list after "The primary duties include:"). Requirements: list of requirements (education, experience, knowledge etc). Qualifications: maybe separate? The posting lumps requirements and qualifications. We could combine into Requirements section. But we have both Requirements and Qualifications headings possible. We need to decide based on content. The posting has "Requirements" bullet list, then "Preferred" bullet list. Could treat Requirements as mandatory, Qualifications as preferred? But we should not create thin sections. Perhaps combine into one Requirements section that includes both mandatory and preferred? However rule: Prefer a few substantive sections over many thin ones. So we could have Requirements (including mandatory and preferred) and Skills (maybe separate). But we have skills listed: proficiency in Microsoft 365, Power BI, SharePoint, ability to interact with execs, build relationships, conduct training, analytical, problem solving, decision-making, communication, record-keeping, self-starter, flexible hours. Those could be Skills. We also have "Preferred Database experience is preferred. Project Management Professional (PMP), Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE), Certified Cost Technician (CCT) certification." That's qualifications/certifications. We could have sections: About the role, Responsibilities, Requirements (education + experience), Qualifications (certifications, preferred), Skills (technical and soft skills). Pay section. We must not create sections with filler. Ensure each has substantive content. Let's extract content. About the role: paragraphs describing Metra, Capital Delivery Department, role purpose, reporting line, collaboration, key advisor, etc. We'll put that in
maybe multiple paragraphs. Responsibilities: list after "The primary duties include:" each bullet. We need to preserve all substantive info; do not invent or summarize away detail. So we need to keep each duty as listed. List: - Develop, evaluate, and submit budget requests and funding strategies in coordination with internal stakeholders. - Coordinate development and approval of project charters. - Develop and present funding briefings and status reports for leadership and serve as a subject matter expert on capital program funding processes and timelines. - Oversee cost management processes within the Project Management Information System (PMIS), including budgeting, cost tracking, and change management. - Administer and maintain financial tracking tools and reporting systems, and cost control systems, ensuring accuracy and integrity of financial data across all capital projects. - Map project costs to funding sources, including grants, purchase orders, and agreements and develop and maintain project budget forecasts, cost estimates, cash flows, and spend curves. - Monitor cost allocations and expenditures throughout all phases of the project life cycle. - Coordinate and lead recurring cost and financial review meetings with Capital Delivery and Grants teams and collaborate with staff managing all stages of capital construction from pre-construction through closeout and across departments to identify agency priorities and support capital investment decisions. - Provide integrated reporting on project funding status, cost performance, and forecasted financial needs across the capital program. - Review cost estimates, financial reports, and cash flow projections to validate funding needs and ensure alignment between budgets and expenditures. - Ensure alignment between project budgets, funding allocations, and actual expenditures to support compliance and financial accountability. - Promote safe work practices and maintain and foster a safe work environment. - Perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization. That's all. Requirements: bullet list after "Requirements". Let's extract: - Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Engineering, Finance, Accounting, Urban Planning, or a related field; or equivalent experience. - In addition to #1 above, must have a minimum of five years of relevant experience in capital program administration, project controls, cost management, budgeting, or financial analysis. - Knowledge of capital program development, budgeting, implementation processes, cost management practices, cost baselines, and forecasting techniques. - Understanding of construction or engineering project delivery. - Experience in public transportation or railroad industry is preferred. - Experience with cost management systems (e.g., eBuilder, PRISM, Oracle) and Project Management Information Systems (PMIS). - Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, Power BI and SharePoint. - Manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks and meet deadlines. - Ability to interact concisely with executive level staff. - Build and sustain relationships with stake holders. - Ability to conduct training sessions. - Strong analytical, problem solving, and decision-making skills. - Strong communication skills, both verbal and written. - Strong record-keeping skills with attention to detail and accuracy. - Confident self-starter able to operate in a dynamic environment. - Must be available to work flexible hours in the early morning, late afternoon, evenings, or weekends. Note: Some of these are more like skills; but they are in requirements section. We'll keep them there. Qualifications: maybe we separate preferred certifications and database experience. Preferred: "Database experience is preferred. Project Management Professional (PMP), Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE), Certified Cost Technician (CCT) certification." Also maybe "Experience in public transportation or railroad industry is preferred." Already in requirements. We could make Qualifications section for preferred certifications and database experience. Skills: maybe we separate technical skills like proficiency in Microsoft 365, Power BI, SharePoint, cost management systems, PMIS, etc. But those are already in requirements. To avoid duplication, we could keep them in Requirements and not create Skills. However we need to decide if we want Skills section. The instruction: Prefer a few substantive sections over many thin ones. So maybe we combine everything into Requirements and Responsibilities and About the role and Pay. That's four sections. That seems fine. We must not create Skills if it's just repeating. So we will have:
About the role
with paragraphs.Responsibilities
with- ...
Requirements
with- ...
Pay
withcontaining salary range and note about final salary depending on qualifications, 8+ years expectation up to midpoint, Metra provides full pay ranges, etc. We must not include Benefits or Schedule. We must remove boilerplate: EEO, accommodation, etc. Also remove "Click here to learn more about our benefits!" (application instruction). Also remove "Metra is a railroad employer subject to the provisions of the Railroad Retirement Tax Act, not the Social Security Administration." That's maybe not boilerplate but it's a statement about employer; could be considered substantive? It's about Metra being a railroad employer subject to RRTA. Might be considered relevant but not essential. The instruction: remove cookie/navigation/legal/EEO/equal-opportunity/scam-warning boilerplate, duplicated lines, and application instructions. The RRTA statement is not exactly boilerplate but could be considered legal. Might be safe to keep? It's not EEO. It's a statement about employer. Might be considered legal boilerplate. Safer to remove. Also remove "Metra employees in an active review period under the current discipline policy or who have documented attendance or performance issues will not be considered and/or selected for this position." That's maybe not boilerplate but it's a condition; could be considered part of requirements? It's a restriction. Might be considered substantive. However it's about eligibility. Could be included in Requirements? It's a condition. Might be okay to keep. But it's somewhat like a policy. Not sure. The instruction says remove legal/EEO/equal-opportunity/scam-warning boilerplate. This is a policy about discipline; not exactly EEO. Might be okay to keep. But to be safe, maybe keep it as part of Requirements? It's not a qualification but a condition. Could be included as a bullet. Also "Some positions require an Enhanced Background Check due to the nature of the role. This may include additional criminal history, employment and education verification, credential validation, and other legally permissible checks. All screenings are conducted in compliance with applicable laws and require candidate authorization." That's legal boilerplate; remove. Also "Please note: Regardless of any state laws that legalize marijuana, Metra prohibits applicants and employees’ use or possession of marijuana (or marijuana paraphernalia), or having detectable amounts of marijuana in their bodies, including synthetic and/or non-synthetic substances such as THC for any reason for preemployment screening purposes, while on duty, subject to duty, on Metra property, or in Metra work equipment and vehicles." That's legal boilerplate; remove. Also "Metra is committed to ensuring that our career website and recruiting process are accessible to all individuals. For general assistance, please contact talentacquisition@metrarr.com. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, participate in interviews, complete any pre-employment testing, or engage in any other aspect of the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to the Reasonable Accommodations Committee at RAC@metrarr.com." That's accommodation boilerplate; remove. Also "Metra is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer..." remove. Thus we keep only substantive content: About the role, Responsibilities, Requirements (including education, experience, knowledge, etc), Pay. We must ensure we don't repeat any content inadvertently. Let's craft About the role paragraph(s). Combine sentences: Metra is one of the largest and most complex commuter rail systems in North America, serving Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane, and McHenry Counties. The agency links communities in Northeastern Illinois by providing safe, reliable, and efficient commuter service. Metra's Capital Delivery Department oversees the design, construction and administration of Metra capital projects and manages the work of consultants and contractors implementing these projects. Capital projects overseen by this group include stations and parking as well as structural, civil, electrical, mechanical, traction power, and wayfinding and signs. The department also includes Project Management, NEPA, Project Controls, and Project Administration teams. Reporting to the Director of Project Controls in the Capital Delivery Department, the Senior Cost Analyst is responsible for integrating capital funding strategy with project-level cost management across the agency’s capital program. This position collaborates with multidisciplinary teams overseeing the planning, design, and construction of large-scale bridge, track, station, parking, and railroad yard projects. The role works closely with Project Management, Planning, Finance, and Grants staff to ensure that capital projects are properly funded and that project budgets, forecasts, and expenditures are accurately tracked and aligned with funding sources. The position serves as a key advisor to leadership by providing clear, data-driven insights into funding availability, cost performance, and financial risk across the capital program. That seems good. Now Responsibilities list as above. Now Requirements list: include all bullet points from Requirements section (including