Senior Cost Engineer (Cost Manager) – Infrastructure
Turner & Townsend is passionate about delivering better outcomes for our clients, helping our people realize their potential, and contributing to a prosperous society. Every day we support global clients in delivering ambitious, highly technical projects across 130+ countries.
Job Description
We are looking for an experienced Senior Cost Engineer to lead cost control functions across major infrastructure projects, ensuring accurate reporting, forecasting, and analysis to support decision‑making and maintain project budgets.
Key Responsibilities
Manage daily activities of the cost control discipline, implement technical standards and procedures, and oversee work of project cost engineers.
Set up, implement, and maintain cost control structure, cost coding, and cost control system, ensuring consistent reporting across portfolio.
Provide effective cost control and reporting for ongoing projects, working with project managers and site cost control teams to review cost reports for accuracy and timeliness.
Convert cost estimates into Control Budgets, assign control accounts, coordinate with estimating, commercial, contract, procurement, and construction departments.
Communicate with contractors on project scope, cost, risks, valuations of work in progress reviews, etc.
Compile and analyse data on all factors that influence costs, such as material, labour, equipment, and subcontracts.
Provide periodical cash flow forecasts and monthly updates for projects incorporating progress updates, cost overruns and approved scope changes.
Prepare monthly cost reports to control and monitor total expenditure, ensuring expenditures stay within project budget.
Review second‑party cost reports, analyse deviations, review project reforecasts, and advise on corrective actions.
Communicate independently with senior management to review, audit and validate cost‑to‑complete forecasts using project cost reports.
Manage cost control team, providing direction, guidance, training, and support in performing daily functions.
Attend in‑house cost control review meetings with the project manager/commercial manager and answer questions related to project cost.
Attend project progress and cost status review meetings with the client, presenting and answering questions related to project cost or stay fully informed through minutes.
Review, validate and consolidate project monthly dashboards and reports, raising any issues and concerns.
Issue project dashboards and reports to concerned internal and external stakeholders.
Technical Management Expertise
Provide direction over junior cost engineers, support integrated teams, oversee staff in a matrix environment; deliver timely feedback to ensure operational cohesion.
Maintain adherence to timelines, compliance with policies and processes, and develop action plans for performance gaps.
Lead negotiations with third parties as the cost specialist.
Respond to client/stakeholder requests effectively and sensitively.
Excellent attention to detail, validating and checking data and reports, with basic commentary and analysis.
Manage cost baselines and ensure cost control mechanisms monitor performance.
Support updates on cost impacts through change management.
Report to stakeholders, internal and external.
Work closely with client, sub‑consultants and main contractors.
Review overall project cost status with the project management team and recommend corrective actions.
Ensure risks and opportunities are identified and support risk reviews.
Demonstrate clear, systematic approach to solving complex issues and communicate solutions effectively.
Evaluate and report on all cost and change controls in conjunction with PMO and projects.
Key Behavioural Qualities
Persuading and influencing colleagues.
Delegating tasks.
High political sensitivity.
Creating and delivering persuasive presentations.
Contributing to behavioural charter and driving agreed values.
Effective communicator and presenter.
Promotes safety, collaboration, client focus, team mindset, diversity and integrity.
Key Experience / Other Mandatory Attainments
Carrying out duties of designated cost management for the project.
Exposure to cost management and project controls methodologies & delivery.
Recognizing and allocating best practice across project teams.
Capability to coordinate and map mitigation measures and opportunities, delivering value benefits.
Degree or equivalent with professional experience in project, cost or commercial management disciplines.
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
Degree or equivalent qualification in Project Controls or a related discipline.
Significant experience in cost engineering or project controls within complex project environments.
Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, able to interpret and present complex data.
Proficiency in cost management software and tools (e.g., PRISM, EcoSys, SAP).
Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Proven ability to lead cost engineering activities and influence project outcomes.
In‑depth understanding of earned value management and project performance metrics.
Desirable
Experience in infrastructure, energy, defence or major capital projects.
Familiarity with risk management and integrated project controls.
Professional accreditation or working towards membership of a relevant body (e.g., ACostE, ICE, RICS).
Career Development
This role offers the opportunity to shape cost engineering practices across major programmes, contribute to strategic decision‑making, and access leadership development, technical training, and progression into senior leadership roles within project controls.
Additional Information
Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change. We promote a healthy, productive, and flexible working environment that respects work‑life balance.
Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com.
It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.
Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e‑mail accounts are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. To be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited by the Recruitment Team to submit candidates for review.
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