Cost Manager

Key Responsibilities

The cost manager will be responsible for providing comprehensive cost management and commercial oversight throughout the project lifecycle, from pre-contract planning and estimating through procurement, construction, and final account. The role will support the successful delivery of major building and mixed-use developments, ensuring effective cost control, accurate forecasting, and commercial performance.

• Lead and manage cost management activities across the full project lifecycle, from concept and design through construction and close-out.
• Develop and maintain project budgets, cost plans, estimates, and cash flow forecasts.
• Review design development and assess the cost implications of design changes, value engineering, and project requirements.
• Prepare and review detailed cost estimates, quantity take-offs, bills of quantities (BoQs), and tender documentation.
• Monitor project expenditure, commitments, variations, and forecast final costs against approved budgets.
• Provide regular cost reports, financial analysis, and commercial advice to the project director and senior management.
• Manage the evaluation and reporting of change orders, variations, claims, and potential commercial risks.
• Support procurement and tendering activities, including tender analysis, bid evaluation, and commercial recommendations.
• Review contractor and consultant payment applications and ensure valuations are properly assessed and supported.
• Identify cost risks and opportunities and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Lead value engineering exercises to optimize project costs while maintaining quality, functionality, and design objectives.
• Coordinate closely with project controls, planning, commercial, design, procurement, and construction teams.
• Ensure compliance with project procedures, contractual requirements, and established cost management standards.
• Support final account settlement and project close-out.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to quantity surveyors and junior cost management professionals.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in quantity surveying, civil engineering, construction management, or a related discipline.
• 8–10 years of relevant cost management/quantity surveying experience.
• Previous experience working for a PMC, consultancy, or cost management organization is strongly preferred.
• Proven experience on mega projects, particularly large-scale buildings, mixed-use developments, commercial, hospitality, residential, or master-planned developments.
• Strong knowledge of pre-contract and post-contract cost management.
• Experience in cost planning, estimating, budgeting, procurement, tender evaluation, cost reporting, change management, and final accounts.
• Strong understanding of construction contracts, commercial management, and claims/variations.
• Proficiency in cost management and quantity surveying software, as well as Microsoft Office.
• Excellent analytical, communication, reporting, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary project environment.

Preferred Candidate Profile

• Saudi nationals are strongly preferred.
• Candidates with experience working on Saudi giga projects or other major developments in the Kingdom will be highly regarded.
• Professional certification or membership such as RICS, AIQS, CIOB, or equivalent is advantageous.
• Strong PMC/client-side experience with exposure to complex, high-value building and mixed-use projects is preferred.