Cost Estimation

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare conceptual, preliminary, and detailed cost estimates.
• Validate pre-award cost estimates for major packages, confirming alignment with design maturity and scope exclusions.
• Conduct affordability checks during design development with the Design function to maintain solutions within target costs.
• Support value-engineering workshops by quantifying savings and schedule effects while protecting quality and operability.
• Coordinate independent cost reviews for high-risk scopes to validate major decisions.
• Approve estimate classes, contingency allowances, and basis-of-estimate documentation before submission.
• Benchmark and develop cost models using market data and historical baselines.
• Maintain benchmark databases and market indices for key trades, systems, and pavilion typologies relevant to Expo Riyadh.
• Develop BI tools and databases for vertical-specific and infrastructure estimation.
• Analyze bid variances against estimates to refine benchmarks and improve future predictions.
• Provide estimate benchmarks to Procurement to support bid evaluation and award recommendations.
• Capture lessons learned on estimating accuracy, market response, and risk pricing to inform future programs.
• Strategy and Governance
• Oversee cost estimating standards (class definitions, assumptions libraries) to ensure comparable bids and defensible business cases.
• Set the strategy, operating model, and annual plan for Cost Estimation in alignment with Cost Estimation & Control and ERC objectives.
• Define priorities, performance standards, and KPIs for Cost Estimation, and report performance to leadership.
• Team Leadership
• Lead, develop, and motivate the Cost Estimation team, setting objectives and managing performance in line with company processes.
• Build team capability and foster a culture of accuracy, integrity, accountability, and collaboration.

Qualifications and Experience

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field. A Master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred.
• Professional Certifications: Relevant professional certifications or memberships in cost estimation, cost management, quantity surveying, or project controls are preferred.
• Experience: 7-11 years of relevant experience, with a strong leadership background and a proven track record of strategic decision-making.
• Nature of Experience: Extensive experience leading cost estimating for construction and infrastructure programs on giga-projects or major events. Strong experience in building benchmark databases and cost models, and supporting value engineering and bid evaluation. Experience in Saudi Arabia or the GCC is preferred.
• Required Skills
• Commercial and stakeholder management.
• Strategic leadership and team development.