Site Cost Manager – Building Projects

Gulf Contracting & Landscaping (GCL); Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Gulf Contracting & Landscaping (GCL) in Dubai is seeking a hands-on Site Cost Manager to control and optimize the commercial and cost aspects of building projects from start to finish. You will supervise budgets, forecasts, variations, and final accounts on active site contracts.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in construction cost management on building projects, with strong skills in BOQs, cost reporting, and subcontractor cost control, and will work closely with project teams on-site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field.
• Minimum 7–10 years of experience in construction cost management or related commercial roles.
• Strong experience on building construction projects (not infrastructure).
• Experience in cost management for residential, commercial, hotels, villas, retail or office developments.
• Solid understanding of contracts, BOQs, variations, valuations, and subcontractor accounts.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and control project costs against the approved budget and establish cost plans.
• Track actual costs, commitments, accruals, forecasts, and remaining costs.
• Identify cost overruns and savings opportunities; prepare regular cost reports.
• Develop Cost-to-Complete (CTC) and Estimate-at-Completion (EAC) forecasts.
• Review, evaluate, and monitor variations and change orders; document and approve.
• Monitor procurement costs; review purchase orders against budgets.
• Review quantities, BOQs, specifications, and contract documents; ensure accurate valuations.
• Support final accounts, cost reconciliation, and lessons learned.
• Work closely with Project Manager to mitigate commercial risks.
• Ensure subcontractor costs stay within approved budgets.

Skills

Construction Cost Management

Cost Planning & Budget Control

Cost Forecasting

CTC

Quantity Surveying

BOQ & Quantity Measurement

Variations & Change Management

Subcontractor Cost Management

Procurement Cost Control

Interim Payments & Valuations

Final Accounts

Claims & Contract Administration

Budget vs. Actual Analysis

Cash Flow Forecasting

Negotiation & Commercial Acumen

Advanced Microsoft Excel

ERP / Cost Management Systems

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Commercial Management, or a related discipline

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

The Site Cost Manager will be responsible for managing and controlling the commercial and cost aspects of building construction projects from project commencement through completion. The role will monitor project costs, budgets, commitments, variations, subcontractor costs, procurement, forecasting, and financial performance to ensure projects are delivered within approved budgets and commercial targets.

The ideal candidate should have strong hands-on experience in building projects, with solid knowledge of construction cost control, quantity surveying, subcontractor management, variations, and project commercial management.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Cost Control & Budget Management

• Monitor and control project costs against the approved budget.
• Establish and maintain project cost plans, budgets, and cost-control systems.
• Track actual costs, commitments, accruals, forecasts, and remaining costs.
• Identify cost overruns, cost risks, and potential savings opportunities.
• Prepare regular cost reports and highlight variances to project management.
• Monitor project cash flow and expenditure against planned budgets.

2. Project Cost Reporting & Forecasting

• Prepare weekly and monthly project cost reports.
• Develop accurate Cost-to-Complete (CTC) and Estimate-at-Completion (EAC) forecasts.
• Analyse budget versus actual expenditure and investigate significant variances.
• Provide management with clear commercial and financial analysis.
• Maintain accurate project cost databases and supporting documentation.

3. Variations & Change Management

• Review, evaluate, and monitor project variations and change orders.
• Assess the cost impact of design changes, scope changes, and additional works.
• Maintain variation logs and ensure all changes are properly documented and approved.
• Support the preparation and submission of variation claims.
• Monitor approved and pending variations and their impact on project profitability.
• Review subcontractor and supplier commercial submissions.
• Monitor subcontractor commitments, payments, variations, and final accounts.
• Review subcontractor interim payment applications against actual progress.
• Support commercial negotiations with subcontractors and suppliers.
• Ensure subcontractor costs remain within approved budgets.

5. Procurement & Commercial Coordination

• Coordinate with Procurement, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, and Project teams to monitor procurement costs.
• Review purchase orders and commitments against project budgets.
• Identify potential procurement savings and cost optimisation opportunities.
• Monitor material and equipment costs and their impact on the project budget.

6. Quantity Surveying & Measurement

• Review quantities, BOQs, specifications, and contract documents.
• Verify site measurements and work progress where required.
• Ensure valuations and payment applications are supported by accurate measurements.
• Monitor changes in quantities and scope throughout project execution.
• Identify commercial and cost risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Maintain project cost risk registers and mitigation plans.
• Highlight potential claims, variations, delays, and financial exposures.
• Work closely with the Project Manager to mitigate commercial risks.

8. Project Close-Out

• Support preparation and agreement of subcontractor final accounts.
• Ensure all project costs, commitments, variations, and accruals are properly closed.
• Support final project cost reconciliation.
• Prepare final cost reports and lessons learned.

Required Experience & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Commercial Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 7-10 years of relevant experience in construction cost management, quantity surveying, or commercial management.
• Strong experience working on building construction projects is mandatory.
• Experience with commercial/cost management for projects such as:
• Residential buildings
• Commercial buildings
• Hotels
• Villas and compounds
• Retail or office developments
• Strong understanding of construction contracts, BOQs, variations, valuations, and subcontractor accounts.
• UAE/GCC construction experience is highly preferred.

Key Skills:

• Construction Cost Management
• Cost Planning & Budget Control
• Cost Forecasting
• Cost-to-Complete (CTC)
• Quantity Surveying
• BOQ & Quantity Measurement
• Variations & Change Management
• Subcontractor Cost Management
• Procurement Cost Control
• Interim Payments & Valuations
• Final Accounts
• Claims & Contract Administration
• Budget vs. Actual Analysis
• Cash Flow Forecasting
• Negotiation & Commercial Acumen
• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• ERP / Cost Management Systems

Preferred Certifications:

• RICS / MRICS – Quantity Surveying or Commercial Management
• PMP or equivalent project management certification
• FIDIC Contract Management certification
• Professional Quantity Surveying certification
• Strong commercial and business acumen
• Excellent analytical and numerical skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to identify cost risks before they impact the project
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder-management skills
• Ability to work independently on-site
• Strong communication and reporting skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet project deadlines
• Hands‑on approach to project cost control

Ideal Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate will be a hands-on Site Cost Manager / Senior Quantity Surveyor / Cost Manager with strong experience in building construction projects, rather than infrastructure-only projects. They should be commercially driven, confident in dealing with subcontractors and project teams, and capable of independently managing project budgets, cost forecasting, variations, commitments, and final accounts from site.