Cost Assurance Lead

City-of-Gold-Coast; Gold Coast City; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9-day fortnight

Hybrid work

Development courses

Fitness Passport

Counselling sessions

Nutritionist & financial advice

Job summary

City of Gold Coast is seeking a Cost Assurance Lead to oversee the cost assurance function across the full project lifecycle for major infrastructure investments.

You will conduct independent cost reviews, benchmark estimates against scope and market conditions, and develop governance frameworks while mentoring estimators and partnering with senior stakeholders to improve cost certainty and project outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field (or equivalent).
• Experience leading cost reviews and mentoring teams.
• Strong communication and ability to translate cost data for stakeholders.
• Knowledge of trades for municipal infrastructure measurement and pricing.
• Proficiency with Cubit, Excel and Power BI.

Responsibilities

• Lead independent cost assurance reviews across major infrastructure projects.
• Validate estimates against scope, risks, market conditions, and industry benchmarks.
• Provide clear, evidence-based advice to support investment and delivery decisions.
• Develop and maintain cost assurance frameworks, governance, and guidelines.
• Mentor and coach estimators, helping build capability across the team.
• Collaborate with project delivery, engineering, procurement and finance stakeholders.
• Drive consistency, transparency, and best-practice cost management across the City’s capital works program.

Skills

Strong communication and presentation

Ability to work under pressure and jug

Collaborate with cross-functional

Knowledge of building trades & pricing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, or related field

Tools

Cubit

Excel

Power BI

Job description

The Cost Intelligence Team sits within Infrastructure Gold Coast's Infrastructure Delivery branch and is recognised as a centre of excellence for project cost management.

Our team brings together expertise across Cost Estimation, Cost Intelligence, and Cost Assurance, supporting evidence-based investment decisions across the City's infrastructure portfolio. Working alongside project managers, engineers, procurement specialists, and finance professionals, we provide the insights and governance that drive better project outcomes.

This is a collaborative, high-performing team where your expertise will be valued, your ideas welcomed, and your influence felt across the organisation.

About the role

As the Cost Assurance Lead, you will lead the City's cost assurance function across the entire project lifecycle, helping ensure robust decision‑making and value for money on significant infrastructure investments.

You'll conduct independent cost reviews, critically assess estimates against project scope and market conditions, and develop the frameworks, governance, and best‑practice processes that underpin cost assurance across the organisation.

This is more than a technical role. You'll be a key leader, mentoring estimators, driving continuous improvement, and partnering with senior stakeholders to improve cost certainty and project outcomes.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead independent cost assurance reviews across major infrastructure projects
• Validate estimates against scope, risks, market conditions, and industry benchmarks
• Provide clear, evidence-based advice to support investment and delivery decisions
• Develop and maintain cost assurance frameworks, governance, and guidelines
• Mentor and coach estimators, helping build capability across the team
• Collaborate with project delivery, engineering, procurement, and finance stakeholders
• Drive consistency, transparency, and best‑practice cost management across the City's capital works program

We’re looking for people who have:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Demonstrated experience in a cost assurance or senior estimating role, with a track record of leading reviews and mentoring teams
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex cost data into clear, actionable insights for diverse stakeholders
• Knowledge of building trades, civil trades, and specialist trades relevant to municipal infrastructure measurement and pricing
• Proficiency with estimating software such as Cubit, and strong skills in Excel and Power BI
• Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and collaborate effectively with cross‑functional stakeholders at all levels

Be part of shaping the Gold Coast’s future

The Gold Coast is inspired by lifestyle and driven by opportunity. We are the second largest Council in Australia.

We care about being the most flexible government organisation in Australia. We have a range of benefits to help you create the right balance:

• 9-day fortnight
• Flexible work arrangements to suit your lifestyle, including hybrid/work from home options, flexible working hours and locations
• Personal and professional development courses
• Access to 350+ fitness facilities through Fitness Passport
• 4 free confidential counselling sessions a year for you or an immediate family member
• 1 free nutritionist and financial advice session per year

We pride ourselves on our shared mission of being a high-performing, customer‑focused organisation which delivers value‑for‑money services to the community.

Contact Email

[e-mail]

Closing Date

Sunday 27th September 2026 /11:59pm

Our selection process may include a one-way video interview via Criteria, a face-to-face or virtual interview via Microsoft Teams, reference checks via Xref and additional checks including police checks, employment history checks, qualification checks, pre-employment medical reviews and drug and alcohol testing.

We’re committed to creating a diverse workplace and inclusive culture. We take pride in people who align with our high-performance principles. We believe that the diverse makeup of our workforce reflects the community we serve. We consider all qualified candidates for employment, irrespective of race, age, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics by law.