Director Cost Planning

Redpath Partners; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 260,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Executive leadership exposure

Job summary

Redpath Partners is partnering with Sydney Water to appoint a Cost Planning Director to lead enterprise cost intelligence across a major infrastructure portfolio. The role drives the evolution from traditional estimating to proactive cost intelligence, ensuring governance, benchmarking, and insight to support value-for-money outcomes.

You will lead the enterprise cost planning framework, develop robust cost intelligence across the full lifecycle, and provide independent cost assurance to inform

Qualifications

• 15+ years experience in infrastructure/large-scale delivery.
• Proven leadership in cost planning, estimating, or commercial functions.
• Strong track record supporting business cases and investment decisions.

Responsibilities

• Establish and govern an enterprise-wide cost planning framework across major capital programs.
• Lead cost intelligence, benchmarking, and performance analytics to improve decision-making.
• Provide independent cost assurance for business cases and governance processes.
• Influence design, procurement, and delivery strategies through cost insights.
• Develop and maintain cost benchmarking systems and global rate databases.
• Deliver insights on cost performance trends and productivity opportunities across the portfolio.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team spanning estimating, analytics, and strategic advisory.

Skills

15+ years experience

Senior leadership

Cost planning

Stakeholder engagement

Education

QS or Engineering degree

Job description

Redpath Partners is proud to be partnering exclusively with Sydney Water to appoint a Cost Planning Director to lead enterprise cost intelligence across one of Australia's largest and most critical infrastructure portfolios.

Sydney Water is undertaking a once-in-a-generation $34 billion infrastructure investment over the next decade to upgrade ageing assets, improve environmental outcomes, and support rapid population growth across Greater Sydney. This is a rare opportunity to play a pivotal leadership role in shaping how cost planning informs investment, design, and delivery decisions across a complex and high-profile capital program.

This role will lead the evolution of Sydney Water's cost planning capability - shifting from traditional estimating to proactive cost intelligence - ensuring reliable benchmarking, strong governance, and clear insight to support value-for-money outcomes across the portfolio.

The Opportunity As Cost Planning Director, you will lead the enterprise cost planning framework and oversee the development of robust cost intelligence, benchmarking, and performance insight across the full project lifecycle - from concept through to delivery and close-out.

You will provide independent cost assurance to support investment decisions, influence design and delivery strategies through data-driven insights, and build a high-performing team recognised for technical excellence and strategic advisory capability.

This is a highly visible leadership role with significant influence across executive stakeholders, delivery teams, and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and govern an enterprise-wide cost planning framework across major capital programs
• Lead cost intelligence, benchmarking, and performance analytics to improve decision-making
• Provide independent cost assurance for business cases, investment submissions, and governance processes
• Influence design, procurement, and delivery strategies through proactive cost analysis
• Develop and maintain cost benchmarking systems and global rate databases
• Deliver insights on cost performance trends and productivity opportunities across the portfolio
• Lead and develop a high-performing team spanning estimating, analytics, and strategic advisory
• Collaborate across engineering, delivery, finance, procurement, and risk to align cost planning with enterprise strategy
• Represent Sydney Water externally as a thought leader in cost planning and benchmarking

About You

You are an experienced senior leader with deep expertise in cost planning or estimating within complex infrastructure environments. You bring strong commercial acumen, a strategic mindset, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders through credible insights and data-driven recommendations.

You will have:

• 15+ years' experience across infrastructure or construction delivery
• Proven leadership experience in cost planning, estimating, or commercial functions
• Strong track record supporting business cases and investment decisions
• Expertise in cost planning frameworks, benchmarking, and cost assurance
• Experience influencing design and delivery decisions through cost insights
• Strong stakeholder engagement and executive influencing capability
• Qualifications in quantity surveying, engineering, or a related discipline

Why This Role

• Play a key leadership role in a $34 billion infrastructure investment program
• Shape enterprise cost strategy across one of Australia's largest capital portfolios
• Executive visibility and influence within a purpose-driven organisation
• Lead a high-impact team and build a best-practice cost intelligence capability
• Contribute to sustainable infrastructure outcomes for Greater Sydney
• Hybrid working and collaborative, values-led culture

About Sydney Water

Sydney Water is the primary provider of water, wastewater, recycled water, and stormwater services across Greater Sydney, delivering essential services to millions of customers while protecting the environment and supporting the city’s growth. Their people are committed to innovation, sustainability, and delivering exceptional customer outcomes.