Senior Cost Estimator | Investment & Governance

Rio Tinto; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Permanent role

Competitive base salary

Share ownership plan

Private health insurance

Job summary

Rio Tinto is seeking a Senior Specialist Cost Estimator in Australia to strengthen investment planning and governance within the Enterprise PMO. Based in Brisbane or Perth, you will provide independent cost assurance and partner with sponsors, commercial teams and delivery partners to improve cost confidence.

You will validate vendor estimates, assess drivers and assumptions, and support investment approvals with high-quality cost insights.

Qualifications

• Commitment to safety of yourself and team.
• Advanced expertise in cost estimating, commercial analysis, investment planning, governance and risk management.
• Experience validating third-party cost estimates and reviewing commercial proposals.
• Tertiary qualification in Project Management, Finance or Commerce; professional estimating certification desirable.
• Experience applying structured estimation methodologies, financial analysis, governance frameworks and project controls.

Responsibilities

• Validate vendor-provided cost estimates, pricing structures and commercial assumptions for accuracy, completeness and alignment to agreed scope and delivery models.
• Assess cost drivers, estimation methodologies and key assumptions to support informed investment and portfolio decisions.
• Provide independent challenge and cost assurance, identifying risks, opportunities, affordability concerns and estimation bias.
• Support investment approvals, governance forums and stage-gate reviews with high-quality cost assurance insights.
• Ensure estimates meet defined standards for quality, transparency and evidence before progressing through governance processes.
• Partner with project sponsors, commercial teams, procurement, finance, project controls and delivery partners to validate assumptions and improve cost confidence.
• Highlight commercial implications, pricing risks and potential cost exposure early in the lifecycle of initiatives.
• Identify recurring estimation issues and systemic inefficiencies to improve portfolio-wide cost visibility and forecasting capability.

Skills

Cost estimating

Commercial analysis

Investment planning

Independent challenge

Governance

Risk management

Mining experience

Education

Project Management

Finance

Commerce

Job description

Rio Tinto is seeking a Senior Specialist Cost Estimator in Australia to strengthen investment planning and governance within the Enterprise PMO. Based in Brisbane or Perth, you will provide independent cost assurance and partner with sponsors, commercial teams and delivery partners to improve cost confidence.

You will validate vendor estimates, assess drivers and assumptions, and support investment approvals with high-quality cost insights.