Senior Cost Estimator: Strategic Investment & Governance

Riotinto; Brisbane, Perth; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Annual incentive program

Private health insurance

Share ownership plan

Career development support

Leave entitlement

Job summary

Rio Tinto is seeking a Senior Specialist Cost Estimator to help the ePMO deliver robust investment planning, governance and decision-making across major initiatives in Australia. You will provide independent cost and commercial expertise to validate vendor estimates and commercial assumptions, ensuring transparency and alignment with business objectives.

Reporting to the Senior Manager of Delivery, you will validate cost drivers, support investment approvals, and partner with procurement,

Qualifications

• Advanced expertise in cost estimating, commercial analysis, investment planning, governance and risks.
• Experience validating third-party cost estimates in mining or large-scale capital environments.
• Tertiary qualification in Project Management, Finance, or Commerce; professional estimating certification desirable.
• Ability to review and challenge complex estimates and proposals.

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

Governance

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Commerce/Project Management

AACE/ICEC certification

Job description

Rio Tinto is seeking a Senior Specialist Cost Estimator to help the ePMO deliver robust investment planning, governance and decision-making across major initiatives in Australia. You will provide independent cost and commercial expertise to validate vendor estimates and commercial assumptions, ensuring transparency and alignment with business objectives.

Reporting to the Senior Manager of Delivery, you will validate cost drivers, support investment approvals, and partner with procurement,