Senior Cost Planning Lead for Infrastructure Projects

AusNet; Australia; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

AusNet is seeking a Cost Planning Lead to establish and lead cost planning processes across the WRL project. The role requires hands-on cost planning, collaboration with design teams and EPC contractors, and providing timely financial insights to support decision-making.

You will manage cost planning, baseline quantities, bid validation, and design development to ensure alignment with the construction budget.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Construction Management or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of Cost Planning roles within large scale projects.
• Cost engineering, estimating, forecasting and cost control on major infrastructure projects.
• Strong understanding of cost management methodologies, earned value principles and financial governance
• Strong commercial and contract management capability.
• High level of knowledge of engineering, procurement, contracts, construction, and startup work processes.
• A high level of organisational skills and demonstrated effectiveness handling multiple tasks, setting priorities, managing timeframes and meeting deadlines under pressure.
• Possess strong resilience and be adaptable in a rapidly changing environment.
• A learning mindset and the aptitude to quickly pick up new or complex concepts.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead cost planning processes that align project scope, design development, quantities and construction cost estimates.
• Review and validate the EPC cost plan against design information, quantity take-offs, rates and estimating assumptions to assess alignment with the construction budget.
• Support the project Change Management process by documenting changes to design scope, baseline quantities and cost-plan assumptions.
• Evaluate the quantity and cost impacts of design and delivery changes, compare options and provide recommendations to support decision-making.
• Maintain cost and quantity benchmarking files, progressively incorporating estimate at completion (EAC) and actual outturn cost (AOC) details to inform future cost plans.
• Work closely with design teams and the EPC contractor to reconcile design development with baseline quantities and the approved construction budget.
• Provide cost planning reports and analysis that explain quantity movements, design maturity, estimating assumptions and implications for project decisions.
• Lead the preparation of design-stage cost estimates, quantity-based assessments, cost trends and change proposals.
• Manage the cost planning aspects of the AGJV ITC contract, ensuring alignment with applicable processes, management plans and PSDR requirements.
• Lead the development of baseline quantities for all project work packages.
• Develop and validate quantity take-offs from design information, maintain traceable quantity baselines and reconcile changes as the design develops.
• Provide early warning insights on cost risks, opportunities and emerging pressures through design development.
• Coordinate and present cost-plan updates at design milestones, clearly explaining changes in quantities, rates, scope and estimating confidence.
• Review contract drafts for clear scope, quantity definitions, cost assumptions and cost planning requirements.
• Prepare and present cost planning, quantity and design-development insights to AusNet and the client, as required.
• Develop and apply standards for cost planning, quantity measurement and design-stage cost analysis.
• Undertakes ad-hoc tasks and analysis as assigned by the Project Controls Manager.

Skills

Cost Planning

Cost Engineering

Forecasting

Cost Control

Earned Value

Contract Management

Budget Governance

Teamwork

Adaptability

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Construction Management or related field

Job description

AusNet is seeking a Cost Planning Lead to establish and lead cost planning processes across the WRL project. The role requires hands-on cost planning, collaboration with design teams and EPC contractors, and providing timely financial insights to support decision-making.

You will manage cost planning, baseline quantities, bid validation, and design development to ensure alignment with the construction budget.