Senior Specialist Cost Estimator

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

• Provide independent cost assurance and commercial insight thatstrengthensinvestment decisions across Rio Tinto's portfolio
• Influence major investment approvals, governance outcomes and portfolio planning while partnering with senior stakeholders and delivery partners
• A Brisbane or Perth based opportunity, working within a collaborative and values-driven environment

We’reFinding Better Ways to provide materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values -care,courageand curiosity- guide how we work and how we treat each other.

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Specialist Cost Estimator to help the Enterprise Project Management Office (ePMO) deliver robust investment planning, governanceand decision-making.

What you'll be doing

Reporting to the Senior Manager of Delivery within the ePMO, and working in a collaborative project environment, you will:

• Validatevendor-provided cost estimates, pricing structures and commercial assumptions for accuracy, completeness and alignment to agreed scope and delivery models
• Assess cost drivers, estimationmethodologiesand key assumptions to support informed investment and portfolio decisions
• Provide independent challenge and cost assurance,identifyingrisks, opportunities, affordabilityconcernsand estimation bias
• Support investment approvals, governanceforumsand stage-gate reviews with high-quality cost assurance insights
• Ensure estimates meet defined standards for quality,transparencyand evidence before progressing through governance processes
• Partner with project sponsors, commercial teams, procurement, finance, projectcontrolsand delivery partners tovalidateassumptions and improve cost confidence
• Highlight commercial implications, pricingrisksand potential cost exposure early in the lifecycle of initiatives
• Identifyrecurring estimation issues and systemic inefficiencies to improve portfolio-wide cost visibility and forecasting capability

About you

Required for Success

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
• Advancedexpertisein cost estimating, commercial analysis, investment planning,governanceand risk management, with the ability to independently review and challenge complex estimates and proposals
• Demonstratedexperience validating third-party cost estimates, reviewing commercialproposalsand providing cost assurance within mining, resources, infrastructure, technologydeliveryor other large-scale capital environments
• A tertiary qualification in Project Management, Finance,Commerceor a related discipline. Professional estimating or cost engineering certification (such as AACE, ICEC or equivalent) is desirable
• Experience applying structured estimation methodologies, financial analysis, governanceframeworksand project controls practices to support investment decision-making

Helpful for Success

• Experience working with delivery partners,suppliersand contract management teams in complex delivery environments
• Knowledge of portfolio,programmeand project governance processes and stage-gate approval frameworks
• Exposure toenterprise transformation, digital, technology or major capital investment portfolios
• Ability to build constructive stakeholder relationships whilemaintainingindependence and objectivity

What we offer

Berecognisedfor your contribution,yourthinkingand your hard work, and go home knowingyou'vehelped the world progress.

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
• A permanent position working directly for Rio Tinto
• A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with annual incentive program
• Comprehensive medical benefits includingsubsidisedprivate health insurance for employees and immediate family
• Attractive share ownership plan
• Company provided insurance cover
• Extensive salary sacrifice & salary packaging options
• Career development & educationassistanceto further your technical or leadership ambitions
• Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical wellbeing support
• Leave for all of life's reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)
• Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more)

Where you'll be working

The EnterprisePMO (ePMO) supports the delivery of Rio Tinto's strategic enterprise projects through portfolio oversight, and commercial governance of key supplier partners. Working across a diverse portfolio with strategic suppliers and service providers, the team helps strengthen commercial performance, improve delivery confidence and ensure contractual commitments are effectively managed to deliver value for the business.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.

We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs - striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can't do it on our own, so we're focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.

Respect and Inclusion

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTQ+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome - they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.