Cost Engineer - Project Controls - Energy Projects Full-Time

Turner & Townsend; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking a Senior Cost Engineer to join the South West team in the UK for a nuclear sector programme. The role focuses on cost control across multiple projects, leading the accuracy of cost data and PMB-based reporting.

You will manage time, cost, risk and change with a proactive leadership stance. You will liaise with client teams and contractor partners, ensuring robust cost controls, accurate forecasts and timely accruals, while guiding junior delivery colleagues within a

Qualifications

• Professional Project Controls experience in Cost Engineering/Control across the project lifecycle.
• Understanding of EVM, progress reporting, forecasting and performance reporting.
• Ability to coordinate with multiple teams and deliver robust cost controls.

Responsibilities

• Tailor cost control approaches to client needs and best practice.
• Administer and maintain cost control systems for budgets, expenditures and forecasts.
• Support PMB development and change control process with accurate cost data.
• Develop CBS and align budgets with WBS/WO structures for cost tracking.
• Ensure NEC or FIDIC cost data processes are followed and reported.
• Lead accruals production to accurately reflect Actual Cost of Work Performed.
• Update forecasts and ETC to align with project objectives.
• Guide cost capture requirements and ensure PO/WOs are linked to CBS.

Skills

Cost engineering

Earned Value Management

Cost control

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Job description

Company Description

At Turner & Townsend we’re passionate about making the difference – we are committed to delivering Sustainable Net Zero outcomes for our clients, helping our people to realize their potential, and doing our part to create a prosperous society.

The world is changing, and we have a responsibility to support that change, helping drive it and be part of it.

Through the commitment, capability and care our team brings, we build trust between clients, suppliers, governments, and society. Delivering better outcomes that have a positive impact on the world around us.

We work smarter to face the challenges of the future; bringing the clarity that helps teams realise their full potential across the real estate, infrastructure, and natural resources sectors.

It’s how we’ve made the difference for 75 years. Transforming performance for a green, inclusive and productive world.

Job Description

Due to increased opportunities and demand in the Energy & Natural Resources division, the South West team are recruiting for Cost Engineers to join a diverse and supportive team during a period of significant growth. Our nuclear client is at the forefront of industry leading change, and we are keen to speak to like‑minded individuals with senior cost engineering experience to see what Turner & Townsend can offer you. Candidates will be required to be present in our client office in Bridgewater for 3 days per week.

MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE

A Cost Engineer will be responsible for work packages and projects of varying size and complexity. Due to the nature of the programme of works, work packages may vary in size with Cost Engineers accountable for control of cost on multiple smaller projects or one which could be significantly larger in value. A Senior Cost Engineer will be responsible for taking the lead on cost control for multiple non‑related projects or single highly complex projects within the programme of works. They will understand and manage relationships between time, cost, risk, change, reporting and scope, with accountability for creating and maintaining robust cost controls and reports that provide our clients with accurate data to drive management decisions. They will play a key role in ensuring that client objectives are met and that projects are delivered to time and cost targets and the appropriate quality standards.

Key Accountabilities

As a Cost Engineer, you have a passion to provide services as required by our clients, which may include:

• Tailoring Cost Control approaches to meet the client’s needs and aligning with best practice.
• Implementing, administering, and maintaining cost control systems and procedures to track project budgets, commitments, expenditures, and forecasts.
• Working with the Integrated Project Team to establish a robust, integrated, well structured, accurate Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB) and support the change control process.
• Development of project Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS), align the time phasing of budgets against the Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), to accurately track and control actual costs.
• Map and integrate cost estimates to the Work Breakdown Structure, in order to set the project budget against the correct Work Packages, Planning Packages and Control Accounts.
• Adherence to NEC or FIDIC contract processes for management, control and reporting of cost data.
• Lead the production of accruals to ensure that the Actual Cost of Work Performed (ACWP) is accurately reflected in a timely manner in the cost data.
• Support the change process by providing cost information for change notes and to underpin forecasts.
• Update project forecasts to ensure comprehensive and aligned Estimate To Complete (ETC).
• Work with the project team to set out and implement cost capture requirements, including ensuring appropriate work orders (WO) are in place, structure of requisitions, aligning Purchase Order (PO) structure with WO’s and ensuring sub contract data provided can be used to monitor and control costs.
• Align Purchase Orders with CBS to give clarity of Cost Performance Indices at an appropriate level within the Project.
• Validate and interrogate supply chain data to assist in accurate cost forecasting and trending and work with the supply chain to understand variances, drive cost accuracy and timely and accurate reporting.
• Ability to interact with Management / Leadership members when delivering updates on Cost Control within a complex project/programme environment.
• Ability to guide and influence whilst delivering to cost control processes, on complex projects/programmes along with all associated processes & reports.
• Demonstrate leadership whilst developing technical ability of delivery and cost control team.

Qualifications

You have professional Project Controls experience specialising in Cost Engineering/Control in one or more sectors across the whole Project lifecycle. While nuclear experience is desirable it is not an absolute requirement. You have a detailed understanding of Earned Value Management (EVM), progress reporting, forecasting and performance reporting and analysis and can coordinate and work with other teams utilising your multi-disciplinary knowledge.

You will be a strong communicator, able to demonstrate leadership behaviours with the ability to influence, manage, motivate, coach and develop a team by fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. You promote empowerment and contribution and have a passion to build a community and support network beyond your delivery role.

You also:

• Will be able to obtain BPSS level security clearance.
• Are a member of a relevant professional body e.g., Association for Project Management, Project Management Institute.
• Are familiar with different cost performance reporting and cost forecasting techniques.
• Have experience leading Cost Control Assurance activities as part of project performance cadence.
• Understand how other aspects of Project Controls (Scheduling, Risk Management, Reporting, Change Control) interact with Cost Control is desirable.
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Have the ability to make risk‑based decisions where the parameters are unclear, and judgement is needed.
• Have strong leadership skills with the ability to mobilise, inspire and lead by example.
• Have strong stakeholder management experience.
• Can navigate through conflict situations and defuse tension.
• Have a desire to work within the nuclear sector.

Additional Information

Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.

We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work‑life balance.

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/

SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.