Senior Cost Engineer (Replacement Warhead)

AWE; Reading; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A key infrastructure program employer is seeking a Senior Cost Engineer based in Reading. You will lead a team of Cost Engineers supporting the Replacement Warhead Programme. Responsibilities include producing financial reports, engaging stakeholders, and implementing cost practices. The ideal candidate has significant experience in cost engineering, strong analytical skills, and a relevant degree. The position offers competitive salary starting at £45,110, with opportunities for negotiation and team development.

Benefits

Onsite parking

Public transport services

Opportunity for professional development

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Cost Engineering with a strong focus on relationship building.
• Ability to implement best practice cost engineering processes and tools.
• Experience in engaging with stakeholders and influencing decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Cost Engineers for the Replacement Warhead Programme.
• Produce weekly reports and conduct data analysis for project insights.
• Engage continuously with stakeholders to align on commitments.

Skills

Cost engineering

Stakeholder engagement

Change control

Budget production

Forecasting

Team coaching

Education

Degree or HND/HNC in a relevant discipline

Membership in a professional body like ACostE

Tools

Oracle Fusion

Excel

Job description

We need an AWEsome Senior Cost Engineer to lead and develop a team of Cost Engineers supporting our Replacement Warhead Programme.

Location: Onsite working, with our offices based in Berkshire RG7 4PR between Reading, Basingstoke and Newbury with onsite parking and public transport services.

Salary: Band Starting at £45,110, this is VERY MUCH open to upwards negotiation if you can dazzle us with an AWEsome array of Cost Eng. and relationship building talent.

What's exciting is:

You will be joining the business to be part of one of the most complex infrastructure programmes in the country at a pivotal moment in its evolution. The UK government has committed substantial investment into improving our infrastructure, so we are building a talented team to make the most of this opportunity. It is a new approach for AWE and we need someone who can support a new programme in its set up then evolution into a full, long-term project.

Every day is different and could include any or all of the following:

Reporting and data extrapolation

• Production of weekly reports in Oracle Fusion using tools such as EXCEL: Pivots and Formulas such as LOOKUP to run and extrapolate data.
• The reports inform project teams: How are we doing? What will we spend? Factors to consider in terms of cost include labour resource and commitments such as purchase orders.
• There’s lots of variety within Project Controls at AWE, the focus could be 1 year or 10 years in terms of projection.
• Physical run of reports in Fusion - mainly bespoke extrapolation of specific data.
• Amending and adapting spreadsheets so they are fit for purpose for each report.
• Identifying anomalies in data then analysing and interrogating the information before providing an analysis to support the project manager with understanding Cost.
• Accruals / Prepayment - this is key as it requires a good understanding of the principles of prepayments to ensure compliance within Project reporting.
• Checking and actioning project transfers - moving the correct transfers between projects or within a project.
• Understanding source of transactions and data flow to ensure that the Cost transactions are understandable.
• ADFDI Uploads - (Interface to Fusion upload) to create forecast data.
• Utilising spreadsheets for forecasting.
• Oracle projects housekeeping - ensuring work breakdown structure is up to date and reporting flags are maintained - i.e., charging tasks are correct.
• Maintenance of asset definitions for MOD reporting.
• Using EVM (Earned Value Management) tools and data effectively
• Managing change control by ensuring data and financial values stack up. Is what we are asking for in the system?
• Trend analysis - reviewing data such as manpower/ forecasting/ travel and subsistent - this varies, the project area you are in dictates what costs are key.
• Maintenance of project asset definitions to identify physical assets within a project for reporting purposes.
• Supporting annual budget preparation data for construction
• Early engagement through helping with estimation and forecasting by providing the information used to estimate - such as historical data and commitments.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Continuous engagement with stakeholders: Planners/ Project Managers/ Task Managers to agree the monthly cycle and commitments.
• Attending forecast meetings as an integral participant as Cost Engineer input to interpret and explain the data is key.
• Immersion within the project to ensure a complete understanding - keeping up to speed with what the Project Manager knows or is planning in order to advise all stakeholders and explain the "why" behind issues.
• Using a blend of charisma and negotiation skills to challenge and influence Project Managers and Task Managers.
• Engaging with Procurement to keep up to date with all of the challenges and movement within the supply chain and how the orders are progressing through the system.
• Making sure that colleagues use the data provided by ensuring it is useful and in language that is easily understandable.
• Raising level of financial awareness within Project Teams.

We would like you to demonstrate or have experience of:

Implementing best practice cost engineering processes and tools including:

• Budget production and maintenance including MOD ABC (Annual Budget Cycle)
• Cost Forecasting
• Change Control
• Variance Analysis
• Cost and Performance Reporting
• Earned Value Management processes and techniques.
• Working within Public Contract Regulations
• Networking
• Influencing and building great relationships
• Experience of coaching and mentoring a team
• Knowledge of confidence modelling processes
• Working with different levels of stakeholders and showing an understanding of appropriate data levels for those stakeholders
• Experience of working in a Schedule focused programme

We do require the following qualification or equivalent:

• Degree or HND/HNC in appropriate business or technical discipline or equivalent experience
• Membership of a relevant professional body (Eg ACostE) and/or APM qualifications - desirable but not a deal breaker. This will be paid for by us if it is something you aspire to or wish to retain.

Why work for us?

You can find out more about our benefits HERE

To apply:

Please log into AWE Careers to submit your CV and a covering letter. Make sure that you highlight all relevant skills and experience for this job. Give us a clear view of what you can bring to the role and also why you want to work with the team here at AWE.

You must be willing and able to obtain and maintain Security/ Developed Vetting Clearance (funded by the AWE) in order to start with us in this role. It can take several months for clearance to come through.

DVSubjectsInformationLeaflet.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Important things you need to know:

• Interviews will be scheduled during working hours
• Interviews will be 90 minutes on TEAMS and will include a 5-to-10-minute presentation

If we receive an exceptionally high level of applications, this vacancy may close early. So don't procrastinate, refresh your CV and covering letter and apply now!

For more information about the role or the recruitment process, get in touch with me (Sunflower) at:

(Sorry agencies - we don't outsource our roles)