Lead Cost Engineer – PMC

Turner & Townsend; Jakarta Pusat; On-site; IDR 600,000,000 - 1,000,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking a Lead Cost Engineer for a brownfield nickel smelter expansion in Sulawesi, Indonesia. You will lead the cost engineering, cost control and forecasting across EPC contracts, procurement and construction, delivering accurate EACs and cash flow analyses.

Role requires extensive EPC/EPCM experience, strong cost reporting discipline, and ability to manage risk and variance across a complex, China‑linked supply chain.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree inEngineering, Quantity Surveying, Cost Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, or related discipline.
• Minimum 12–15 years of cost engineering and project controls experience; 5+ years as Lead/Senior on major projects.
• Experience with EPC/owner's engineer or EPCM delivery and EAC development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the PMC cost engineering and cost control function.
• Develop and maintain cost reports, forecasts and EACs.
• Validate EPC contractor cost performance and budgets.
• Monitor cash flow, variances, and trend analyses.
• Coordinate with Contracts, Engineering, and Procurement teams.
• Provide independent cost assessments and risk-informed recommendations.

Skills

Cost engineering

Cost control

Forecasting

EAC development

Cash flow forecasting

Risk management

Change management

Earned Value Management

Project controls

PMO liaison

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Cost Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, or related discipline

Tools

EcoSys

Prism

SAP

Power BI

Oracle

Advanced Excel

Job description

• Department: Energy and natural resources

Company Description

At Turner & Townsend we’re passionate about making the difference. That means delivering better outcomes for our clients, helping our people to realize their potential, and doing our part to create a prosperous society.

Every day we help our major global clients deliver ambitious and highly technical projects, in over 110 offices worldwide. As part of our 2025 Vision we are putting Sustainability and Net Zero at the heart of our business.

https://www.turnerandtownsend.com/en/about-us/our-purpose-and-values/

Our team is dynamic, innovative and client-focused, supported by an inclusive and fun company culture. Our clients value our proactive approach, depth of expertise, integrity and the quality we deliver. As a result, our people get to enjoy working on some of the most exciting projects in the world.

Job Description

Role Summary

The Lead Cost Engineer is the PMC's principal authority for cost engineering, forecasting, budget control, trend management, change evaluation, and project financial performance. Acting as an independent assurance function between the Owner and the EPC Contractor, the role provides accurate visibility of the project's current and future cost position. On a large-scale brownfield RKEF smelter expansion in Sulawesi, the Lead Cost Engineer plays a critical role in protecting project value, forecasting commercial exposure, and supporting informed decision-making throughout engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and start-up.

Role Purpose

The Lead Cost Engineer is responsible for establishing, implementing, and maintaining all cost engineering, cost control, forecasting, change management, and cost reporting activities associated with the expansion of an operating nickel smelter through the addition of a second Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace (RKEF) production train in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

As part of the PMC organization, the Lead Cost Engineer provides independent cost assurance and commercial performance monitoring on behalf of the Owner while remaining independent from both the Owner and EPC Contractor.

The role is responsible for developing an accurate understanding of project cost performance, identifying emerging cost risks and opportunities, validating EPC Contractor forecasts, and supporting project leadership through timely and reliable cost reporting and financial analysis.

Particular emphasis is placed on managing the cost risks associated with a large brownfield industrial expansion involving significant procurement from China, major construction activities within an operating facility, extensive shutdown and tie-in works, and complex contractor interfaces.

Key Accountabilities

The Lead Cost Engineer is accountable for:

• Development and maintenance of project cost control systems.
• Independent validation of EPC Contractor cost performance.
• Cost forecasting and Estimate at Completion (EAC) development.
• Project budget monitoring and reporting.
• Cost trend management.
• Change and variation cost assessment.
• Cash flow forecasting.
• Cost risk identification and mitigation.
• Management reporting and executive cost dashboards.
• Integration of cost, schedule, progress, and change management information.

1. Cost Engineering Leadership

• Lead the PMC cost engineering and cost control function.
• Implement project cost control procedures, systems, and reporting requirements.
• Ensure consistency and accuracy of cost data across the project.
• Provide cost management advice to the Project Director and Project Controls Manager.
• Develop a proactive cost management culture across the project team.
• Support strategic project decision-making through financial analysis and forecasting.

2. Project Budget Management

• Budget Establishment and Control
• Maintain the approved project budget structure.
• Monitor budget allocations across project disciplines and work packages.
• Track approved budget revisions and transfers.
• Monitor utilization of management reserves and contingencies.
• Ensure budget performance remains aligned with project objectives.

Typical budget categories include:

• EPC Contract
• Owner Costs
• PMC Costs
• Temporary Facilities
• Utilities and Infrastructure
• Permitting and Regulatory Costs
• Logistics and Importation

3. Cost Control and Monitoring

Provide independent oversight of project cost performance.

Responsibilities include:

• Monitor commitments and expenditures.
• Review EPC Contractor cost reports.
• Validate cost performance information.
• Analyze cost variances and emerging trends.
• Monitor budget consumption and forecast accuracy.
• Identify potential overruns and savings opportunities.

Develop and maintain:

• Cost Reports
• Trend Registers
• Cost Forecasts
• Variance Analyses

4. Cost Forecasting and Estimate at Completion (EAC)

A key responsibility of the role.

Responsibilities include:

• Assess forecast accuracy and confidence levels.
• Review contractor forecast assumptions.
• Evaluate impacts of current and emerging issues.
• Update cost forecasts on a regular basis.
• Identify potential future liabilities and exposures.

Forecasting should incorporate:

• Approved changes
• Potential changes
• Productivity impacts
• Schedule impacts
• Regulatory impacts

Provide objective forecasting independent of contractor reporting.

5. Change Management and Cost Impact Evaluation

Responsibilities include:

• Review proposed changes and variations.
• Assess cost impacts.
• Develop independent cost evaluations.
• Coordinate with Contracts and Engineering teams.
• Monitor cumulative impacts of changes.

Typical changes may arise from:

• Brownfield discoveries
• Utility tie-ins
• Shutdown restrictions
• Regulatory requirements
• Scope growth
• Access constraints

Maintain a comprehensive Change Register and forecast future exposure.

6. Trend Management

Lead project cost trend management.

Responsibilities include:

• Establish trend identification and tracking systems.
• Monitor emerging commercial and technical issues.
• Evaluate potential cost consequences.
• Quantify estimated impacts.
• Provide early warning of budget threats.

Trend categories may include:

• Construction productivity losses
• Logistics impacts
• Contractor performance issues
• Supply chain disruptions

Ensure trends are monitored before becoming formal changes.

7. Cash Flow Management

Develop and maintain project cash flow forecasts.

Responsibilities include:

• Forecast monthly and annual cash requirements.
• Support Owner funding reviews.
• Assess impacts of procurement and construction delays.
• Coordinate with Project Controls and Supply Chain teams.

Particular focus should be placed on:

• Chinese equipment manufacturing milestones
• Commissioning expenditures

8. Progress and Earned Value Analysis

Support integration between cost and project progress measurement.

Responsibilities include:

• Review progress measurement methodologies.
• Validate earned value calculations.
• Assess performance trends.
• Analyze productivity impacts.
• Monitor cost efficiency indicators.

Typical metrics include:

• Cost Performance Index (CPI)
• Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
• Earned Value (EV)
• Planned Value (PV)
• Actual Cost (AC)

Support management understanding of project performance beyond simple expenditure reporting.

9. Procurement and Supply Chain Cost Monitoring

Work closely with the Supply Chain Manager to monitor:

• Procurement Costs
• Logistics costs
• Customs costs
• China-Based Supply Chain

Particular attention should be given to:

• Currency exposure
• Customs and import costs
• Expediting-related expenditures

Track impacts of procurement performance on project cost forecasts.

10. Brownfield Cost Management

A critical aspect of the role.

Monitor costs associated with execution inside an operating smelter.

Key focus areas:

• Shutdowns
• SIMOPS activities
• Utility tie-ins
• Restricted access areas
• Productivity impacts
• Outage costs
• Temporary systems

Assess and forecast cost consequences resulting from operational constraints.

11. Risk and Opportunity Analysis

Support project risk management through cost analysis.

Responsibilities include:

• Participate in project risk workshops.
• Quantify cost impacts of identified risks.
• Monitor effectiveness of mitigation strategies.
• Support quantitative risk analysis where required.

Typical risks include:

• Supply Chain Risks
• Chinese manufacturing delays
• Import restrictions
• Construction Risks
• Productivity shortfalls
• Labor market issues
• Rework
• Brownfield Risks
• Operational constraints
• Shutdown overruns
• Utility outages
• Commercial Risks
• Claims
• Variations
• Inflationary pressures

12. Management Reporting

Prepare cost reports for:

• Weekly Reporting
• Cost performance summary
• Forecast changes
• Monthly Reporting
• Budget status
• EAC updates
• Cash flow forecasts
• Change status

Present findings to:

• Owner Management
• Steering Committees
• Project Controls Reviews

RKEF and Brownfield-Specific Knowledge

The Lead Cost Engineer should possess a strong understanding of the cost drivers associated with:

• Process Facilities
• Rotary Kilns
• Electric Furnaces
• Electrode Systems
• Ore Drying Systems
• Infrastructure and Utilities
• HV Substations
• Power Distribution Systems
• Water Treatment Systems
• Cooling Water Systems
• Fuel Systems
• Port Infrastructure
• Brownfield Execution
• Utility tie-ins
• Shutdown activities
• Temporary facilities
• SIMOPS impacts
• Operational constraints
• Mechanical Completion
• Energization
• Start-up
• Performance Testing

Qualifications

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Cost Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, or related discipline.

Preferred Professional Certifications

• AACE Certified Cost Professional (CCP)
• AACE Earned Value Professional (EVP)
• MRICS or FRICS
• PMP
• Chartered Engineer (desirable)

Experience

• Minimum 12–15 years of cost engineering and project controls experience.
• Minimum 5 years as a Lead Cost Engineer or Senior Cost Engineer on major capital projects.
• Experience with EPC project execution.
• Experience developing EACs, cash flows, trends, and forecasts.
• Preferred
• Mining and Metals projects.
• Nickel, copper, ferroalloy, or steel smelters.
• Brownfield industrial expansions.
• PMC, Owner's Engineer, or EPCM projects.
• Indonesia or Southeast Asia project experience.
• Projects involving Chinese EPC contractors and supply chains.
• Large CAPEX projects (>US$500 million).
• Cost forecasting
• Budget management
• Cost control
• Trend analysis
• Change management
• Cash flow management
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Systems
• EcoSys
• Prism
• SAP
• Power BI
• Oracle
• Advanced Excel
• EPC contracts
• Claims impacts
• Variations
• Procurement commercial structures
• Risk-based forecasting
• Analytical thinking
• Commercial acumen
• Problem solving
• Communication and presentation

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Cost Management
• Accuracy of Estimate at Completion (EAC).
• Timely identification of cost overruns.
• Effective trend management.
• Forecast accuracy within agreed tolerance.
• Reporting
• Timely issue of cost reports.
• Quality and credibility of reporting.
• Clear communication of cost risks and opportunities.
• Change Management
• Timely assessment of cost impacts.
• Accurate valuation of project changes.
• Effective tracking of contingency utilization.
• Early identification of cost risks.
• Quantification of commercial exposure.
• Effective support to risk mitigation planning.
• Stakeholder Satisfaction
• Confidence of Project Director and Owner in cost forecasts.
• Effective support to Contracts, Supply Chain, and Construction teams.
• Strong collaboration across PMC functions.

Additional Information

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