Portfolio Construction Cost Manager

Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail; Dublin; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail is seeking a senior Portfolio Construction Cost Manager to lead the development of a portfolio‑wide cost performance framework across the Capital Investments programme. You will establish systems, dashboards and governance to provide senior leadership with timely insights on financial performance and ensure consistency across all projects.

The role requires extensive experience in cost performance management, strong analytical skills, and the ability to drive assurance

Qualifications

• 15 years’ experience in cost performance management, project controls, financial analysis, or commercial management within major infrastructure or capital project environments.
• Strong understanding of cost reporting, forecasting, variance analysis and portfolio‑level performance management.
• Proven ability to design and implement systems, processes and governance frameworks for cost performance.
• Excellent analytical skills with ability to translate complex data into clear insights for senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading assurance activities and improving data quality across large programmes.
• Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and build capability across multidisciplinary teams.
• Professional accreditation (ACostE, AACE, RICS, PMI, or equivalent).
• Experience working within a publicly funded or regulated environment.
• Familiarity with the Public Spending Code, Infrastructure Guidelines and NTA Cost Management Guidelines.
• Experience with digital project controls platforms and portfolio reporting tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a unified framework for monitoring, analysing and reporting cost performance across all capital projects and programmes.
• Establish consistent definitions, metrics and reporting standards for cost versus budget performance, including forecasting, variances, trends and cost‑to‑complete.
• Lead the production of portfolio‑level cost performance reports, dashboards, and insights for senior leadership, governance boards and approving authorities.
• Identify systemic cost performance issues, emerging risks and opportunities for efficiency across the portfolio.
• Design and implement the systems, tools, and data structures required to capture cost performance information consistently and accurately.
• Work closely with Programme Controls, Finance and IT to integrate cost performance data into wider project controls and financial systems.
• Develop standardised templates, guidance materials and reporting protocols for project teams.
• Ensure data quality, completeness and traceability across all cost performance reporting.
• Establish and lead a robust assurance regime to verify the accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of cost reporting across the portfolio.
• Conduct periodic reviews, audits and deep‑dives into project cost performance, ensuring compliance with Irish Rail governance, the Public Spending Code, Infrastructure Guidelines and NTA requirements where applicable.
• Provide senior leadership with clear assessments of cost performance reliability and areas requiring corrective action.
• Support continuous improvement by embedding lessons learned and strengthening controls.
• Lead the development of forecasting methodologies and tools that improve predictability of outturn costs.
• Analyse cost trends, variances and performance drivers across the portfolio to support strategic decision‑making.
• Provide evidence‑based recommendations to improve cost performance, mitigate risks and enhance value for money.
• Work with project teams to strengthen the quality of cost forecasts and ensure alignment with portfolio‑level expectations.
• Provide leadership and direction to project and programme teams on cost performance management best practice.
• Build organisational capability through training, coaching and knowledge‑sharing on cost reporting, forecasting and analysis.
• Foster a culture of transparency, accountability and proactive cost management across the Capital Investments function.
• Represent Irish Rail in cross‑agency working groups, industry forums, and engagements with external partners and approving authorities.

Skills

Cost performance management

Project controls

Financial analysis

Stakeholder management

Education

ACostE/AACE/RICS/PMI accreditation

Tools

Digital project controls platforms

Job description

Role and Purpose

The Portfolio Construction Cost Manager will lead the development of a comprehensive, portfolio‑wide cost performance management and assurance framework for Irish Rail’s Capital Investments programme, including :

• Project Level Spend versus Budget
• Forecasting and trend analysis
• Cost Exposure and commitment analysis

This senior role will ensure that cost performance is monitored consistently, reported transparently and assured rigorously across all projects and programmes.

The post holder will establish the systems, processes and analytical tools (dashboards etc) required to provide senior leadership with clear, timely and accurate insights on financial performance. They will play a critical role in strengthening commercial governance, improving predictability and supporting evidence‑based decision‑making across the capital portfolio.

Reporting Relationships:

Reports to:

• Head of Commercial, Commercial Department

Working Relationship with:

• All members of the CI Commercial Department
• All members of the wider Capital Investments Senior Leadership Team and their respective departments – including Railway Systems Director, Development and Design Director, Delivery Director and Head of Finance.
• The IÉ Procurement Department & other departments within IÉ
• External agencies, including Department of Transport (DoT), National Transport Authority (NTA), local authorities, An Bord Pleanála, utility providers etc.
• External Consultants and Contractors appointed to deliver the Capital Investment portfolio.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Safety: To act as a focus for safety in line with the New Works SMS and to discharge your safety responsibilities as outlined by your reporting Manager and Safety Responsibility Statement (SRS). Implementation of the Construction Regulations.
• Engineering: To ensure that all projects are properly authorized and progressed in accordance with the Building regulations, IE and IM policy, standards and procedures.
• Business: To manage, coordinate and control all projects and related activities for your business.
• People: To ensure constant communication with all colleagues within your area and to support the People Management policy within the IM team.
• Sustainability: To embed sustainability in project planning and delivery, ensuring environmental compliance, carbon reduction and continuous improvement.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement a unified framework for monitoring, analysing and reporting cost performance across all capital projects and programmes.
• Establish consistent definitions, metrics and reporting standards for cost versus budget performance, including forecasting, variances, trends and cost‑to‑complete.
• Lead the production of portfolio‑level cost performance reports, dashboards, and insights for senior leadership, governance boards and approving authorities.
• Identify systemic cost performance issues, emerging risks and opportunities for efficiency across the portfolio.
• Design and implement the systems, tools, and data structures required to capture cost performance information consistently and accurately.
• Work closely with Programme Controls, Finance and IT to integrate cost performance data into wider project controls and financial systems.
• Develop standardised templates, guidance materials and reporting protocols for project teams.
• Ensure data quality, completeness and traceability across all cost performance reporting.

3. Assurance & Compliance

• Establish and lead a robust assurance regime to verify the accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of cost reporting across the portfolio.
• Conduct periodic reviews, audits and deep‑dives into project cost performance, ensuring compliance with Irish Rail governance, the Public Spending Code, Infrastructure Guidelines and NTA requirements where applicable.
• Provide senior leadership with clear assessments of cost performance reliability and areas requiring corrective action.
• Support continuous improvement by embedding lessons learned and strengthening controls.

4. Forecasting, Analysis & Insight Generation

• Lead the development of forecasting methodologies and tools that improve predictability of outturn costs.
• Analyse cost trends, variances and performance drivers across the portfolio to support strategic decision‑making.
• Provide evidence‑based recommendations to improve cost performance, mitigate risks and enhance value for money.
• Work with project teams to strengthen the quality of cost forecasts and ensure alignment with portfolio‑level expectations.

5. Leadership, Collaboration & Capability Building

• Provide leadership and direction to project and programme teams on cost performance management best practice.
• Build organisational capability through training, coaching and knowledge‑sharing on cost reporting, forecasting and analysis.
• Foster a culture of transparency, accountability and proactive cost management across the Capital Investments function.
• Represent Irish Rail in cross‑agency working groups, industry forums, and engagements with external partners and approving authorities.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• 15 years’ experience in cost performance management, project controls, financial analysis, or commercial management within major infrastructure or capital project environments.
• Strong understanding of cost reporting, forecasting, variance analysis and portfolio‑level performance management.
• Proven ability to design and implement systems, processes and governance frameworks for cost performance.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into clear insights for senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading assurance activities and improving data quality across large programmes.
• Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and build capability across multidisciplinary teams.
• Professional accreditation (e.g., ACostE, AACE, RICS, PMI, or equivalent).
• Experience working within a publicly funded or regulated environment.
• Familiarity with the Public Spending Code, Infrastructure Guidelines and NTA Cost Management Guidelines.
• Experience with digital project controls platforms and portfolio reporting tools.