Cost Estimation

Expo 2030 Riyadh; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 300,000 - 460,000; Full time

Job summary

Expo 2030 Riyadh is seeking a senior Cost Estimation leader to oversee conceptual, preliminary, and detailed estimates, benchmarks, and cost models for giga-project delivery. You will align estimates with design maturity, scope exclusions, and the approved financial envelopes, coordinating with development, delivery, procurement, and finance teams.

You will develop internal benchmarks, cost models, and BI tools, monitor bid variances, support value engineering, and guide the ERC program with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in quantity surveying, civil engineering, construction management or related field.
• Master's degree in a relevant field preferred.
• 7-11 years of relevant experience with leadership and strategic decision-making.
• Experience leading cost estimating for large construction/infrastructure programs.
• Saudi Arabia or GCC experience preferred.
• Fluent Arabic and English preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee conceptual, preliminary and detailed cost estimates and benchmarks.
• Validate pre-award estimates and align with design maturity and scope exclusions.
• Run affordability checks with Design to keep solutions within target cost.
• Support value-engineering workshops by quantifying savings and schedule effects.
• Coordinate independent cost reviews for high-risk scopes before commitment.
• Approve estimate classifications, contingencies, and basis-of-estimate docs.
• Benchmark and develop cost models using market data and baselines.
• Maintain benchmark databases and market indices for key trades and pavilion typologies.
• Develop BI tools and databases for vertical-specific and infrastructure estimation.
• Analyze bid variances vs. estimates to refine benchmarks for future projects.
• Provide estimate benchmarks to Procurement to support bid evaluation.
• Capture lessons learned to inform future ERC programs.
• Oversee cost-estimation standards and lead the Cost Estimation team.

Skills

Cost Estimating

Benchmarking

Value Engineering

Commercial Management

Stakeholder Management

Strategic Leadership

Arabic & English

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Power BI

Estimating Tools

Job description

Oversee ERC’s cost estimating frameworks by governing conceptual, preliminary, and detailed estimates, benchmarks, and cost models, integrating with development, delivery, procurement, and finance to keep Expo 2030 Riyadh within approved financial envelopes.

Responsibilities:

• Prepare conceptual, preliminary, and detailed cost estimates.
• Validate pre-award cost estimates for major packages and confirm alignment with the latest design maturity and scope exclusions.
• Run affordability checks during design development with the Design function to keep solutions within target cost.
• Support value-engineering workshops by quantifying savings and schedule effects while protecting quality and operability.
• Coordinate independent cost reviews for high-risk scopes to validate major decisions before commitment.
• Approve estimate classes, contingency allowances, and basis-of-estimate documentation before submission for decision.
• Benchmark and develop cost models using market data and historical baselines.
• Maintain benchmark databases and market indices for key trades, systems, and pavilion typologies relevant to Expo Riyadh.
• Develop BI tools and databases for vertical-specific and infrastructure estimation.
• Analyze bid variances vs. estimates to refine benchmarks and improve future predictions.
• Provide estimate benchmarks to Procurement to support bid evaluation and award recommendations.
• Capture lessons learned on estimating accuracy, market response, and risk pricing to inform future ERC programs.
• Oversee cost estimating standards (class definitions, assumptions libraries) to ensure comparable bids and defensible business cases.
• Set the strategy, operating model, and annual plan for Cost Estimation in alignment with Cost Estimation & Control and ERC objectives.
• Define priorities, performance standards, and KPIs for Cost Estimation, and report performance to Cost Estimation & Control leadership.
• Lead, develop, and motivate the Cost Estimation team, setting objectives and managing team performance in line with company performance management processes.
• Build team capability and foster a culture of accuracy, integrity, accountability, and collaboration.

Job Requirements (Minimum Qualifications, Experience, Skills)

Educational Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in quantity surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred.

Professional Certifications Preferred

• Relevant professional certifications or memberships in cost estimation, cost management, quantity surveying, or project controls are preferred.

Experience

• 7-11 years of relevant experience, with a strong leadership background and proven track record of strategic decision-making.

Nature of Experience

• Extensive experience leading cost estimating for construction and infrastructure programs on giga-projects or major events.
• Strong experience building benchmark databases and cost models.
• Experience supporting value engineering and bid evaluation.
• Experience in Saudi Arabia or the GCC is preferred.

Job Specific Skills

• Cost estimating across all design stages.
• Benchmarking, market analysis, and cost databases.
• Value engineering and affordability analysis.
• Estimating tools and BI tools such as Power BI.
• Commercial and stakeholder management.
• Strategic leadership and team development.
• Fluency in Arabic and English is preferred.