Cost Estimation Engineer

Dar Al Riyadh Group; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 420,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

Dar Al Riyadh Group in Saudi Arabia seeks an experienced Senior Cost Estimator to lead cost estimation activities for infrastructure, water, dam and asset-maintenance projects nationwide.

You will collect, validate and organize cost data, prepare detailed estimates, develop unit rates and cost-build-ups, and review drawings, specifications and Bills of Quantities with project teams and stakeholders to ensure accurate, timely budgets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from a recognized university.
• Minimum 12 years of professional experience in cost estimation, cost engineering or project controls.
• Demonstrated experience preparing estimates for infrastructure, water, dam or asset-maintenance projects.
• Familiarity with mechanical, hydraulic and pumping-system works.
• Strong experience analyzing drawings, specifications, work items and bills of quantities.
• Experience preparing detailed unit rates and resource-based cost build-ups.
• Knowledge of budgeting, cost forecasting, variance analysis and cost-risk assessment.
• Experience reviewing quotations, tenders, variations, claims and commercial proposals.
• Ability to compare estimated and actual costs and recommend corrective actions.
• Proficiency in specialist estimating, cost-control and project-management software.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and data-analysis skills.
• Strong numerical, analytical, technical-reporting and stakeholder-coordination capabilities.
• Relevant experience must be supported by verifiable employment records, project references, estimates, reports or studies when requested.

Responsibilities

• Collect, validate and organize historical, market and project-specific cost data.
• Prepare conceptual, preliminary, detailed and pre-tender cost estimates.
• Develop estimates for dam operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and improvement works.
• Estimate the cost of civil, mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, instrumentation and associated works.
• Analyze scopes of work, drawings, specifications, bills of quantities and project schedules.
• Prepare detailed cost build-ups for labour, materials, equipment, subcontractors and indirect costs.
• Estimate mechanical, hydraulic and pumping-system works, including pumps, gates, valves, pipelines, hoists and related equipment.
• Review quantities and verify alignment between drawings, specifications and bills of quantities.
• Identify the key technical, operational, logistical and market factors affecting project cost.
• Develop unit rates using productivity, resource and market-price information.
• Prepare cost plans, cash-flow forecasts, expenditure profiles and budget requirements.
• Compare estimated, budgeted, committed and actual costs.
• Analyze cost variances and identify the reasons for overruns, savings and forecast changes.
• Recommend corrective measures to control expenditure and maintain approved budgets.
• Prepare estimates at completion and regularly update cost forecasts.
• Monitor contingency, escalation, allowances and identified cost risks.
• Conduct cost-risk and sensitivity analyses for major work packages.
• Support value-engineering studies and evaluate alternative materials, equipment and execution methods.
• Review contractors’ quotations, commercial proposals and cost breakdowns.
• Support the technical and commercial evaluation of tenders.
• Review variation estimates, change requests, claims and additional-work proposals.
• Assess the cost impact of design changes, delays, scope modifications and schedule-recovery measures.
• Monitor project budgets, commitments, invoices, payment certificates and claims.
• Reconcile cost information with Finance, Contracts, Procurement and Project Controls.
• Maintain cost databases covering market rates, supplier quotations, historical prices and awarded contract rates.
• Prepare price-comparison reports and cost benchmarks for similar projects.
• Update cost databases to reflect inflation, market conditions, regional differences and current supplier pricing.
• Review contractor performance data and identify productivity trends affecting future estimates.
• Maintain complete estimating records, assumptions, exclusions, clarifications and supporting documents.
• Prepare clear daily, weekly, monthly, annual and technical reports as required by the assignment.
• Present estimates, forecasts, cost risks and recommendations to management and government stakeholders.
• Coordinate with government stakeholders, consultants, contractors and multidisciplinary teams.
• Attend meetings, inspections and site visits anywhere in Saudi Arabia as required.
• Comply with Saudi laws, applicable codes, Client procedures, quality requirements and occupational health and safety obligations.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Data analysis

Stakeholder coordination

Cost estimation

Numerical analysis

Technical reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Estimating software

Spreadsheet software

Project management software

Job description

• Collect, validate and organize historical, market and project-specific cost data.
• Prepare conceptual, preliminary, detailed and pre-tender cost estimates.
• Develop estimates for dam operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and improvement works.
• Estimate the cost of civil, mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, instrumentation and associated works.
• Analyze scopes of work, drawings, specifications, bills of quantities and project schedules.
• Prepare detailed cost build-ups for labour, materials, equipment, subcontractors and indirect costs.
• Estimate mechanical, hydraulic and pumping-system works, including pumps, gates, valves, pipelines, hoists and related equipment.
• Review quantities and verify alignment between drawings, specifications and bills of quantities.
• Identify the key technical, operational, logistical and market factors affecting project cost.
• Develop unit rates using productivity, resource and market-price information.
• Prepare cost plans, cash-flow forecasts, expenditure profiles and budget requirements.
• Compare estimated, budgeted, committed and actual costs.
• Analyze cost variances and identify the reasons for overruns, savings and forecast changes.
• Recommend corrective measures to control expenditure and maintain approved budgets.
• Prepare estimates at completion and regularly update cost forecasts.
• Monitor contingency, escalation, allowances and identified cost risks.
• Conduct cost-risk and sensitivity analyses for major work packages.
• Support value-engineering studies and evaluate alternative materials, equipment and execution methods.
• Review contractors’ quotations, commercial proposals and cost breakdowns.
• Support the technical and commercial evaluation of tenders.
• Review variation estimates, change requests, claims and additional-work proposals.
• Assess the cost impact of design changes, delays, scope modifications and schedule-recovery measures.
• Monitor project budgets, commitments, invoices, payment certificates and claims.
• Reconcile cost information with Finance, Contracts, Procurement and Project Controls.
• Maintain cost databases covering market rates, supplier quotations, historical prices and awarded contract rates.
• Prepare price-comparison reports and cost benchmarks for similar projects.
• Update cost databases to reflect inflation, market conditions, regional differences and current supplier pricing.
• Review contractor performance data and identify productivity trends affecting future estimates.
• Maintain complete estimating records, assumptions, exclusions, clarifications and supporting documents.
• Prepare clear daily, weekly, monthly, annual and technical reports as required by the assignment.
• Present estimates, forecasts, cost risks and recommendations to management and government stakeholders.
• Coordinate with government stakeholders, consultants, contractors and multidisciplinary teams.
• Attend meetings, inspections and site visits anywhere in Saudi Arabia as required.
• Comply with Saudi laws, applicable codes, Client procedures, quality requirements and occupational health and safety obligations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from a recognized university.
• Minimum 12 years of professional experience in cost estimation, cost engineering or project controls.
• Demonstrated experience preparing estimates for infrastructure, water, dam or asset-maintenance projects.
• Familiarity with mechanical, hydraulic and pumping-system works.
• Strong experience analyzing drawings, specifications, work items and bills of quantities.
• Experience preparing detailed unit rates and resource-based cost build-ups.
• Knowledge of budgeting, cost forecasting, variance analysis and cost-risk assessment.
• Experience reviewing quotations, tenders, variations, claims and commercial proposals.
• Ability to compare estimated and actual costs and recommend corrective actions.
• Proficiency in specialist estimating, cost-control and project-management software.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and data-analysis skills.
• Strong numerical, analytical, technical-reporting and stakeholder-coordination capabilities.
• Relevant experience must be supported by verifiable employment records, project references, estimates, reports or studies when requested.