Cost Section Manager - Project Cost Control

Parsons; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons Corporation is hiring a Cost Section Manager - Project Cost Control in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a senior construction role focused on cost governance, budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance across multiple project packages.

You will lead the Cost Management team, establish budgets and baselines, monitor cash flow and expenditure, review contractor claims, and provide executives with reliable cost reporting to support delivery decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Cost Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related discipline.
• Minimum 18 years of professional cost management experience within major construction, infrastructure, developer, PMC, or engineering consultancy environments.
• At least 10 years of experience leading Cost Management or Quantity Surveying teams.
• Extensive knowledge of both pre-contract and post-contract cost management.
• Strong experience developing and controlling large project budgets.
• Proven capability in forecasting, cash flow management, cost reporting, and variance analysis.
• Advanced understanding of cost optimization, benchmarking, and cost intelligence.
• Experience evaluating contractor claims, variations, payment applications, and change orders.
• Strong knowledge of commercial and financial performance assessment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Cost Management team across multiple project packages.
• Develop and maintain cost control procedures, reporting standards, workflows, and governance requirements.
• Establish project budgets and maintain approved cost baselines throughout the delivery lifecycle.
• Prepare and update cash flow forecasts based on current commitments, expenditure, and anticipated project requirements.
• Monitor approved budgets and provide monthly cost reports, forecasts, variance analyses, and management commentary.
• Track committed costs, incurred costs, actual payments, forecast expenditure, and projected final costs.
• Review financial performance across individual work packages and the wider project portfolio.
• Review contractor cost information before incorporating figures into management reporting.

Skills

Cost management

Cost control

Budgeting

Forecasting

Contract negotiations

Quantity surveying

Cost reporting

Variance analysis

Cost benchmarking

Cost optimization

Cost databases

Commercial analysis

Claims evaluation

Change orders

Procurement strategy

Tender evaluation

Value engineering

PMWeb

Power BI

Primavera

Microsoft Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying

Tools

Power BI

Primavera

PMWeb

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Job Snapshot

Cost Section Manager - Project Cost Control Job Snapshot Role: Cost Section Manager - Project Cost Control Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Industry: Construction Function: Cost Estimating Experience: Minimum 18 years Job Type: Full-time

Location: Saudi Arabia City: Riyadh Industry: Construction Function: Cost Estimating Salary: 40000-55000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer. Gender: Any Candidate Nationality: Any

Position Overview

Cost Section Manager - Project Cost Control in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is a senior Construction opportunity focused on cost governance, budgeting, forecasting, commercial analysis, claims evaluation, benchmarking, and financial performance across multiple project packages. Parsons Corporation is hiring an experienced cost management leader to direct quantity surveying and cost control activities, strengthen financial reporting, monitor project expenditure, and ensure management has reliable information for commercial and delivery decisions.

Role Context

The Cost Section Manager will lead the project cost management function across a portfolio of packages, ensuring that budgets, commitments, actual expenditure, forecasts, and final cost projections remain accurate and transparent throughout the project lifecycle. The position combines strategic cost oversight with detailed commercial analysis. By identifying cost movements early, testing contractor claims, monitoring cash flow, and maintaining reliable benchmarking information, the manager will help project leadership protect budgets, evaluate changes, and make informed financial decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Cost Management team across multiple project packages and establish clear priorities for cost control activities.
• Develop and maintain project cost control procedures, reporting standards, workflows, and governance requirements.
• Establish project budgets and maintain approved cost baselines throughout the delivery lifecycle.
• Prepare and update cash flow forecasts based on current commitments, expenditure, and anticipated project requirements.
• Monitor approved budgets and provide monthly cost reports, forecasts, variance analyses, and management commentary.
• Track committed costs, incurred costs, actual payments, forecast expenditure, and projected final costs.
• Review financial performance across individual work packages and the wider project portfolio.
• Validate contractor and consultant cost information before incorporating figures into management reporting.
• Assess forecast accuracy and investigate significant deviations from approved financial plans.
• Review contractor claims and evaluate associated cost entitlement and supporting documentation.
• Assess variations, change orders, payment applications, and commercial adjustments.
• Provide cost advice on proposed design changes and assess their potential budget implications.
• Support project change control by identifying current and future financial exposure.
• Conduct cost risk assessments and provide recommendations for appropriate contingencies.
• Identify potential cost overruns and work with project teams to establish practical mitigation measures.
• Support procurement strategy development and advise on commercial packaging of major project works.
• Provide cost input during tendering, contractor selection, negotiations, and award processes.
• Participate in commercial negotiations with contractors, consultants, and suppliers when required.
• Develop and maintain cost databases using current project data, market intelligence, and historical information.
• Produce benchmarking studies to compare project costs against relevant reference projects and market indicators.
• Lead cost optimization exercises and identify opportunities for measurable project savings.
• Support value engineering reviews with reliable cost data and lifecycle financial analysis.
• Maintain consistency in measurement and cost reporting practices across project packages.
• Ensure compliance with POMI, NRM, CESMM, CSI, Uniclass, and other applicable measurement methodologies.
• Coordinate cost information with design consultants, contractors, procurement teams, commercial personnel, and project controls.
• Integrate cost reporting with project schedules, procurement status, risk registers, and change management processes.
• Review cost trends and advise leadership where expenditure patterns indicate emerging financial pressure.
• Develop executive summaries and dashboards showing current financial position and expected out-turn performance.
• Support preparation of periodic client reports and senior management cost presentations.
• Maintain comprehensive audit trails for budget changes, forecasts, commitments, claims, and approved variations.
• Lead preparation and agreement of final accounts for completed packages.
• Support commercial closeout and reconciliation of remaining financial obligations.
• Mentor cost engineers, quantity surveyors, and other members of the cost management team.
• Improve cost management tools, procedures, reporting formats, and analytical practices where efficiency can be strengthened.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor 's degree in Quantity Surveying, Cost Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 18 years of professional cost management experience within major construction, infrastructure, developer, PMC, or engineering consultancy environments.
• At least 10 years of experience leading Cost Management or Quantity Surveying teams.
• Extensive knowledge of both pre-contract and post-contract cost management.
• Strong experience developing and controlling large project budgets.
• Proven capability in forecasting, cash flow management, cost reporting, and variance analysis.
• Advanced understanding of cost optimization, benchmarking, and cost intelligence.
• Experience evaluating contractor claims, variations, payment applications, and change orders.
• Strong knowledge of commercial and financial performance assessment.
• Practical understanding of procurement strategies, tender evaluation, contract packaging, and commercial negotiations.
• Experience maintaining cost databases and historical benchmarking information.
• Working knowledge of POMI, NRM, CESMM, CSI, Uniclass, and applicable measurement standards.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Experience with PMWeb, Power BI, Primavera, or comparable project controls and cost reporting platforms.
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to identify cost trends and financial risks from complex project data.
• Excellent leadership, negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage several project packages simultaneously while maintaining consistent cost control standards.

Skills Set

• Cost management
• Cost control
• Cost estimating
• Quantity surveying
• Budget control
• Project budgeting
• Cost forecasting
• Cash flow management
• Cost reporting
• Variance analysis
• Cost benchmarking
• Cost optimization
• Cost databases
• Commercial analysis
• Contractor claims
• Claims evaluationVariations
• Change orders
• Payment applications
• Final accounts
• Cost risk analysis
• Financial forecasting
• Out-turn cost management
• Committed cost tracking
• Incurred cost tracking
• Actual cost reporting
• Procurement strategy
• Contract packaging
• Tender evaluation
• Commercial negotiation
• Value engineering
• Whole-project cost analysis
• POMI
• NRM
• CESMM
• CSI
• Uniclass
• PMWeb
• Power BI
• Primavera
• Microsoft Excel
• Project controls
• Cost dashboards
• Financial reporting
• Audit trails
• Commercial closeout
• Cost team leadership
• Stakeholder coordination

Why Join Us

This position offers the opportunity to lead cost management across a complex project environment where disciplined budgeting, forecasting, benchmarking, and claims assessment directly influence financial performance and delivery outcomes. For an experienced cost professional, the role provides substantial exposure to major project packages, advanced reporting systems, contractor commercial management, and executive-level decision support. It also offers a strong platform for continued progression into broader commercial, project controls, and program leadership positions within Riyadh 's active construction and infrastructure market.

About the Company

Parsons Corporation delivers engineering, infrastructure, construction management, technology, and program delivery solutions for major developments worldwide. Its project teams combine cost management, commercial controls, planning, technical engineering, and disciplined project governance to support predictable financial performance and successful project delivery.