Lead Cost Engineer - NEOM

Jacobs Solutions Inc.; Neom; Hybrid; SAR 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacobs Solutions Inc. in Saudi Arabia seeks a Lead Cost Engineer to own cost reporting and control for the closeout portfolio, managing budgets, accruals, cash flow, and forecasts to keep senior stakeholders informed.

You will reconcile SAP/Oracle Unifier data, lead monthly cost inputs, and support closeout activities across multi-contract programs, requiring extensive project controls experience and relevant credentials.

Qualifications

• Minimum 20 years of project controls and cost management experience.
• Minimum 10 years of experience on major projects in Saudi Arabia and/or the GCC.
• Experience managing cost control on mega-projects or mixed-use programs with multi-billion SAR portfolios and a high volume of contracts.
• Substantial experience in budgets, accruals, forecasts, commitments, cash flow, funding, and cost reconciliation.
• Experience supporting contract termination, demobilization, preservation, final account, or closeout activities.
• Bachelor degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Project Management, Business, Finance, or a related discipline.
• PMP, CCP, RICS, AACE, or a comparable credential is preferred.
• Owner, IPMT, PMC, or major program experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own cost reporting across the portfolio and set the monthly cost control cycle, data requirements, and review timetable.
• Manage approved budgets, allocations, transfers, and cost coding across multiple contracts and workstreams.
• Develop and maintain detailed forecasts, forecast‑at‑completion positions, and closeout cost projections.
• Manage the monthly accrual process, including validation, reconciliation, aging review, and clearing of unsupported or duplicate accruals.
• Track commitments, actual costs, pending liabilities, settlements, and remaining exposure through contract closure.
• Prepare cash flow forecasts and funding requirements for termination, demobilization, preservation, settlement, and closeout.
• Reconcile SAP, Oracle Unifier, commercial records, and project reporting data, and resolve material differences.
• Lead cost inputs to weekly reports, monthly portfolio reports, closeout reports, preservation cost reports, dashboards, and presentations.
• Provide cost substantiation and supporting records for claims, disputes, settlement discussions, and final account reviews.
• Set cost reporting templates, controls, and data checks, with a clear audit trail for assumptions and forecast changes.
• Explain movements in budgets, commitments, accruals, actuals, cash flow, and forecasts.
• Support the Project Controls Manager in portfolio reviews and senior stakeholder discussions.

Skills

Cost control

Budgeting

Forecasting

Data analysis

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor degree in Engineering

PMP

CCP

RICS

AACE

Tools

SAP

Oracle Unifier

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

The Lead Cost Engineer owns cost reporting and cost control for the closeout portfolio. The role manages budgets, accruals, commitments, cash flow, funding, and forecasts, and gives the Project Controls Manager and senior stakeholders a clear view of current cost position, forecast final cost, and closeout funding requirements.

Key Accountabilities

• Own cost reporting across the portfolio and set the monthly cost control cycle, data requirements, and review timetable.
• Manage approved budgets, allocations, transfers, and cost coding across multiple contracts and workstreams.
• Develop and maintain detailed forecasts, forecast‑at‑completion positions, and closeout cost projections.
• Manage the monthly accrual process, including validation, reconciliation, aging review, and clearing of unsupported or duplicate accruals.
• Track commitments, actual costs, pending liabilities, settlements, and remaining exposure through contract closure.
• Prepare cash flow forecasts and funding requirements for termination, demobilization, preservation, settlement, and closeout.
• Reconcile SAP, Oracle Unifier, commercial records, and project reporting data, and resolve material differences.
• Lead cost inputs to weekly reports, monthly portfolio reports, closeout reports, preservation cost reports, dashboards, and presentations.
• Provide cost substantiation and supporting records for claims, disputes, settlement discussions, and final account reviews.
• Set cost reporting templates, controls, and data checks, with a clear audit trail for assumptions and forecast changes.
• Explain movements in budgets, commitments, accruals, actuals, cash flow, and forecasts.
• Support the Project Controls Manager in portfolio reviews and senior stakeholder discussions.

Here's what you'll need

• Minimum 20 years of project controls and cost management experience.
• Minimum 10 years of experience on major projects in Saudi Arabia and/or the GCC.
• Experience managing cost control on mega-projects or mixed-use programs with multi-billion SAR portfolios and a high volume of contracts.
• Substantial experience in budgets, accruals, forecasts, commitments, cash flow, funding, and cost reconciliation.
• Experience supporting contract termination, demobilization, preservation, final account, or closeout activities.
• Bachelor degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Project Management, Business, Finance, or a related discipline.
• PMP, CCP, RICS, AACE, or a comparable credential is preferred.
• Owner, IPMT, PMC, or major program experience is preferred.

From our inclusive employee networks to our positive mental health champions - we're committed to driving a culture of caring where you can be you. Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally - and together, our diverse perspectives and unique backgrounds power our collective strength. We collaborate and share! By supporting one another, we all succeed.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we've gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You'll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits and opportunities to do good too - from participating in our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place.

No matter what drives you, you'll discover how you can cultivate, nurture and achieve your goals - all at a single global company.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Onsite employees are expected to attend a Jacobs Workplace on a full-time basis, as required by the nature of their role.