Senior Cost Manager - Rail and Metro Projects

AECOM Middle East Ltd; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 420,000 - 580,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM Middle East Ltd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is seeking a Senior Cost Manager for Rail and Metro projects. The role demands MRICS qualification, deep cost management, and strong quantity surveying experience on complex rail programs.

The on-site position requires mastery of FIDIC contract conditions, cost control systems, and advanced data analytics using Primavera P6 and Power BI to deliver reliable cost intelligence for management decisions.

Qualifications

• MRICS-qualified with extensive cost management experience in professional practice.
• At least 18 years of cost management experience, including rail/metro projects.
• Strong knowledge of FIDIC contract conditions and practical application.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost management across rail, metro, and transportation projects.
• Develop and maintain project cost plans, budgets, forecasts, and financial controls.
• Monitor expenditure against budgets and flag cost pressures early.
• Prepare detailed cost reports with commitments, expenditure, forecasts, and variances.
• Review cost submissions for contractual compliance and reasonableness.
• Apply FIDIC contracts and assess variations, claims, and change events.

Skills

Cost management

Quantity surveying

Rail cost management

Metro infrastructure

Infrastructure cost control

Cost estimating

Cost planning

Budget management

Cost forecasting

Cost reporting

Cost variance analysis

Estimate at completion

Commercial management

FIDIC contracts

Contract administration

Variation assessment

Change control

Claims assessment

Project controls

Primavera P6

Power BI

SAP

Cost control systems

Financial reporting

Commercial risk assessment

Transportation infrastructure

Contractor cost evaluation

Data analysis

MRICS

Education

Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

MRICS membership

Tools

Primavera P6

Power BI

SAP

Job description

Senior Cost Manager - Rail and Metro Projects Job Snapshot

Role: Senior Cost Manager - Rail and Metro Projects

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Industry: Construction

Function: Cost Estimating

Experience: Minimum 18 years, including 5 years on rail or metro infrastructure projects

Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview: Senior Cost Manager - Rail and Metro Projects in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is a senior Construction opportunity for an MRICS-qualified professional with extensive cost management, quantity surveying, commercial controls, and transportation infrastructure experience. AECOM is hiring for this on-site role to provide rigorous cost oversight across complex rail and metro programs, applying FIDIC expertise, cost control systems, data analysis, and professional commercial judgment to protect budgets and improve financial predictability.

Job Details

Country: Saudi Arabia

City: Riyadh

Industry: Construction

Function: Cost Estimating

Salary: Not disclosed

Gender: Any

Candidate Nationality: Any

Job Type: Full-time

Role Context: The Senior Cost Manager will provide experienced commercial and cost management oversight for major transportation infrastructure assignments. The position requires a strong professional practice background combined with direct rail or metro experience, enabling the successful candidate to evaluate costs, contractual exposure, forecasts, and project performance within technically complex delivery environments. The role will convert detailed commercial information into reliable cost intelligence that supports management decisions and protects project financial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead cost management activities across major rail, metro, and transportation infrastructure projects.
• Develop and maintain project cost plans, estimates, budgets, forecasts, and financial control processes.
• Monitor expenditure against approved budgets and identify emerging cost pressures before they affect project objectives.
• Prepare detailed cost reports highlighting commitments, actual expenditure, forecasts, variances, and potential financial exposure.
• Apply professional quantity surveying principles throughout relevant stages of project delivery.
• Review contractor and consultant cost submissions for accuracy, completeness, contractual compliance, and commercial reasonableness.
• Interpret and apply FIDIC contract conditions when evaluating cost and commercial matters.
• Assess variations, change events, claims, and other contractual matters for their potential cost implications.
• Support change control by establishing reliable cost impacts and maintaining appropriate commercial records.
• Produce cost forecasts and estimate anticipated final expenditure based on current project performance and outstanding commitments.
• Use Primavera P6 information to understand schedule-related cost implications and coordinate time and cost analysis.
• Apply Power BI and other analytical tools to improve cost reporting, dashboards, trend analysis, and management visibility.
• Utilize SAP or equivalent cost control platforms to maintain dependable financial and project cost information.
• Analyze complex cost data and identify trends, anomalies, risks, and opportunities requiring management attention.
• Coordinate with project managers, planners, engineers, commercial specialists, contractors, and client representatives on cost-related matters.
• Verify supporting project information and maintain accurate records for cost reporting, commercial assessment, and audit purposes.
• Prepare professional reports and recommendations for senior project and client stakeholders.
• Provide experienced technical guidance on complex quantity surveying and cost management issues.

Ideal Profile

Candidates must hold a bachelor 's degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, or a related discipline and bring at least 18 years of demonstrable cost management experience gained in professional practice. At least 5 years of substantive experience on rail or metro infrastructure projects is required. Candidates should possess comprehensive knowledge of FIDIC contract conditions and understand their practical application to variations, commercial administration, cost exposure, and project delivery. MRICS membership or an equivalent professional qualification is required. Strong capability with Primavera P6, Power BI, SAP, or equivalent cost control systems is also essential. The position is suited to a commercially astute professional capable of independently analyzing complex project information, producing defensible cost assessments, and communicating financial implications clearly to multidisciplinary and senior stakeholders.

Skills Set

• Cost management
• Quantity surveying
• Rail cost management
• Metro infrastructure
• Infrastructure cost control
• Cost estimating
• Cost planning
• Budget management
• Cost forecasting
• Cost reporting
• Cost variance analysis
• Estimate at completion
• Commercial management
• FIDIC contracts
• Contract administration
• Variation assessment
• Change control
• Claims assessment
• Project controls
• Primavera P6
• Power BI
• SAP
• Cost control systems
• Financial reporting
• Commercial risk assessment
• Transportation infrastructure
• Contractor cost evaluation
• Data analysis
• MRICS

Why Join Us

Saudi Arabia 's expanding rail and metro investment creates sustained demand for senior cost professionals who understand both complex transportation delivery and rigorous commercial control. This role provides the opportunity to influence financial performance across major infrastructure programs, apply FIDIC and professional quantity surveying expertise, and use modern project controls and business intelligence systems to strengthen cost certainty throughout the project lifecycle.

About the Company

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting organization delivering engineering, design, planning, program management, construction management, and professional project services. Its transportation teams support major rail and metro programs with integrated technical, commercial, cost management, and project controls expertise.