Senior Manager - Cost Planning

JASARA Program Management Company; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

JASARA Program Management Company is seeking an accomplished Senior Manager – Cost Planning to lead the planning, scheduling, and cost control for complex projects in Riyadh. You will ensure delivery excellence aligned with client and Vision 2030 objectives.

In this role, you will manage cost consultants, develop cost plans, and oversee measurement from designs. A strong consultancy background and expertise in transportation infrastructure are essential.

Qualifications

• Strong consultancy-side background with significant post-contract experience.
• Expertise in transportation/linear infrastructure cost planning.
• Proven ability to operate in a complex multidisciplinary programme environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage external cost consultants to ensure high-quality deliverables.
• Oversee measurement, quantification, and take-offs from drawings and models.
• Facilitate information flow between internal teams and consultants.

Skills

Cost planning expertise

Stakeholder management

Digital measurement tools (CostX)

Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement (CESMM)

Job description

We are seeking an accomplished Senior Manager – Cost Planning to join JASARA, a leading program management company driving large-scale infrastructure and giga‑projects across Saudi Arabia. In this role you will lead the planning, scheduling, cost control and performance monitoring of complex projects, ensuring delivery excellence aligned with client and Vision 2030 objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage external cost consultants (e.g., Currie & Brown, AECOM) to ensure high‑quality deliverables and alignment with programme requirements.
• Develop, review and challenge cost plans, estimates and benchmarks across all design stages.
• Ensure consistent and structured cost reporting aligned with programme standards and stage‑gate requirements.
• Oversee measurement, quantification and take‑offs from drawings and digital models.
• Validate cost assumptions, rates and methodologies used by consultants ensuring they are robust, justified and benchmarked (e.g., BCIS standards).
• Facilitate effective information flow between internal teams and consultants, ensuring all parties have the required inputs for accurate cost planning.
• Contribute to stage‑gate reviews, programme milestones and internal governance processes.
• Engage with internal stakeholders and developers to justify cost positions, explain variances and support decision‑making.
• Support the development and implementation of cost benchmarking frameworks, templates and best practices.

Candidate Profile

• Strong consultancy‑side background with significant post‑contract experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in cost planning for transportation/linear infrastructure.
• Solid grounding in Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement (CESMM).
• Proven ability to operate in a complex multidisciplinary programme environment.

Key Skills & Requirements

• Expertise in take‑offs, measurement and quantification from drawings and digital models.
• Advanced experience in infrastructure cost planning and estimating.
• Proficiency in tools such as CostX or equivalent digital measurement platforms.
• Strong understanding of benchmarking methodologies (e.g., BCIS).
• Ability to manage interfaces across multiple disciplines in large‑scale programmes.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, particularly in client‑facing and developer interactions.
• Professional accreditation such as RICS or AIQS preferred.