Senior Manager - Cost Planning

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. The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in project controls, stakeholder management, and data-driven decision-making within major infrastructure or construction environments.

Highly experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor / Cost Manager with a strong background in linear infrastructure and transportation projects to support large-scale programmes within a complex, client-facing environment.

The role is primarily focused on managing cost consultants and driving consistency, accuracy, and transparency in cost planning and reporting across major infrastructure assets including metro, rail, tunnels, stations etc.

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