Lead Cost Engineer

Wood is recruiting for a Lead Cost Engineer to join its UAE Business Unit focusing on preparation and reporting of project cost budgets for a major onshore brownfield project in Dubai, UAE.

This role is a full-time office-based position in Dubai, UAE with travel requirements.

The role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Lead Cost Engineer to join our UAE Business Unit.

Our clients and projects

Designing the future. Transforming the world.

Wood is an integral part of operations in Iraq, and we are continuing to grow our footprint across the country. With a 90-year heritage, 10 major contracts, and over 850 employees, we have the skills, expertise, and asset knowledge to support clients to deliver energy security and decarbonisation ambitions.

Wood excels in supporting our clients to deliver complex upstream and midstream oil and gas projects in Iraq, delivering maintenance, modifications, and engineering solutions. We are committed to decarbonising existing assets, producing cleaner energy, and developing a sustainable national workforce, ensuring the long-term growth of the region.

What we can offer

• Meaningful and interesting projects delivered to high-profile clients and complex projects in Iraq
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion; we are an organisation actively committed to diversity and inclusion across our business with employee networks committed to giving all employees a voice
• Competitive salary with regular salary reviews to ensure we are rewarding at the right level in line with the market
• Commitment to continued professional development; development plans that are tailored to your individual needs and interests
• Global connections: join experts around the world who are at the leading edge of our industry, shaping the standards of our profession
• Medical insurance: ensures inpatient and outpatient medical care is available should you require treatment
• Group life and personal accident insurance: the company provides life assurance cover
• The employee share plan: gives you the opportunity to purchase Wood shares and receive a match from the company
• Long service award: Wood values the commitment and loyalty of our people. Celebrating long service provides an opportunity for the business to demonstrate their appreciation of the hard work, dedication, and many years' service of our employees at 5-year service milestones

Key objectives

• The preparation and reporting of project cost budgets, and the tracking, management, and reporting of project expenditure to enable robust control of projects throughout their lifecycle
• Responsible for the development of project budgets, the tracking of actual and forecasted costs, and the generation of cost reports, ensuring they are prepared to the required level of detail and accuracy in accordance with contractual requirements and Wood policies, procedures, and standards
• Supports in the management and development of the cost team, the management of project budgets, actual and forecast costs, and the preparation and filing of project cost documentation
• May act as the focal point for several project scopes
• Responsible for identifying areas of best practice and driving continuous improvement within the cost team
• Role may be standalone on a project or as part of a team as determined by the requirements of the project organisation

Key accountabilities and responsibilities

• Review and maintain project work breakdown structure (WBS) and cost breakdown structure (CBS)
• Liaise with other project controls disciplines and functions; assist and support in the development of project budgets in accordance with the basis of estimate including statements of work scope, assumptions, man-hour estimates, narratives, and review and comment of client documents
• Liaise with planning discipline to ensure accurate and timely control and forecasting of budgets and ensure that the impact of all change requests is properly assessed and included in the schedules
• Liaise with procurement, finance, and time-capture functions, and third parties as required, to ensure accurate and timely capture of procurement, materials, subcontract, and labour man-hour costs. Ensure costs are allocated accurately in accordance with approved project WBS
• Liaise with engineering, procurement, and construction functions, and others as required, to maintain awareness of project activities and their impact on the project budget, schedule, and cost forecast
• Manage the project/assignment work approval process in terms of accurate cost code allocation and initial budget set-up and approvals
• Review and maintain project cost budgets using appropriate software applications
• Monitor and control cost commitments and expenditures through all phases of project lifecycle
• Liaise with project management, project planning, and others as required to ensure accuracy in project cost phasing and forecasting
• Provide copies of project cost performance reports in accordance with project reporting requirements
• Review and issue updates to project cost forecasts
• Monitor and report on cost impact of project manpower forecasts
• Coordinate development, review, and issue of project change orders/variations in accordance with engineering and construction change notifications
• Assess, review, and communicate cost and schedule impact of change notifications
• Monitor and review cost impact of achievement/non-achievement of major project milestones
• Monitor and review overall project cost performance and contingency drawdown
• Attend project/client periodic meetings and present project cost performance status as required
• Facilitate/chair internal project cost performance meetings as required
• Facilitate the project cost close-out process
• Participate in cost and estimate risk analysis sessions as required
• Participate and lead project controls compliance and continuous improvement reviews
• Play an active role in the mentoring and career development of cost personnel
• Delegate and manage the work of subordinate project controls staff as required
• Monitor and review overall project cost performance and contingency drawdown

Responsible for ensuring that

• Budgets correspond in structure and monetary value to submitted estimates, the WBS, and CBS
• Original and current budgets correspond to approved estimates plus approved scope changes through the project life cycle
• Updates are issued in a timely manner and cost reports are accurate within the bounds of the cost system
• Projects are reported accurately and with sufficient detail
• Project issues are highlighted in a timely manner
• Project reports are issued in accordance with the contract reporting calendar
• Scope and design development change orders are correctly identified
• Change orders are tracked and correct submittal and approval dates are entered in tracking system
• Change order status is adjusted within cost reporting system as change orders are submitted and approved

Working relationships

Internal:

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate across the business
• Actively promote Wood procedures and initiatives in line with company values
• Engage with and promote functional and cross-contract development including networking and knowledge sharing
• Maintain communication with respective focal points
• Manage interfaces across functional and business boundaries

External:

• Communicate and cooperate with external clients, stakeholders including industry bodies, academia, market intelligence, relevant conferences, vendors, business acquisition, and business development

Level of influence and decision-making authority

• Actions and decisions typically have a significant influence on the operational or financial results of one or more projects or departments
• Decisions made without precedents may have a serious impact on schedule, cost variances, etc.
• Work is subject to periodic review to ensure conformity to administrative objectives and project requirements
• Reports are checked for conformity to instructions
• Solves problems requiring application of complex project controls techniques or development of new approaches
• Exercises mature professional judgement in identifying the implications of changes
• May guide and supervise a work group consisting of technical or support staff with some coaching from own supervisor, or may provide advice and guidance in area of specialization

Qualifications

What makes you remarkable?

At Wood, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge, or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world's most critical challenges.

Expected:

• Typically requires ISCED level 6 (bachelors) degree in a relevant technical or business discipline (or equivalent gained through relevant vocational training and/or industry experience)

Knowledge, skills, and experience

• Incumbents will typically have a minimum of 5 years relevant cost experience
• Excellent knowledge of cost software and related principles, tools, and techniques including budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow
• Excellent knowledge of project execution procedures for cost management including change management
• Excellent understanding of WBS and CBS structures and project reporting capabilities
• Advanced ability to develop project cost budgets and change estimates
• Advanced ability to prepare cost reports
• Strong understanding of change management and associated cost and schedule processes
• Strong understanding of earned value application, cost and schedule variance analyses/trending, and what-if scenarios
• Excellent understanding of project management principles and techniques
• Strong understanding of cost management, change control, planning, and risk analysis and management
• Prior experience in a senior cost role

Personal attributes

• Demonstrates commitment to Wood values, vision, and behaviours
• Applies analytical and statistical evaluation
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrates effective organisation and planning skills
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and changing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication skills both written and oral
• Uses initiative, experience, and a proactive approach to problem solving
• Ability to guide, mentor, and lead others
• Commitment to continuous improvement