Lead Cost Engineer - NEOM

About Us

At Jacobs, we are focused on transforming the future by addressing critical global challenges. Our work fosters thriving cities, resilient environments, and drives progress in operational advancement, scientific discovery, and cutting-edge manufacturing. We transform innovative ideas into impactful solutions that positively reshape the world.

Role Overview

The Lead Cost Engineer is responsible for overseeing cost management and reporting for the portfolio closeout phase. This position involves handling budgets, accrual tracking, commitments, cash flow, funding, and forecasting. The role provides the Project Controls Manager and senior leadership with detailed insights into current cost status, projected final costs, and funding needed for closeout activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the entire cost reporting process across the portfolio, establishing the monthly cost control schedule, data needs, and review deadlines.
• Oversee approved budgets, manage allocations and transfers, and ensure correct cost coding across various contracts and workstreams.
• Create and maintain comprehensive forecasts, including forecast-at-completion and cost projections for project closeout.
• Administer the monthly accrual process by validating, reconciling, checking aging, and clearing inaccurate or redundant accruals.
• Monitor commitments, actual expenditures, pending liabilities, settlements, and remaining risk until contract closure.
• Prepare cash flow forecasts and determine funding requirements for project termination, demobilization, preservation, settlements, and closeout phases.
• Reconcile data from SAP, Oracle Unifier, commercial records, and project reports, resolving any significant discrepancies.
• Lead cost-related contributions for weekly status reports, monthly portfolio updates, closeout and preservation cost reports, dashboards, and presentations.
• Provide detailed cost supporting documentation for claims, disputes, settlements, and final account assessments.
• Develop and maintain cost reporting templates, implement controls and data validation, ensuring a transparent audit trail for assumptions and forecast revisions.
• Clarify variances in budgets, commitments, accruals, actual costs, cash flows, and forecasts.
• Assist the Project Controls Manager during portfolio reviews and discussions with senior stakeholders.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• At least 20 years of experience in project controls and cost management.
• Minimum of 10 years working on large-scale projects in Saudi Arabia or the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
• Proven track record managing cost control for mega-projects or mixed-use developments with portfolios valued in multi-billion SAR and multiple contracts.
• Extensive experience with budgets, accruals, forecasting, commitments, cash flow management, funding, and cost reconciliations.
• Experience supporting contract termination, demobilization, preservation, final account closure, or project closeout activities.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Project Management, Business, Finance, or related fields.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, CCP, RICS, AACE, or equivalent are advantageous.
• Experience working with Owners, Integrated Project Management Teams (IPMT), Project Management Consultants (PMC), or on major program projects is preferred.

Our Culture and Benefits

We cultivate an inclusive workplace that celebrates diversity and supports mental health. Employees benefit from a culture that values collaboration, enabling you to connect both locally and globally. We offer flexible working arrangements balancing office presence and remote work, supporting personal and professional growth in a safe and supportive environment. Additionally, employees can engage in community giving and volunteering programs aligned with our vision to make a positive impact.

Work Arrangement

Jacobs promotes hybrid working policies allowing staff to split their week between onsite locations and remote settings to optimize their performance. Some roles require full-time physical presence depending on responsibilities.

Accessibility Notice

We strive to provide an accessible recruitment experience. If you require accommodations during the hiring process, please reach out to the recruiting team for assistance.