Capital Projects Cost Engineer

Airswift is looking for a Capital Project Cost Engineer to work with a major client in Deer Park, TX on a 1-year assignment.  

Schedule: 9/80
The purpose of this role is to support the development, implementation, and operation of a comprehensive cost control system. This includes cost tracking and forecasting activities, performance management and reporting, and the integration of cost inputs from internal and third-party sources into the overall Cost Engineering process. 

Responsibilities: 

• Preparation, maintenance, and ownership of project cost control. Including and not limited to tracking of budgets, commitments, Value of Work Done (VOWD), spend phasing and future forecasting, aligned to agreed project WBS. Proactively informs the project team of problems and proposes resolutions. 

• Ensure cost management tool is maintained with all relevant cost data to provide standard outputs to Project Management and other stakeholders. 

• Fully maintain Change Control visibility, ensuring both approved and pending changes, as well as Threats / Opportunities are included and detailed in the cost tool. 

• Confirm all budget changes and trends are documented and approved for an ongoing accurate cost estimate and history of the project cost performance. 

• Ensure cost forecasts align with actual delivery progress as reflected in the project schedule. 

• Analyze cost data to understand variances from plan and provide insights to Capital Improvement lead and Project Management team on the impact of project delivery performance on forecasted total costs. 

• Ensure the Forecast Final Cost (FFC), cost phasing, variances and uncertainties are maintained and reviewed with Project Leadership monthly. 

• Support Project Leadership Team to provide accurate cost information by maintaining alignment of cost reporting and forecasting. Manage the Monthly Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM), Quarterly (QPF) and 6 monthly Master Control Estimate (MCE) cost process. 

• Work with planning engineers, project delivery managers and the central cost team to understand and explain variances against previous submissions. 

• Support all cost related digital initiatives to provide standard, efficient, and timely performance reporting. 

• Support the cost estimator in preparation of project cost estimates.  

• Develop and maintain close working partnership with Finance, including agreement of respective roles and responsibilities. 

• Participate in project and functional meetings and workshops as required. 

• Ensure all invoice-supporting documentation is readily available for auditing by partners to facilitate cost recovery. 

• Ensure all cost related activities are performed in conformance with company’s Deer Park Cost Engineering and Project Coordination procedures. 

• Ensure accurate coding of all requisitions, purchase orders, contracts, invoices, estimates, and develop and maintain all required cost logs and registers. 

• Ensure contractor compliance with contractual cost control requirements and those detailed within the Project Coordination Procedures (PCP). 

• Support verification of contractor and supplier invoices for payment. 

• packaging requirements through appropriate segregation and coding of cost data. 

• Reviews the cost estimates, man-hour budgets, scope changes, and budget revisions produced by contractors, subcontractors, and vendors. 

• Assists the Project Controls Manager in the establishment and execution of effective change management processes. 

• Identifies and documents cost data that may be applicable to future projects, ensures collection and capture of such data. 

• Assists in benchmarking efforts and the completion of contractor, subcontractor, and vendor reviews and audits. 

Key Challenges 

• Highly demanding and fast paced job, particularly during large TA & Capital projects. 

• Overall capital portfolio consists of 180-200 projects. Ability to effectively manage 40- 45 projects in different phases of the lifecycle. 

• Condensed period for cost review meetings and forecasting 

Requirement:  

• Bachelor’s degree, Business, Finance, Engineering, Construction Management or related field or equivalent work experience. 

• 6 years of cost control experience preferably in relation to petrochemical or refining industry projects. 

• Excellent computer skills, particularly with SAP, Primavera, Project Control Tools and MS Office Suite (excel, power point, word, etc.) 

Highly efficient in excel (VLOOKUPs, PivotTables, complex formulas, creating cost curves and other graphs). 

• Major Capital Projects experience, with strong track record of delivery and Cost Engineering processes. 

• Experience working with large contractor organizations. 

• Strong teamwork skills to collaborate and build strong relationships with co-workers and external partners to support development and implementation of business solutions. 

• Ability and demonstrated proficiencies to engage and work within a multifunctional discipline team to establish high levels of cooperation and credibility for the cost function when working with the project team.  

• Some experience of planning, demonstrating a sound understanding of the relationship between cost control and planning / scheduling as a key component of the performance management framework and project control. 

• Ability to produce good quality written reports and summary presentations – able to communicate clarity from complexity. 

• Considerable knowledge of petrochemical / refining industry contracting practices, project control reporting processes, project management practices, and financial system processes related to project management. 

• Self-motivated problem solver with excellent analytical skills and attention to details. Ability to tactfully communicate a difficult message. 

• Knowledge of risk management and analysis. 

• Great social skills. 

• Result-orientated mindset