Lead Cost Specialist - Project Controls

Job Description

Our Project Controls Team in Calgary, Canada is looking for a Senior Cost Specialist who will function as the Cost Lead for a multi-billion-dollar Mining project in Saskatchewan reporting to the Project Controls Manager/Control Team Lead.  The position will require the individual to be located in Calgary with occasional business trips to the project site near Leroy, Saskatchewan.

Candidate will be responsible for managing a team of cost specialists that will be responsible for all cost functions as assigned by the Project Controls Manager/Control Team Lead.   This includes project costs for Home Office Engineering and Management as well as Materials and Contracts – both Direct and Indirect scopes, as well as monitoring of Contingency funds.

As a Senior Cost Specialist, you will be responsible to work collaboratively with the project team and other disciplines such as Project Management, Engineering, Procurement, Contracting, Fabrication, Modularization, Construction, Construction Management, pre commissioning and commissioning.

Your major responsibilities shall include:

• Develop and maintain the cost management baseline and systems in accordance with Fluor and Client standards and proceduresImplement the Work Breakdown and Project Coding Structures
• Set-up and administration of project cost system – Cobra – including ensuring interfaces with other systems (SAP, EcoSys) are functional
• Ability to understand and work inside client cost system – EcoSys
• Administer reconciliation between SAP and cost system.
• Development and maintenance of budget data in Cobra. This includes:
  • Coding of the estimate utilizing the WBS and standard chart of accounts
  • Uploading the estimate into Cobra
  • Publishing the coded estimate to the project team
• Facilitate development and oversight of Home Office/Field Staffing Plans and expense/travel forecasts
• Overall responsibility for timely & accurate cost coding of all field/home office purchase order requisitions, subcontracts, & labor
• Timely and accurate of input and submission of internal Fluor reports as required based on Fiscal reporting calendar.
• Timely and accurate submission of cost data to Client Monthly Reports as required.
• Ad Hoc Cost Reports as required by management.
• Administration of change management for all Home Office/Field related items.  This will also include management of the change log and input and reconciliation into the cost reporting system.
• Timely and accurate submission of project cash flow as required.
• Administration reconciliation of cost forecast between MatMan and CMSi to the cost system for all equipment, filed material, and subcontracts if and when these other Fluor systems are used.
• Responsible for timely and accurate project cost forecasts.
• Conduct cost forecast meetings and interface with Engineering leads, Construction Engineers/Superintendents, and management as required to develop and oversee development and maintenance of the cost forecasting process at a minimum of a monthly basis or as required.
• Provide timely variance analysis and an early warning to management on cost variances to the approved baseline/forecast.  Provide corrective action plans as required.
• As lead cost specialist, provide daily direction and supervision for other cost technicians
• Work with Project Controls Manager to determine overall project forecasting development plans & priorities
• Participate in internal and external audits
• Analyze and make recommendations regarding solutions to problems
• Maintain compliance with all applicable policies, procedures, and global standards

Basic Job Requirements

• Between 10-15 years of industry experience working in the cost arena with exposure to large-sized projects
• Ability to communicate effectively with audiences that include but are not limited to management, coworkers, clients, vendors, contractors and other stakeholders
• Fluent in English both written and verbal
• Job related technical knowledge
• Experience with WBS, Code of Accounts, Cost Control and Reporting, Change Management processes, Cost Analysis, Commercial terminology and analysis.
• Significant technical knowledge and practical experience with applicable software systems:
• EcoSys, Cobra, SAP, Microsoft Office Suite (superior knowledge in Microsoft excel).
• Ability to plan and organize own work assignments as well as learn and apply knowledge
• Ability to organize and prioritize a variety of multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner, set priorities, and meet deadlines, to work in a time-conscious and time-effective manner

Other Job Requirements

• Technical background, bachelor’s or master’s degree (preferable but not required)
• Proven experience as a Cost Specialist
• Industry-specific experience in all facets and phases of a project: Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Commissioning and Startup
• Will be required to travel to Site occasionally for project related tasks and in support of business-related matters.
• Provide input into Cost Teams Performance Assessments as required

Preferred Qualifications