Cost Manager

About JLL

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way. Our people are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world-class services, advisory, and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers, and find a place where they belong. Whether you have deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades, or technology, or you are looking to apply your experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.

Role purpose

The cost manager leads cost management on behalf of the client and employer. The role covers the full project lifecycle, from feasibility and cost planning through procurement, construction cost control, payment certification support, variations, claims, and final account. The cost manager is expected to use digital tools, including CostX, Aconex, and BIM models, to provide accurate, auditable, and traceable cost advice grounded in the consultant’s scope of services, the contract, and the agreements between the parties.

Key responsibilities

Cost planning and estimating

• Prepare and maintain feasibility estimates, cost plans, budgets, and cost-to-complete forecasts at each design stage.
• Carry out quantity take-offs and measurements using CostX, including 2D and model-based methods, and benchmark against comparable projects.
• Reconcile costs between design stages and produce value engineering, risk, and contingency analyses.

Procurement support

• Prepare or review bills of quantities, pricing documents, and tender evaluation inputs in line with the procurement strategy.
• Carry out commercial tender evaluations, rate analyses, and clarification management, and prepare award recommendations.
• Support the assessment of provisional sum and prime cost items and associated procurement processes, where applicable.

Cost control during construction

• Review contractor payment applications and prepare payment assessment advice for the engineer or employer’s decision, within the limits of the scope of services and the contract.
• Value and advise on variations, dayworks, provisional sums, and prime cost items using contract rates and fair valuation principles where rates do not apply.
• Monitor cost trends, forecast final costs, and report cost variances against budgets and approved changes.
• Maintain change and risk registers, and monitor contingency and management reserve movements.

Claims and final account

• Assess the cost components of contractor claims and advise on entitlement, quantum, and downstream commercial impact before issuing advice.
• Support extension of time and prolongation cost assessments, working with planning and contract administration colleagues.
• Prepare, agree, and close out the final account and associated reconciliation.

Digital delivery

• Aconex: Manage and monitor cost-related workflows, including payment applications, variations, notices, claims, and commercial correspondence. Maintain accurate document status and transmittal records, and ensure commercial items are separated from technical submissions.
• CostX: Build and maintain measurement dimension groups, drawing and model revision comparisons, and take-off audit trails that can withstand review.
• BIM: Carry out model-based quantification from Revit or IFC models. Check model quality, element classification, level of development (LOD), and level of information (LOI) against the BIM execution plan, and identify gaps that affect cost reliability.

Leadership and client interface

• Lead, coach, and review the work of cost managers, quantity surveyors, and graduates.
• Present cost reports and advice to stakeholders from middle management to executive level, tailoring information to the audience.
• Ensure compliance with the consultant’s quality, information classification, and reporting procedures.

Qualifications and experience

• Degree in quantity surveying, construction management, civil engineering, or a related field.
• Chartered status with RICS, CIOB, or an equivalent organization, or at least eight years of relevant experience.
• Relevant cost management experience on large-scale projects in entertainment, hospitality, retail, mixed-use, or similar sectors, on the client or employer side.
• Sound working knowledge of FIDIC-based contracts, including employer-amended versions used in Saudi Arabia and the GCC.
• Demonstrated experience using CostX, including BIM-based take-offs, on live projects.
• Demonstrated experience using Aconex as a project information and workflow platform.
• Working knowledge of BIM processes, including ISO 19650 principles, BIM execution plans, and model-based quantification.
• Understanding of Saudi government procurement requirements, such as the Government Tenders and Procurement Law and local content requirements.
• Experience on giga-project or PIF-backed developments.
• Experience with cost reporting and analytics tools, and Excel-based modelling.

Location

On-site — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all the requirements. We are interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table.

At JLL, we harness artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experience, and qualifications to generate insights about how your profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role.

Privacy and equal opportunity

Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading global provider of real estate and investment management services. We take our responsibility to protect the personal information provided to us seriously. We generally collect personal information to process applications in connection with JLL’s recruitment process. We endeavor to keep your personal information secure with an appropriate level of security and retain it only as long as needed for legitimate business or legal reasons. We then delete it safely and securely.

JLL is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.