Senior Manager Cost Planning

About the Role

Qiddiya is seeking a Senior Manager, Cost Planning to join its team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This full-time role is essential for supporting Qiddiya's cost planning requirements within assigned business units, development projects, and governance activities. The Senior Manager will provide structured cost planning support, coordinate with consultants, contribute to Stage Gate reviews, conduct benchmarking analysis, and assist with cost governance to ensure project budgets, cost plans, and design-to-budget decisions are evidence-based, consistent, and aligned with Qiddiya's standards.

Role Purpose and Context

The primary purpose of this role is to support General Business Unit Cost Planning in applying consistent cost planning standards across Qiddiya's business units and development assets. The Senior Manager will ensure that cost planning activities are well-coordinated, consultant outputs are reviewed according to agreed requirements, Stage Gate submissions include necessary cost planning information, and business units receive clear, reliable, and evidence-based cost planning support throughout the asset lifecycle. While detailed cost plans may be prepared by external consultants, the Senior Manager is responsible for reviewing outputs, coordinating comments, maintaining records, and escalating key issues for leadership review.

Key Accountabilities

• Coordinate cost planning activities for assigned projects, workstreams, business unit support, and development programs.
• Support the implementation of Qiddiya Cost Planning Technical Guidelines, asset class guidelines, templates, trackers, reporting standards, and governance processes.
• Review and provide comments on cost consultant outputs, including cost plans, reconciliations, assumptions, risk allowances, benchmarks, cost reports, and design-to-budget recommendations.
• Maintain clear and current cost planning records for assigned projects, workstreams, or business unit support areas.
• Support Stage Gate reviews by verifying cost planning readiness, completeness, compliance, and alignment with required deliverables.
• Coordinate with internal teams (business units, development, design, commercial, procurement, finance, project controls, digital) and external consultants to achieve integrated cost planning outcomes.
• Provide early-stage cost advice, feasibility input, benchmark checks, and pre-concept cost planning as needed before the appointment of project cost consultants.
• Assist with the briefing, mobilization, coordination, and performance monitoring of executive and project cost consultants.
• Track scope and cost movements across project phases, escalating material changes, risks, opportunities, and non-compliance issues in a timely and structured manner.
• Apply benchmarking data, cost planning software, digital tools, and cost planning analytics to support the review and validation of cost positions.
• Support business unit cost planning capability through training, onboarding, guidance, and adoption of Qiddiya's ways of working.
• Contribute to the preparation of cost planning review packs, governance papers, leadership updates, dashboards, and trackers.
• Promote consistent ways of working, professional standards, and continuous improvement within the cost planning community.

Qualifications and Requirements

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in cost planning or a related field.
• Demonstrated reliability and a delivery-focused approach, with strong ownership of assigned tasks.
• Professional and constructive approach when reviewing information, raising issues, and participating in cost planning discussions.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret cost, design, benchmark, and risk information effectively.
• Clear communication skills, capable of preparing structured comments, summaries, trackers, and updates.
• Collaborative and responsive when working with internal stakeholders and external consultants.
• Adaptable, proactive, and comfortable operating in a fast-moving development environment.
• Committed to continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, and strengthening Qiddiya's cost planning capabilities.

Performance and Success Measures

Success in this role will be measured by the maintenance of clear, current, and evidence-based cost planning records for assigned projects, and the timely checking, coordination, and submission of Stage Gate cost planning deliverables in line with Qiddiya requirements. Key indicators include the thorough review of consultant-produced cost plans with clear comments and actions, prompt identification and escalation of material cost movements, risks, scope changes, and non-compliance issues. Consistent application of cost planning guidelines, templates, and reporting processes, along with effective use of benchmarking data and analytics, are also critical. Timely and practical cost planning support to business units and project teams, effective coordination and monitoring of consultant deliverables, and positive stakeholder feedback reflecting collaboration and professional support are essential for success.

Application

Candidates who meet the qualifications and are prepared to contribute to Qiddiya's cost planning objectives are encouraged to apply.