Purpose / Mission:
Develop, validate and maintain the project's capital cost estimate across the pre-FID and FEED phases of the 2.5 Mtpa green Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) / Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) plant in Duqm, Oman, to a level of accuracy sufficient to support Final Investment Decision and lender due diligence. Provide independent owner-side cost estimating, quantity surveying and commercial assurance across the technology package, the integrated delivery partner's scope, and the broader project capex.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain the project's capital cost estimate, integrating inputs from the technology licensor, the integrated delivery partner, equipment vendors, port and utility infrastructure providers, and the owner's team.
- Triangulate, challenge and validate cost estimates produced by the technology licensor and the integrated delivery partner, providing independent owner-side commercial assurance.
- Develop and maintain the project's bill of quantities for civil, structural, mechanical, piping and electrical scopes within the owner's review responsibility.
Lead cost estimating accuracy improvement from order-of-magnitude through Class 3 to Class 2 estimates aligned with AACE International recommended practice and lender expectations. - Support the project's procurement strategy by developing should-cost analyses, market price benchmarks and cost-driver analyses for major equipment and construction packages.
- Maintain the project's cost contingency framework, including identification of cost risks, quantification of contingency requirements and reporting against contingency drawdown.
- Support the project's value engineering process by quantifying cost impacts of design alternatives and providing commercial input into engineering trade-off decisions.
- Support project finance lender due diligence by preparing cost estimate documentation packages and engaging directly with independent cost consultants engaged by the lender consortium.
- Provide cost reporting to the Project Director, the company executive and external stakeholders including lenders and equity investors.
- Support post-FID cost control and change management by establishing the cost baseline, change control framework and earned value reporting structure.
Requirements / Skills / Experience:
- Minimum 12 years' experience in quantity surveying, cost estimating or cost engineering on large heavy industrial capital projects, with at least one project of capex value USD 500 million or above.
- Direct experience developing FID-grade and lender-grade cost estimates aligned with AACE International recommended practice (Class 3 or better).
- Direct experience on greenfield projects in steel, ironmaking, petrochemical, oil and gas, fertilizer or power.
- Demonstrated experience providing independent owner-side cost validation against contractor or licensor cost estimates.
- Familiarity with FIDIC-based contracting, lump-sum cost build-ups, and reimbursable cost frameworks.
- Experience supporting project finance lender due diligence on cost estimate deliverables is strongly preferred.
- Middle East or GCC project delivery experience strongly preferred. Prior experience in Oman is an advantage.
- Strong analytical and reporting skills, with the ability to communicate cost status and risk to senior executive and lender audiences.
- Ability to work within a small owner's team where each individual carries direct responsibility for their function.
- This position is open to Omani nationals only.
Required Education / Qualification / Training:
- Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Cost Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering or related discipline (required).
- Master's degree in Cost Engineering, Project Management or related field (preferred).
- Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS) or AACE International Certified Cost Professional (CCP) (preferred).
- AACE Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) or Estimating Professional (EVP) certification (preferred).
Required Language Proficiency:
English - Fluent
Arabic - Nice to have