Cost Engineer

UKAEA is leading the drive to put fusion energy on the grid, to give the world a new form of long-term, sustainable low-carbon electricity. At their sites at Culham, Oxfordshire and Rotherham, South Yorkshire, they have a rapidly growing workforce to fulfil their expanding programme of research, focused on delivering the UK's first fusion prototype power plant by 2040.

We are looking for a Cost Engineer

Accountabilities:

* Provide visible and effective leadership on cost engineering within major programmes at UKAEA and work with the programme manager to deliver the business case benefits and outcomes within budget.
* Leading the development of key budgets, providing guidance on best practice.
* Develop clear vision and standards for cost engineering and champion the use of best practice cost prediction and tracking standards, tools and processes such as earned value, SPI, CPI and variance from forecast.
* Build strong networks both internally and externally. Working with UKAEA finance team to ensure that cost assumptions are underpinned by agreed annual rates.
* Apply advanced knowledge in the discipline of cost engineering for the analysis and successful resolution of risks and issues and identification of opportunities.
* Identify future capacity and capability needs of the cost engineering function and put in place strategies to meet them.
* Build and maintain external networks to access technical and professional best practice.
* Analyse performance data, looking at trends to identify areas for improvement and collaboration, providing commentary on spend variance. Selecting appropriate methods and tools to resolve challenges. Leading on design of dashboards and key reports.
* Provide specialist advice and support to ensure successful delivery of projects. Provide guidance and advice to the Programme and Project Managers during initiation phase on selection of cost management approach, tools, processes and proportionality.

* Identify and lead the introduction of best practice cost tracking processes, tools and templates, using industry standard best practice as a benchmark. Build cost engineering capability.
* Responsible for identifying project cost requirements and developing and implementing methods to effectively and accurately track and report actual cost expenditure.
* Responsible for liaising with project team to prepare and monitor forecasted expenditure baselines and profiles.
* Maintain regular communication with project team to update forecast and Estimate at Completion.
* Perform data analysis to review trends in costs (inc forecast to actuals variance) and give early warning of potential budget overruns.
* Prepare and report cost data as required to meet ad-hoc Project requests and for proposals, negotiations etc.
* Involved in change management process.
* Produce and communicate monthly cost KPIs.

Qualifications Required:

* Project management qualification, membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. ACosteE) or other relevant cost qualification

Experience Required:

* Expert in leading budgeting, tracking and forecasting for large programmes
* Good ability to deal with ambiguity. Expert at influencing
* Expert at presenting complex data in a simple manner, and to aid delivery professionals with understanding their data
* Excellent MS Excel skills and strong analytical skills.
* Self-starter, highly motivated with a strong track record in previous roles who enjoys problem solving and improving working practices
* Experience in working with Primavera or another similar enterprise planning tool to obtain forecast data
* Degree in a scientific, mathematics or economics discipline preferable but not essential

Rullion celebrates and supports diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for both employees and applicants.