Senior Cost Control Engineer

Job Description

Works as part of MATARAT's P&TA Project Controls team with a primary focus on the implementation and operation of the Cost Management function at portfolio level. The role acts as the cost-side bridge between MATARAT Finance, Portfolio Management and Operating Company Project Controls with MATARAT P&TA Project Controls. The Cost Management specialist will establish common budget and cost data standards across Operating Companies, own portfolio-level forecasting and aggregation, provide stage-gate cost assurance to the Portfolio Governance Committee (PGC), and ensure every investment is traceable to an approved benefit.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the client-side reference point for portfolio cost management, ensuring MATARAT-wide standards are implemented consistently across Operating Companies.
• Define and maintain the Cost Management Guideline and supporting templates –  budget and cost data standards, estimating accuracy bands by gate (AACE), contingency policy at portfolio level, and materiality thresholds for cost-driven change control.
• Own the Investment Cashflow Profile of the portfolio; consolidate and validate Operating Companies forecasts (EAC / ETC); produce integrated cost–schedule–benefit variance analysis and the financial KPIs of the portfolio (Forecast Accuracy, % of projects within approved CAPEX, contingency burn).
• Provide independent cost assurance at stage gates - validate evidence, challenge Operating Companies estimates and Cost Basis, verify AACE accuracy bands at SG2, and produce decision-ready recommendations to the Portfolio Governance Committee.
• Provide cost-side support to the CAPEX cycles led by MATARAT Portfolio baselining, Stage Gate activation, Off-Cycle process, Annual Business Plan, 5-Year Airport Development Plan; operate cost and budget impact assessment for every change request and classify per materiality thresholds.
• Ensure linkage between investment and benefits – Asset Classification budget allocations tagged to Benefit Breakdown Structure benefit nodes, investment-per-benefit-unit analysis (SAR/Mpax, SAR/m²), cost-side input to MATARAT Portfolio when benefits change.
• Manage the cost and budget data requirements for the PMIS (to be implemented); establish roll-up rules Project to Programme to Portfolio.

• Expert in portfolio cost and budget management, project controls at owner / asset-owner level.
• Experience implementing portfolio-level cost and budget frameworks at owner / holding organizations in a client-side role is highly valued.
• Demonstrated track record in large portfolios in comparable infrastructure; exposure to multi-asset, multi-stakeholder governance environments.
• Strong working knowledge of AACE estimating classes, EVM, cashflow modeling, and contingency methods applied at portfolio level.
• Demonstrated ability to provide independent cost assurance - challenging estimates, and cost reports produced by the delivery teams (contractors, PMC or Operating Company Project Controls).
• Proven track record drafting cost & budget governance documentation (procedures, manuals, templates) for portfolio cost and budget management.
• Familiarity with PMIS portfolio-grade platforms, Power BI for portfolio financial dashboards, and interfaces with financial systems.
• Understanding of holding–Operating Company governance models / sponsor–delivery partner / asset owner–PMCM is highly desirable.
• Min 15 years of relevant professional experience in capital projects, with at least 6-8 years at portfolio or programme level. Recognised credentials in cost or portfolio management preferred but not mandatory.
• Having worked in a PMO or EPCM environment is highly desirable. Team player, self-motivated, good communicator in spoken word and presentations in English and preferably also in Arabic.