Senior Cost Consultant

Platinum Global Talent Solutions•New Jersey, NJ

About The Position

The Senior Cost Consultant will support the development, validation, and ongoing management of capital budgets for major and megaproject infrastructure programs, working on the Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP). The project is a major rail connection serving the Northeast Corridor and is intended to improve capacity, reliability, and resiliency for commuter and intercity rail transit. The role supports a landmark project with nearly $12 billion in federal funding.

Requirements

Significant experience in cost estimating, cost management, quantity surveying, cost engineering, commercial management, or project controls on major capital projects.
Strong background developing, reviewing, and reconciling complex construction estimates through successive stages of project development.
Demonstrated understanding of construction scope, quantities, rates, productivity, indirect costs, escalation, contingency, risk, and market pricing.
Experience developing or managing integrated capital budgets and Total Project Cost estimates.
Strong knowledge of estimating methodologies, Basis of Estimate development, cost benchmarking, estimate reconciliation, change management, and cost forecasting.
Ability to translate detailed estimating information into clear advice for senior management and client decision-makers.

Nice To Haves

Major transportation, rail, transit, tunneling, heavy civil, or similarly complex infrastructure experience.
Familiarity with AACE International estimating and cost-engineering practices.
Relevant professional qualifications such as CCP, CEP, MRICS, PQS, CEC/ECC, PMP, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Develop, assemble, and maintain comprehensive capital budgets and Total Project Cost estimates for major infrastructure programs.
Develop and review conceptual, ROM, design-stage, pre-tender, and progressively mature cost estimates.
Review and challenge quantities, unit rates, productivity assumptions, indirect costs, escalation, contingency, allowances, risk, and other estimate components.
Consolidate estimates from multiple projects, contracts, designers, consultants, and delivery teams into an integrated program-level capital budget.
Lead estimate reconciliation and identify movements associated with scope development, design maturity, quantities, pricing, escalation, risk, procurement strategy, and market conditions.
Develop and maintain cost benchmarks using historical project data, comparable programs, productivity information, market intelligence, and contractor and supplier pricing.
Perform comparative cost and option analyses to support decisions regarding scope, design, packaging, procurement, phasing, and delivery strategy.
Support development and review of Basis of Estimate documentation, cost breakdown structures, assumptions, exclusions, allowances, and estimate methodologies.
Evaluate cost implications of design development, scope changes, procurement results, contract changes, and emerging project conditions.
Maintain traceability between approved budgets, current estimates, commitments, changes, contingency, and forecast outturn cost.
Prepare executive-level cost reports, reconciliations, variance analyses, trends, and decision-support materials.
Collaborate with engineering, project controls, commercial, procurement, risk, schedule, finance, and project leadership teams.