Senior Cost Lead

Cenovus•Toledo, OH

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Cenovus is seeking a Senior Cost Lead to serve as the functional leader for the Cost Control discipline across Downstream Site Project Execution and Front-End Development (FED), providing strategic leadership, governance, and accountability for cost management performance across a diverse project portfolio. Reporting to the Project Controls Manager, this high-impact leadership role is responsible for the development, continuous improvement, and execution of cost tracking, analysis, forecasting, reporting, and change management processes that deliver accurate, value-added insights to improve project performance, portfolio management, and project-related financial decision-making. The successful candidate will drive cost-efficient, lean, and system-optimized use of cost control resources while fostering predictable and competitive business performance through strong cross-functional integration with Project Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, Construction, contractors, and Finance. Location is flexible between Toledo, OH, Lima, OH, or Superior, WI, with occasional travel to other Cenovus sites, including Lloydminster, Alberta.

Requirements

Legally authorized to work in US.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, or a related discipline.
8+ years of related experience, including progressive experience in project cost engineering, project controls, or project management.
Working knowledge of project controls systems such as SAP, EcoSys, Maximo, Primavera P6, and advanced Excel reporting tools.
We acknowledge the value of transferrable skills and may consider equivalent combinations of experience and education should you not meet a specific requirement.

Responsibilities

Lead the Cost Control function across Front-End Development (FED) and Project Execution, providing governance, strategic direction, and accountability for cost management performance throughout the project lifecycle.
Provide functional leadership, coaching, and oversight for internal Cost Engineers, contract resources, and third-party service providers, ensuring consistent application of standards, high-quality deliverables, and strong individual and team performance.
Own and continuously improve project cost management processes, including budgeting, commitments, actual costs, forecasting, cash flow, change management, variance analysis and performance reporting to support disciplined capital stewardship.
Ensure project budgets and forecasts accurately reflect approved scope, schedule performance, contractor progress, changes, risks, and opportunities, while integrating risk assessments into project and portfolio financial outlooks.
Deliver timely, accurate, and decision-focused reporting and analytics that provide actionable insights into project performance, portfolio health, cost trends, risks, and opportunities, enabling informed leadership and decision making.
Partner with Project Managers, Front-End Development, Engineering, Estimating, Scheduling, Supply Chain, Construction, and Finance and external contractors to drive integrated project controls alignment, challenge cost performance, and advance cost competitiveness through benchmarking, lessons learned, and continuous improvement initiatives.