Director Cost Planning - Saudi Arabia - Giga Project

Director – Cost Planning

$Multi Billion Developer

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

This role requires employees to be based in Saudi Arabia. Please do not apply if you are unable to relocate.

Role Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and hands-on Director – Cost Planning to join a high-performing development team working on complex, high-value, large-scale masterplans. This role is ideal for someone with deep experience in cost planning (i.e., planning the costs – not just estimating the plans) who is comfortable working across both cost and design metrics to influence design decisions that drive maximum value.

This is not a traditional oversight or sales-focused role. It is an execution-heavy, collaborative position requiring direct involvement with both internal teams and external consultants. The successful candidate will play a critical role in ensuring the commercial viability and cost efficiency of ambitious real estate projects from inception to delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and oversight of cost planning strategies for large-scale masterplans and mixed-use developments.
• Collaborate closely with internal design, development, and finance teams to align cost plans with design intent and financial objectives.
• Review, challenge, and validate outputs from external cost consultants, ensuring quality, accuracy, and consistency.
• Apply deep understanding of design metrics to proactively influence decisions and identifying opportunities to add value.
• Coordinate benchmarking and data-driven cost modelling to inform early-stage development strategy.
• Ensure uniformity in cost planning approaches across all assets, phases, and project types.
• Contribute to feasibility assessments and investment decision-making from a cost perspective.
• Communicate effectively across disciplines to advocate for commercially sound design choices.
• Maintain strong awareness of market trends, material and construction costs, and supply chain risks.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Experience:
• 10–15 years of experience in cost planning, quantity surveying, or development advisory.
• Proven background in cost planning (front-end strategy and value creation) rather than only post-design estimating.
• Demonstrated experience on large, complex masterplans or high-profile real estate developments.
• Skills & Attributes:
• Commercially minded with a strong grasp of how design impacts ROI and cost efficiency.
• A confident and clear communicator – able to influence consultants and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
• Hands-on and proactive – not afraid to get into the details and drive outcomes without excessive reliance on delegation.
• Naturally extroverted and team-oriented – works well in open, fast-paced, and idea-driven environments.
• Strong with numbers and comfortable interpreting both cost data and design metrics.
• Personality/Working Style:
• High energy, results-oriented, with a bias for action.
• This is a doing role, not a managing one.

What’s on Offer

• The opportunity to work on some of the most visionary real estate projects in the region.
• A collaborative, non-hierarchical environment where ideas and input are encouraged.
• Exposure to cutting-edge design thinking, sustainability innovation, and global best practice.
• A high-impact role within a multidisciplinary, future-focused development team.