Cost and Commercial Lead - Turnaround in Ellesmere Port

Cost and Commercial Lead - Turnaround in Ellesmere Port

Ellesmere Port Full-Time 51750 - 63250 £ / year (est.) On-site
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead cost management for major turnaround projects in a dynamic energy sector.
  • Company: Join EET, a leader in low carbon fuels and energy transition.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and flexible benefits.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on the future of energy while developing your career.
  • Qualifications: Experience in cost engineering within high-hazard industries is essential.

The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.

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  • 25 days holiday, increasing with service
  • Private medical insurance
  • Additional flex benefits, including holiday purchase
  • Access to Employee Assistance Programme with exclusive access to a range of Discounts
  • Free secure on-site car parking

About the Company

EET (Essar Energy Transition) vision is to be the leading producer of low carbon fuels and establish a blueprint energy transition hub in the North West.

EET plays a major role in supplying the Northwest and the wider UK with essential fuels.

We produce over 16% of the UK’s road transport fuels, supply key feedstocks to the petrochemical industry, and are investing heavily in low‑carbon energy solutions.

We work with major retail fuel brands, supermarkets, Manchester Airport, leading airlines, and regional transport operators.

We are also a key partner in the Hy Net project, helping to deliver the region’s low‑carbon future.

With over 900 skilled colleagues, we offer a strong safety culture, technically challenging work, and some of the best training in the energy sector.

As the Cost and Commercial Lead - Turnaround, you will be responsible for providing specialist leadership across estimating, budgeting, forecasting, cost control and commercial value delivery for EET's turnaround portfolio.

Working at the heart of major turnaround events, you will ensure robust cost management throughout the turnaround lifecycle, from early planning and funding approval through to execution and close-out.

Partnering closely with Operations, Maintenance, Procurement, Finance and contractor organisations, you will provide clear commercial insight, challenge cost assumptions and drive value-focused decision-making to ensure turnarounds are delivered safely, efficiently and within approved funding.

You will

  • Lead the development of turnaround estimates, budgets and funding submissions, ensuring alignment with scope maturity and assurance requirements.
  • Establish and maintain cost control frameworks, reporting structures, forecasting processes and budget baselines across turnaround events.
  • Drive accurate forecasting of commitments, accruals, actual costs, cash flow and estimate-at-completion throughout planning and execution phases.
  • Analyse cost performance, identify risks and opportunities, and provide timely insight and corrective actions to leadership teams.
  • Challenge contractor proposals, productivity assumptions, delivery strategies and commercial models to maximise value and cost competitiveness.
  • Work with Procurement and contract owners to shape sourcing, contracting and delivery strategies that optimise turnaround outcomes.
  • Lead robust change control processes, ensuring scope changes, variations and commercial impacts are accurately assessed and managed.
  • Provide commercial assurance for tenders, contract awards, contractor applications, invoices and final accounts.
  • Identify cost-saving opportunities, commercial improvements and recovery strategies to enhance turnaround value delivery.
  • Produce and present cost and commercial performance reports to turnaround governance and leadership forums.
  • Support benchmarking, assurance reviews and continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen cost management performance across future events.
  • Provide functional leadership and coaching to turnaround teams, promoting best practice in estimating, forecasting, cost control and commercial assurance.

About You

To succeed in this role, you'll have

  • Significant experience in turnaround, shutdown or major-project cost engineering within refining, petrochemical, oil & gas, energy, heavy manufacturing or another high-hazard industry.
  • A strong track record of developing estimates, control budgets and forecasts from project definition through to execution and close-out.
  • Extensive experience in cost control, forecasting, accruals, commitments, cash flow analysis and financial reporting.
  • Experience managing commercial risk, contract cost assurance, contractor applications and change control processes.
  • Strong commercial acumen with the ability to challenge constructively and drive value-focused decision-making.
  • The ability to interpret complex cost and commercial data and translate it into clear management insight and recommendations.
  • Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience working across operations, maintenance, finance, procurement and contractor organisations.
  • Strong negotiation and communication skills, with the confidence to engage and challenge senior stakeholders where required.
  • High levels of competence in SAP, cost management systems, reporting tools and Microsoft Office applications.
  • A commitment to safety, governance, continuous improvement and delivering high-quality business outcomes.

It would be advantageous if you have

  • A degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Cost Engineering, Commercial Management or a related discipline.
  • Professional accreditation such as ACost E, APM, MRICS, CIPS or equivalent.
  • Experience supporting benchmarking exercises, assurance reviews and cost management improvement programmes.
  • Experience providing functional leadership across multidisciplinary teams in a turnaround or major projects environment.
  • Application Process

This vacancy will be advertised for a minimum period of two weeks and will remain open to applications until an offer has been made and accepted.

Therefore, the vacancy may close at any time after Monday, 16 November 2026, and we encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible.

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Cost and Commercial Lead - Turnaround in Ellesmere Port employer: Essar Oil Uk

EET (Essar Energy Transition) is an exceptional employer located at the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex in Ellesmere Port, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises safety and professional growth. With competitive salaries, generous pension contributions, and extensive training opportunities, employees are empowered to excel in their roles while contributing to the UK's low-carbon energy future. The collaborative culture fosters innovation and provides access to exclusive benefits, making it an ideal place for ambitious finance professionals seeking meaningful careers.

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Contact Details:

Essar Oil Uk Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Cost and Commercial Lead - Turnaround in Ellesmere Port

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We think you need these skills to ace Cost and Commercial Lead - Turnaround in Ellesmere Port

Cost Engineering
Budgeting
Forecasting
Cost Control
Commercial Value Delivery
Risk Analysis
Stakeholder Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Cost and Commercial Lead - Turnaround, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.

Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at Essar Oil Uk a clear picture of the value you can bring.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to Essar Oil Uk specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!

Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.

How to prepare for a job interview at Essar Oil Uk

✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles

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✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills

Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.

✨Relate Your Experience to the Role

In a full-time role, employers like Essar Oil Uk want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.

✨Know Your Tools and Software

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