We are seeking an experienced Director of Cost Planning to lead cost planning activities across a large-scale residential development portfolio, focused on villas, townhouses, and community assets.
This is a strategic, pre-contract and pre-development role for a professional who understands how to shape projects through cost planning, ensuring budgets guide design decisions from the earliest stages. The successful candidate will provide clear, practical commercial advice, challenge inefficient design solutions, and establish a consistent cost planning framework across multiple developments.
This role is focused on cost planning and value management. It is not a project controls, procurement, or quantity measurement position.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the cost planning strategy across a portfolio of residential developments.
Ensure design solutions align with approved budgets and value objectives.
Provide early-stage cost advice to support feasibility studies, master planning, and design development.
Drive design-to-budget discussions and challenge cost inefficiencies.
Develop and maintain cost benchmarks, market intelligence, and cost databases.
Review, manage, and challenge external cost consultants to ensure robust and reliable cost plans.
Prepare clear cost reports, executive summaries, and stage-gate recommendations.
Partner closely with development, design, procurement, finance, and delivery teams to support informed decision-making.
Translate technical cost information into concise, actionable guidance for non-technical stakeholders.
Promote consistency in cost planning methodologies, assumptions, and reporting standards.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Cost Engineering, or a related discipline.
15+ years’ experience in cost planning, estimating, value management, or related pre-contract commercial roles.
Strong expertise in residential developments, particularly villas and townhouses.
Demonstrated experience in feasibility studies, cost planning, benchmarking, and value engineering.
Proven ability to influence design outcomes and lead design-to-budget discussions.
Experience managing external consultants and reviewing complex cost plans.
Client-side experience is highly desirable; consultancy professionals with significant client representative experience will also be considered.
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to simplify complex technical matters.
Experience working on major mixed-use or master-planned developments is advantageous.
Middle East project experience is preferred.
Professional accreditation such as RICS, AIQS, or equivalent is preferred.
