Director - Cost Planning - 20013059 (RS8)

The Director - Cost Planning for Hospitality is accountable for delivering a consistent cost planning approach across the hospitality portfolio and ensuring alignment with the wider Hospitality Business Unit. The role ensures that budgets drive design, cost vs value is tested throughout, and cost advice is clear and consistent. 

A strong background in hospitality development within the Middle East is essential. The Director manages external consultants, leads benchmarking and feasibility analysis, challenges assumptions, and provides structured cost planning advice to development teams.  

The position requires strong leadership, technical depth, the ability to translate complex technical issues into simple messages for non‑technical stakeholders, and a collaborative approach that supports joined‑up decision making across the portfolio. 

Key Responsibilities

- Cost Planning 

• Ensure budgets drive design decisions and provide early pre‑concept cost advice. 

• Guide development teams by aligning design intent with cost, efficiency and value outcomes. 

• Work with Cost Consultants to prepare and review cost plans at all stages ensuring clarity of assumptions, risks and opportunities. 

- Cost Consultant Management 

• Lead procurement, briefing and ongoing performance management of cost consultants. 

• Review consultant cost plans to ensure alignment with budget, scope and project objectives. 

• Challenge inefficiencies, conflicting assumptions and unclear methodologies. 

- Standards and Governance 

• Ensure compliance with QIC Cost Planning Guidelines, CBS and Stage Gate requirements. 

• Represent Cost Planning in internal and external meetings to maintain alignment on cost positions. 

- Business Unit Engagement 

• Provide updates to the Hospitality Business Unit on construction costs, benchmarking and cost movements. 

• Ensure representation at internal reviews and contribute to passing Stage Gates successfully. 

- Benchmarking 

• Develop and maintain hospitality benchmarks, integrating design metrics with cost positions. 

• Support the HBU Benchmarking Database with consistent, high‑quality data. 

- Feasibility 

• Review feasibility inputs, validate assumptions and test multiple development scenarios. 

- Market Awareness 

• Monitor market trends, escalation, procurement conditions and contractor pricing intelligence. 

- Cost Leadership 

• Mentor senior managers and promote consistent ways of working within the Cost Planning team. 

• Establish KPIs for effectiveness, support professional development and enhance collaboration across BUs. 

• Bachelor's degree in quantity surveying, Commercial Management or relevant discipline. 
• Professional accreditation such as RICS or AIQS preferred. 
• Minimum 11 years of relevant experience in cost Planning, quantity Surveying within large-scale construction or infrastructure projects value above 500–1000m SAR. 
• Strong Middle East experience delivering villas, townhouses and low‑rise hospitality projects. 
• Experience working in GCC construction markets preferred. 
• Expert understanding of NRM, IPMS, CESSM, POMI and CAPEX cost planning principles. 
• Proven track record leading teams and managing complex cost planning processes. 
• Strong benchmarking capability and portfolio‑level reporting experience. 
• Strong communication skills with ability to convey technical matters simply. 

• The opportunity to be part of one of Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious city developments.