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Cost Estimator

  • Location: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region, France
  • Salary: Competitive
  • Job Type:Permanent

Posted 2 days ago

  • Sector: Nuclear
  • Contact: Naif Bin Abdulwahid
  • Contact Email: NaifBin.Abdulwahid@nrl.co.uk
  • Contact Phone: 01483 302 133
  • Start Date: 02 December 2024
  • Expiry Date: 01 January 2025
  • Job Ref: V-187924

Cost Estimator

Location: ITER Site, France

Responsibilities:

Scope of work:

  • support Project Change Requests (PCR) for transfers of scope (and risk) among and between various stakeholders

  • support PCRs that request for project Reserve Fund

  • provide a value of planned procurements

  • support the valuation of Inter organisation Non-Conformities

  • provide the value of fund allocation as part of Baseline Change Proposals (BCP)

  • validate the cost of Direct Implementations (DI) between stakeholders, and of Ordre de Service between the owner and their contractors, as part of the construction works

  • support the engineering and delivery teams in the negotiation of estimate values where there is dispute between parties. Knowing where contractors are presenting unreasonable proposals and having a sound basis of costs to be able to support this position are vital tools. Where negotiation is required, the estimator must be able to present a coherent and realistic argument, remain calm, not rise to conflict or provocation and always consider the best interests of the project

  • the identification of cost saving opportunities against Baseline cost.

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Main tasks:

  • Prepare cost estimates according to system design maturity following AACEI guidelines

  • Review PCRs to determine if costs are impacted

  • Produce position papers or documentation on specific questions of ownership of Scope or eligibility for compensation on cost

  • Review and validate cost estimates related to PCRs with reasoning on any disagreement on cost that is substantial. This work not only requires validation of costs, but also requires that the scope of the change is fully and traceably identified in the estimate. Note that this work includes verification of the design change applicable date as before.

  • Where PCR cost estimates cannot be supported, engage with the PCR authors and engineering teams to improve, revise and refine the quality to an appropriate level.

  • Review and validate claims resulting from Non-Conformances and contract variances.

  • Where necessary, develop independent estimates to provide Contract ROs the information to challenge the supplier offer. Where necessary, provide support the contract RO to challenge and negotiate a more appropriate value.

  • Review scope and Basis of Estimate (BoE) document for proposed changes to confirm that the scope boundary is clearly defined and consistent with the cost estimated, particularly within the remit of BCP review

  • Identify cost saving or cost increases in the project Baseline through the re-estimating of work where the quality of estimate is low in the Baseline, and through the identification of scope overlap between delivery and installation works.

  • Support the update of the Scope/BoE database information as new cost estimates are prepared, and class of estimate improved. As scope is such an important input to an estimate, these updates should be taken as an opportunity to critically evaluate scope and improve and refine where required. Note: this data is used by the risk manager to calculate the project cost uncertainty.

  • Confirm or develop Purchase Request values for major project Contracts essentially for, but not limited to, assembly and Installation work contracts.

  • Work with the Procurement and Contracts Division (PCD) to prepare detailed price breakdown for tendering purposes

  • Support PCD in analysing financial offers and preparing reports to support negotiations


Environment:

The estimator will be encouraged to use Cleopatra where appropriate to the work being estimated. Cleopatra will in any case be the primary tool used for any cost estimates related to assembly and installation works. The cost of assembly and installation is already prepared. The work in this area therefore focuses on any scope changes and allocation of work and cost to specific contracts.

The service will use norms based on:

  • applicable Cleopatra knowledge databases;

  • rates from existing, running, contracts; or

  • other estimating norms available to the service.

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The Client’s specific cost database is in the process of development with some information already available for use. Nonetheless, it can often be the case for specific components that estimating norms are unavailable and experience of working with Control Account Managers to develop a valid estimate basis is necessary because of the project specificity. The Cleopatra knowledge base and tool will be provided.

The principles of cost estimating based on the AACE and GAO standards;

Monthly Deliverables:

  • PCR cost estimates and Cost estimates

  • BCPs review results

  • Production of a list of cost savings and cost avoidance achieved and potential

  • PCD support in elaborating price breakdowns and financial price offer analysis

  • Position Papers on ownership of scope or eligibility for compensation

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Qualifications & Experience Essential:

  • Certification by Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) or the International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC) or equivalent

  • Knowledge of P6 and SAP

  • Understanding and experience of Baseline control and management

  • Demonstrable competence in the use the Cleopatra estimating software (in particular for work relating to the Assembly and Installation work and contracts)

  • Cost Estimating Officers allocated must have between 5 and 10 for an intermediate position, or over 10 years for senior position

  • The project language is English


Desirable:

  • Access to cost reference information from a wide range of industries is a valuable addition to the service, to supplement where conventional reference sources are unavailable, and to provide supplementary information for comparison purposes

  • Nuclear experience is an advantage

  • French language is an advantage


Culture:

Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and diversity. We put people at the heart of our business, and we genuinely believe that we all succeed by supporting one another through our culture of caring. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

About NRL
The NRL Group connect global companies with the right people to bring engineering projects to life. Supporting contracting companies with energy transition plans and working with our clients to create a cleaner, greener future.

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