Director - Cost Planning SK301

The Director – Cost Planning (CDU) is responsible for leading and governing cost planning across all Business Units (BUs), ensuring consistency, cost certainty, and value optimization across Qiddiya’s portfolio. The role drives enterprise-wide cost planning standards, provides independent assurance to Stage Gate decisions, and builds long-term capability across the organization.

This is a strategic leadership role within CDU, acting as the custodian of cost planning governance, benchmarking, and best practice, while enabling BUs to deliver fully aligned, market-informed, and risk-managed cost outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Leadership & Functional Oversight (CDU Role)

• • Provide central leadership and oversight of cost planning across all Qiddiya BUs, ensuring alignment with CDU governance frameworks.
  • Define and implement enterprise cost planning strategy, standards, and technical guidelines.
  • Maintain end-to-end accountability for the CDU Cost Planning function, including capability development, tools, and methodologies.
  • Lead the standardisation of cost planning processes, data structures, and reporting outputs across BUs.
  • Drive capability building and mentoring of BU cost planning teams to ensure consistent maturity and performance levels.
  • Represent CDU in senior governance forums (PCG, Stage Gate panels, executive committees) ensuring alignment and endorsement of cost positions

Governance, Stage Gate Assurance & Risk Management

• • Provide independent cost assurance to support Stage Gate decisions across all assets and BUs.
  • Ensure compliance with CDU Cost Planning Technical Guidelines, procurement protocols, and governance procedures.
  • Lead enterprise cost governance, including audit readiness, risk oversight, and reporting to executive and Board-level stakeholders.
  • Establish and enforce robust cost assurance mechanisms, including reviews, validations, and independent challenge.
  • Proactively identify and manage portfolio-level cost risks and opportunities to enhance predictability and financial performance.

Cross-BU Collaboration & Stakeholder Influence;

• • • Act as the central interface between CDU and BU leadership teams, ensuring alignment on cost planning approaches and priorities.
    • Collaborate with Development, Design, Commercial, and Procurement functions to integrate cost planning into decision-making.
    • Engage confidently with DevCo leadership, executive panels, and external cost consultancies, influencing outcomes at the highest level.
    • Communicate complex cost information into clear, high-impact insights for executive audiences.
    • Promote a culture of constructive challenge and evidence-based decision-making across all BUs.
    • Demonstrate cultural awareness, inclusivity, and strong interpersonal leadership across a diverse organisation.

Technical Authority & Cost Planning Excellence

• • • Act as CDU’s technical authority on cost planning, ensuring robust, data-driven cost positions across all projects.
    • Maintain and continuously validate a portfolio-wide view of cost positions, ensuring consistency and transparency.
    • Lead the review and challenge of cost consultant outputs across BUs to ensure alignment with benchmarks and best practice.
    • Ensure cost planning is fully integrated with design development, enabling budgets to guide design and optimise value.
    • Provide early-stage strategic cost advice for new assets, developments, and investment decisions.
    • Oversee procurement, performance, and governance of cost consultants across the organisation.

Benchmarking, Digital Transformation & Market Intelligence

• • Establish and maintain enterprise benchmarking frameworks, including SAR/m² (GFA) datasets aligned to Qiddiya asset classes.
  • Drive adoption of digital cost planning tools (e.g., CostX, benchmarking platforms, AI-enabled solutions) across CDU and BUs.
  • Lead the development of master rates libraries and cost databases, ensuring data integrity and accessibility.
  • Provide market intelligence insights, including inflation trends, supply chain risks, and regional benchmarking comparisons.
  • Support development of Cost Planning KPIs and performance dashboards across the portfolio.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, Finance or related discipline; a Master’s degree or relevant professional certification (e.g., RICS, PMP) is preferred.
• At least 12 years of progressive experience in cost planning leadership within large-scale, complex developments (giga-project experience preferred)
• Proven experience in centralized or matrix organizations (CDU / shared services model)
• Strong background in management and procurement (e.g., Ariba or equivalent platforms)
• Advanced cost planning expertise across large-scale mixed-use or giga projects
• Strong capability in benchmarking (SAR/m² GFA), cost modelling, and risk analysis
• Proficiency in cost planning systems and digital tools (CostX, BIM integration, benchmarking platforms)
• Executive-level communication and presentation skills
• Proven ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders
• Strong cross-functional collaboration

Benefits

• The opportunity to be part of one of Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious city developments.
• A role dedicated to a specific residential asset type, allowing you to build deep expertise in your area.
• A fast-paced, high-impact environment where strategic thinking and execution excellence are highly valued.
• Collaboration with global industry leaders in real estate development, architecture, and planning