Cost Efficiency & Avoidance Lead

We are currently looking for a Cost Efficiency & Avoidance Lead to join our client working on a large construction project in Suffolk.

Project Controls will serve as a centre of excellence, managing and strategically using delivery performance management information. Our team will enable successful delivery of Project through proactive Project Controls that drives forward-looking solutions to continuously improve performance. As the Cost Efficiency and Avoidance Lead you will play a key role for ensuring there is a proactive approach to reducing cost and capturing areas where the project has avoided expenditure through best-in-class delivery.
The post holder will ensure a Cost Efficiency and Avoidance (CE&A) framework is established including procedures, processes, reports, training and systems. They will liaise with other teams and functions across the project to ensure there is a common understanding of how the CE&A framework fits in with existing processes such as traditional Cost Management, Risk & Opportunity Management, Finance Initiatives, HR organisational reviews and the Construction Performance Programme.
The aim of the CE&A framework is to reduce cost and capture areas where the project has avoided expenditure through best-in-class delivery. The CE&A activities will be present across the whole organisation and within our supply chain. It will focus on setting annual and lifecycle targets for achieving savings through both Cost Efficiencies and Cost Avoidance. These targets will be supported by a process for identifying, quantifying, monitoring implementation and reporting of potential and achieved savings. The definitions of Cost Efficiencies and Avoidance are detailed below:
• Cost Efficiencies are business strategies that strive to reduce the cost of creating a product or performing an activity without compromising quality. Determining cost efficiencies requires comparing the benefits of the output to the costs of the input.
• Cost Avoidance is when businesses take action to reduce the amount of money they might spend. This could involve spending smaller amounts of money now to avoid incurring larger costs in the future. Although this may appear to be elevated spending, it actually reduces overall costs long term.
This is a unique role not typically found on major programmes and provides the opportunity for the post holder to establish a new recommended best practice for Cost Control on major programmes and will be key to ensuring the Programme Controls complete our mission statement:
As this role is not a typical cost control deliverable, we would like to encourage a broad spectrum of candidates to apply that can use their experience and expertise to ensure the successful delivery of the Cost Efficiency and Avoidance (CE&A) framework to reduce the costs of the project. We envisage the role would suit candidates with previous experience as Project Controls Managers, Directors of Cost Management, Estimate Leads, Project Managers or Lean Practitioners.
They will have experience of working with Project Controls and Delivery Leaders and will be comfortable to run Cost Efficiency and Avoidance (CE&A) assurance workshops and reviews with multi discipline teams. Ideally they will be a people leader with experience of using their leadership skills to build a highly valued service within Programme Controls on the project.

Principal Accountabilities
• Strategic leadership of the Cost Efficiency and Avoidance (CE&A) framework
• Establishment of a Cost Efficiency and Avoidance (CE&A) framework and embedment within the project.
• Accountable for the process, methods and systems to identify, quantify, monitor and reporting of potential and achieved savings.
• Lead on the development and roll out of awareness and practitioner training across the project for the Cost Efficiency and Avoidance (CE&A) framework.
• Interface with other teams and functions across the project to ensure there is a common understanding of how the CE&A framework fits in with existing processes such as traditional Cost Management, Risk & Opportunity Management, Finance Initiatives, HR organisational reviews and the Construction Performance Programme.
• Ensure the project is viewed by the Construction Industry as an exemplar in Project Controls through knowledge sharing, networking, and delivering white papers and presentations to the sector.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

Essential
• All items detailed above in the Job Purpose and accountabilities section.
• Degree or equivalent qualification in business analysis, accounting, finance, construction, engineering or project management, or related technical field.
• A track record of implementing procedures, processes, and systems on large and complex infrastructure projects.
• Deliverables focused and an accomplished problem solver, rising to meet any challenge.
• Workshop facilitation experience
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.

Desirable
• Lean Six Sigma or equivalent qualification and experience.
• Previous experience in assurance activities within Project Controls.
• Active membership of AACE, PMI, APM or similar association with association certifications.
• Understanding of various contract types, in particular the NEC suite and FIDIC.
• Professionally qualified with chartered or equivalent status.
• Experience of working within any of the Project Controls Functions of cost control, estimating, scheduling, change management and risk management.
• Experience in the Nuclear sector.

Closing Date: 24th May