Senior Cost Specialist - Program

About the Role

Ivanhoe Electric is advancing the Santa Cruz Copper Project into the execution phase using an Integrated Project Execution Team. As the Senior Cost Specialist, you will serve as the key day-to-day interface with the Director of Engineering and Construction to ensure program-level costs are transparent, well understood, and aligned with budget requirements. You will provide governance, leadership, tools, and guidance to Underground and Surface Projects Cost analysts, supporting control of the overall program budget through execution. Your role includes submitting cost management recommendations and scenario analyses directly to the Program Engineering and Construction teams and the Director of Construction for approval and incorporation into the project's overall cost report.

Responsibilities

• Embody and promote the ‘Zero Harm’ values of Ivanhoe Electric, fostering a positive program culture.
• Provide cost leadership to two cost analysts, mentoring and coaching them to realize their potential.
• Develop and present cost plans, including estimates through the detailed design phase and at key milestones.
• Recast the overall program budget into a Control budget with appropriate detail for forecasting and performance evaluation.
• Review critical procurement packages for scope alignment and WBS/Code of Accounts consistency.
• Support the trend and Change Control Committee at the program level, ensuring scope review and impact analysis before change requests.
• Review contingency drawdown requests and recommend mitigation measures for high-probability risks or trends.
• Ensure cost analysts explain variances and submit reconciliation requests to accounting teams.
• Lead estimating, cost controls, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle, including validation of trends/changes bi-weekly and monthly.
• Support procurement and construction teams in estimating and negotiating change orders.
• Liaise with project managers to gather status information for timely forecast updates using Earned Value Management methods.
• Ensure robust processes for cost auditing, validation of accruals, and evaluation of work in progress.
• Prepare cost and incurred flows to align with cash needs in collaboration with the finance team.
• Develop and implement priority plans, including risk mitigation strategies, using internal tools and performance metrics.
• Produce monthly cost forecast reports and provide regular updates on project performance, including recommended solutions.
• Participate in leadership meetings and prepare/deliver presentations as required.
• Use Project Controls tools compatible with Microsoft Dynamics or Business Central to track earned value and forecast costs.
• Implement and maintain internal Business Management Systems (e.g., Power BI) and delivery methodologies.
• Compile as-built or actual cost data for benchmarking and drive knowledge management by capturing lessons learned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, estimating, engineering, or a related field in mining or construction.
• Minimum of 10+ years of relevant experience in a cost management role within the construction or mining industry.
• Experience leading cost management on major construction projects with high complexity.
• Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, including procurement processes, value engineering, accounting principles for accruals, and earned value management.
• Familiarity with SOX requirements for cost reporting and interfacing with accounting.
• Experience leading a small team and working in a matrix functional environment.

Skills

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, combining analytical cost engineering principles with the ability to summarize and present budget strategies to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Initiative-taking, purposeful, and capable of thriving in a multi-partner project execution team.
• Demonstrated skill in establishing Project Controls activities and directing cost engineering functions, including estimating, cost control, and analysis.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience with Power BI or equivalent tools for cost reporting.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify, analyze, and resolve issues.
• Ability to provide direction, team management, and training to technical and non-technical personnel.

Schedule

Site-based at the Santa Cruz project office in Casa Grande, AZ, with on-site presence at the mine as required. Partial local remote work may be considered upon request.