About:
Alef Group, a pioneer in developing premier lifestyle communities, destinations, and experiences through investment and strategic joint ventures, is seeking an experienced Director Cost Planning & Control (Bilingual / Native English Speaker) who is well-versed in cost management within real estate development or leading consultancy environments to join the team in Sharjah.
Job Purpose:
The Director Cost Planning & Control is responsible for establishing, leading, and governing all cost planning, cost management, and cost control activities across the company's real estate development portfolio. The role ensures cost certainty, value optimization, financial discipline, and commercial governance from early feasibility through design, procurement, construction, and final account close-out. This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role, acting as the custodian of development budgets and the authority on cost-related decision-making across residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, and mixed-use projects.
Key Accountabilities:
Cost Planning & Development Feasibility
- Lead early-stage cost planning for land acquisition, feasibility studies, and business plans.
- Develop order-of-magnitude estimates, concept stage budgets, and benchmark-based cost models.
- Validate project viability by aligning BUA, NSA, FAR, unit mix, specifications, and phasing with financial targets.
- Advise senior management on cost implications of design options, development density, and product positioning.
- Establish and maintain cost benchmarks for UAE market conditions across all asset classes.
Budget Development & Cost Governance
- Prepare and approve master development budgets, including:
- Construction costs
- Infrastructure & enabling works
- Consultants & authority fees
- FF&E (where applicable)
- Contingencies and escalation
- Define budget approval authority levels and change control procedures.
- Ensure cost plans are fully aligned with approved business plans and funding assumptions.
Cost Control & Reporting
- Lead cost control across all live projects, ensuring:
- Accurate cost reporting and forecasting
- Early identification of cost risks and overruns
- Transparent and timely reporting to senior management
- Establish standard monthly cost reports, cash flow forecasts, and variance analysis.
- Oversee change management, ensuring variations are properly evaluated, justified, and approved.
- Maintain strong control over final accounts and commercial close-out.
Procurement & Commercial Strategy
- Work closely with Procurement to define contracting strategies, packaging, and procurement sequencing.
- Review and validate tender estimates, tender returns, and contract awards.
- Ensure contracts align with approved budgets and risk profiles.
- Provide commercial input on procurement negotiations and value engineering initiatives.
Consultant & Contractor Management
- Lead and manage external cost consultants and commercial advisors.
- Define scopes of services, deliverables, and performance KPIs for cost consultants.
- Review and challenge consultant outputs to ensure accuracy, completeness, and alignment with developer objectives.
- Ensure consistency of cost management approaches across all projects.
Value Engineering & Cost Optimisation
- Drive structured value engineering workshops without compromising quality, brand, or long-term asset value.
- Balance CAPEX optimization with lifecycle cost considerations.
- Support design teams in achieving cost-effective, buildable, and market-appropriate solutions.
Risk Management
- Identify, quantify, and manage cost-related risks throughout the project lifecycle.
- Maintain and regularly update cost risk registers.
- Advise leadership on mitigation strategies for market volatility, inflation, and supply chain risks.
Leadership & Team Development
- Build and lead an internal Cost Planning & Cost Control function.
- Mentor and develop cost managers and commercial professionals.
- Establish standard policies, procedures, templates, and reporting structures.
- Promote a culture of financial discipline, accountability, and commercial awareness across the development team.
Educational Qualifications, Work Experience, and Skills Required:
Educational Qualifications:
- Must have a Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, or related field. Master's degree is an advantage.
- MRICS certificated or equivalent will be preferred.
Work Experience:
- Must have over 15 years experience in cost management within real estate development or major consultancy environments.
- Must have a proven experience working for or with developers in the UAE or GCC.
- Must have a strong background across residential, mixed-use, retail, hospitality, and large master-planned developments.
- Demonstrated leadership at senior level.
Skills required:
- Advanced cost planning and feasibility modelling
- Strong understanding of UAE construction market dynamics
- Contractual and commercial acumen (pre- and post-contract)
- Excellent knowledge of procurement strategies and contract forms
- High proficiency in cost reporting, forecasting, and financial controls
- Strategic thinker with strong commercial judgement
- Confident decision-maker with authority and credibility
- Detail-oriented while maintaining a portfolio-level view
- Strong communicator capable of influencing senior stakeholders
- Collaborative leadership style with firm governance discipline
- Accuracy of early cost plans versus final outturn
- Effective control of approved budgets
- Reduction in cost overruns and unapproved variations
- Timely and accurate cost reporting
- Strong alignment between design intent, budget, and commercial outcomes
