Senior Manager: Cost Planning - Transport Hubs

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next!

At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what’s possible. Job Description:

Lead the cost planning function for complex, multi-modal transport hubs (e.g. rail stations, metro interchanges, rail interfaces, bus terminals, park-and-ride, or related urban mobility assets. The role is accountable for developing and managing robust cost plans from early concept through to delivery, ensuring cost certainty, value for money, and commercial viability for major infrastructure programs.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Cost Leadership

• Set the cost planning strategy, standards, and methodologies for transport hub projects and programs.
• Provide early strategic cost advice to clients and internal stakeholders to inform investment decisions, business cases, and option selection.
• Lead the development of benchmark cost databases and key performance indicators for transport hubs and related infrastructure.

2. End-to-End Cost Planning & Estimating

• Own the preparation, review, and sign-off of cost plans through all design stages (concept, schematic, detailed design, IFC).
• Develop high-level order-of-magnitude estimates, elemental cost plans, and detailed bills-of-quantities-based estimates for:
  • Station and hub buildings
  • Rail/metro infrastructure and systems
  • Interchange facilities, roads, bridges, tunnels, and utilities
  • Public realm, parking, and associated developments
• Ensure all cost models are based on auditable assumptions, current market data, and appropriate productivity norms.

3. Design & Scope Management

• Drive cost-conscious design development, working closely with architecture, engineering, planning, and operations teams.
• Manage design-to-budget processes; identify and challenge cost drivers and scope creep.
• Facilitate value engineering and value management workshops, developing and prioritizing cost-saving options while preserving safety, service levels, and lifecycle value.

4. Risk, Contingency & Whole-Life Costing

• Lead cost risk analyses, including quantitative risk assessments and Monte Carlo simulations where applicable.
• Define contingency strategies and allowances, linked to risk registers and project maturity.
• Promote and oversee whole-life cost and total cost of ownership assessments, including operations, maintenance, and renewals.

5. Market Intelligence & Procurement Interface

• Maintain up-to-date insight on construction market conditions, supply chain capacity, inflation, and key cost drivers.
• Support procurement strategy development, including packaging, contracting strategies, and commercial models for hub and rail works.
• Review and challenge contractor and consultant bids, validating rates, pricing structures, and assumptions.

6. Governance, Assurance & Reporting

• Establish cost planning governance frameworks, procedures, and reporting standards for transport hubs.
• Present cost plans, forecasts, and value-for-money analyses to steering committees, executive leadership, and external stakeholders.
• Lead internal audits and independent reviews of cost plans to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with corporate and client requirements.

7. Stakeholder & Client Management

• Act as the primary senior cost planning interface with clients, government entities, and joint venture partners for hub projects.
• Manage expectations around budgets, scope, and value trade-offs, providing clear, evidence-based recommendations.
• Support negotiations and approvals related to budgets, change, and funding allocations.

8. Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and mentor a t