Costing Engineers/Estimators

Stoke Gifford, South West England, BS34 8JH : Rosyth, Scotland, KY11 2BX : Manchester, North West England, M1 2WD : Portsmouth, South East England, PO1 3NH : Portsmouth, South East England, PO2 8ER : City of Westminster, London (region), SW1A 2HB

Are you passionate about supporting the Defence of the UK? Do you want a stimulating role, offering great development opportunities and the chance to make a real difference? If so, CAAS could have the ideal career for you! A career with us offers stability, professional development, and the chance to work across a complete range of Defence projects that no other department experiences due to our privileged access to major programmes and projects.

We are currently recruiting Cost Estimators and Cost Engineers with posts offered at various CAAS locations. These roles offer opportunities to work at the cutting edge of analysis with high profile stakeholders, including unique access to critical programmes and emerging military technology across the fascinating world of UK Defence, its allies and partners. We have the privilege to help secure the nation and protect its interests through leading cost management for MOD.

We also offer a great work-life balance in addition to an array of other benefits that come with being a member of the Civil Service. This is a genuinely exciting time to join the Ministry of Defence if you want to be at the heart of real Defence issues.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week

The Cost Estimator role is responsible for Cost Estimating/Cost Modelling activities within the CAAS cost management environment and will be the desk officer undertaking the preparation of cost estimates and the development of cost models. As a Cost Estimating Higher Executive Officer (HEO), you will be the estimating support for high-value, high-profile projects, ensuring robust quality estimates are provided to customers to inform decision making by senior management.

The Cost Engineer role is to assess, assure and provide insightful analysis of costs to enable robust decision making and delivery of value to MOD stakeholders on engineering projects in the Submarine domain. The HEO grade will support, and if appropriate, lead assurance on projects up to and including Cat B (£100M to £400M) and support projects above this value.

Responsibilities:

As an HEO Cost Estimator, your activities will include but are not limited to:

• Potential line management of staff and Placement Line Manager to members of the Estimating Capability Development Scheme (ECDS). You will be ensuring tasks are suitable for their current skill level and align to their development pathway.
• Championing the development of the cost estimating function and actively participating in functional events to aid the advancement of the function, the team and personal development.
• Communicating technical findings to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Responsible for the data gathering, normalisation and documentation of the Basis of Estimate to generate and mature cost estimates.
• Providing insightful analysis for the assurance of estimates to support the delivery lead and customer.

Responsibilities:

As a HEO Cost Engineer, your activities will include but are not limited to:

• Provide support to the SEO Cost Engineer by undertaking technical assessments of supplier’s submissions of charging, labour and overhead rates, cost certificates and cost allocation methods.
• Assist with the development of cost estimates and risk analysis in support of Project Business Cases.
• Provide support to the SEO Cost Engineer with assessing Prime Contractor and Subcontractor Bids in line with Statutory Guidance on Allowable Costs and appropriate reporting Standards.
• Support with the provision of analysis and assurance advice on MOD approaches to internal cost and time budgets.
• Provide support to Project Teams on assessments of Suppliers cost forecasts for Project Delivery.
• Support to the undertaking of Earned Value and Risk analysis to develop an Estimate at Completion to provide insight to supplier performance on cost and schedule.

On a full-time basis these positions are advertised at 37 hours per week with alternative working patterns available. CAAS operate a hybrid working policy where there is flexibility to split the working week combining working from home and spending a minimum of 40% in the workplace, unless exceptional circumstances apply and/or you are an existing contractual home worker.

To be successful in these roles you will be:

• A confident and effective communicator (both verbal and written).
• Have an eye for detail when working across large scales of data and being able to present complex findings and informed decisions.
• A team player collaborating with different peer and stakeholder groups.
• Proactive and enjoy solving problems.
• Ambitious and driven, seeking new and challenging goals.
• Open and comfortable contributing innovative ideas.

 Essential Criteria: To join us, candidates must demonstrate the following criteria:

• Level 4 Qualification in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) based subject or having completed an engineering apprenticeship or equivalent
• Evidence of cost estimating and analysis on a range of complex projects.
• Proficient in the use of Excel to analyse data.
• A minimum of 2 years experience in a Cost Engineering or Cost Estimating role.

Please indicate your preference for Estimating or Engineering, and location on your application.

Desirable Criteria:

It is desirable if the candidate has any of the following:

• International Cost Estimating & Analysis Association (PCEA or higher).
• Association of Cost Engineers (Enrolled or higher).
• Association of Project Management Project Management Qualification or higher.
• Experience using Quantitative Risk Analysis software or Parametric tools.
• Experience in presenting technical results and findings.

Manchester based posts only may be subject to Naval Nuclear Propulsion Plant Information (NNPPI) and atomic clearance. This is not available for some non-UK nationals.

 

• Level 4 Qualification in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) based subject or having completed an engineering apprenticeship or equivalent.

• Evidence of cost estimating and analysis on a range of complex projects.

• Proficient in the use of Excel to analyse data.

• A minimum of 2 years experience in a Cost Engineering or Cost Estimating role.

Ex Service candidates will be deemed to have the necessary academic requirements if they have at least 3 years technical experience in the rank of Sergeant or equivalent and have completed approved courses of technical training.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Working Together

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Cost Engineering – Finance Competence Framework Section 7, Cost Estimating – Finance Competence Framework Section 8 – See attachment

Alongside your salary of £33,830, Ministry of Defence contributes
£9,134 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Professional and Personal Development of skills
• Flexi-time scheme upon completion of 6 months service
• Alternative working patterns
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a gym and / or site shops.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed. 

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/. 

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment by 31st December 2022. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments. 

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available.
You may want to save a copy for your records.

Job contact :

• Name : Catherine Walker
• Email : Catherine.Walker170@mod.gov.uk
• Telephone : Catherine Walker

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk