Title:  Cost Planner

About John Holland

We’re all about transforming lives by finding solutions to complex challenges across a wide range of industries including infrastructure, property, rail, building and water projects in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.

From the epic, to the intimate, everything we do improves life for someone, somewhere. It gives our business momentum and means we approach things a little differently.

While our competitors talk about what they do, we focus on why we do it. We transform communities to make them easier to move around, more connected and better to live in.

Are you up for the challenge?

About the Project

The Stations Alliance North team, comprising John Holland, Arup, and KBR are excited to be delivering the transformative Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East WP-F package. The Alliance will build world-class underground stations at Glen Waverley, Burwood and Box Hill.

The new stations will be fully accessible, light-filled spaces with retail and dining options – and will feature elements inspired by the history of the local community and First Nations peoples – with each station to have a Green Star rating of at least 5 stars.

The SRL will have safe, easy and accessible connections to existing Metro stations, as well as new and upgraded bus and tram interchanges, walking and cycling paths and bike parking.

These new SRL stations will support the delivery of more homes – within walking distance of jobs, health services, universities and quality open space.

SRL is a transport and urban planning project that will deliver world-class public transport, reduce travel times, and support the delivery of more homes and housing.

About the Role

As Cost Planner, you’ll partner closely with Delivery, Design, Commercial and the broader Cost Planning & Estimating function to provide high-quality cost advice, validate design development against budget, and support commercial decision-making through accurate quantities, pricing, reporting and benchmarking.

This role is integral to maintaining a “design to cost” mindset through the delivery lifecycle.

What you will do;

•    Validate design development is progressing in line with budget across delivery packages.
•    Prepare cost plans / estimates by measuring and updating project quantities from models and drawings (minimum monthly), and provide cost advice to stakeholders.
•    Interpret drawings, specifications, briefs, scopes and standards and assess the cost impact of design changes and scope development.
•    Maintain cost plans at each design gate, identify cost movements, and produce formal cost planning reports for project governance rhythms.
•    Understand legislation and relevant building codes that may impact project cost outcomes.
•    Monitor current pricing, new techniques and cost trends to ensure advice reflects market conditions.
•    Establish and maintain trade cost codes / work breakdown structures (WBS) aligned to John Holland cost planning dashboards to support benchmarking and analysis.
•    Build strong working relationships with the Cost Planning & Estimating team and internal stakeholders (Design, Digital Engineering, Commercial, Project Management).
•    Maintain and develop supplier/subcontractor relationships to support accurate, favourable pricing and assist adjudication processes.
•    Assess, prepare and present escalation schedules and cost movements.
•    Complete project cashflows that target a minimum cash neutral position.
•    Peer review cost plans / estimates prior to submission and support assurance requirements.
•    Assist Project Managers with commercial inputs including major variation claims and cost change support.
•    Conduct as-built cost analysis and contribute to actual cost data and benchmarking capture.
•    Provide iterative feasibility cost plan pricing to support commercial assessment and option analysis.

What we are looking for;

•    Demonstrated experience delivering cost planning and/or estimating on major construction projects (ideally complex building and/or transport infrastructure environments).
•    Strong capability extracting quantities and building cost plans using structured methods, with comfort working from 3D models and 2D drawings.
•    Working knowledge of cost planning systems and disciplined coding/WBS structures to enable reporting and benchmarking (e.g., dashboard-driven cost planning).
•    Confidence engaging stakeholders to explain cost drivers, cost movements, options and recommendations clearly.
•    Practical understanding of current market rates, procurement strategies and escalation considerations.
•    High attention to detail, strong time management, and a collaborative, solutions-focused approach.

Systems experience (beneficial): exposure to John Holland approved estimating / cost planning systems such as CostX or Candy, and disciplined use of standard methods of measurement and coding practices.

As part of the team, you can help us transform lives

Your success is reflected in ours, so we’re committed to being an employer of choice. We pride ourselves on having a diverse and inclusive workplace, as we understand that different perspectives and ideas are critical to our long-term success.

We want you to be with us for the long term, so providing you with rich career experiences and ongoing development is our priority.

What’s in it for you

We’re about connecting your sense of purpose to ours. We understand that your career is one of the biggest ways to have an impact on the world. We also believe in supporting you as a whole person, not just an employee.

We reward and support our people in so many ways. This starts with being flexible about how different people like to work. From generous leave policies to wellbeing and relationship support, your needs sit at the heart of our employee benefits.

We Offer;

Competitive remuneration with salary continuance, and salary sacrifice packaging options available.

Great leave benefits including 18 weeks paid parental leave with superannuation and up to an extra 18 weeks of superannuation paid on further periods of unpaid parental leave, multicultural leave exchange and two additional John Holland Days to prioritise health and wellbeing.

Career progression underpinned by our exciting pipeline of work means you'll have the opportunity to work on iconic projects that are shaping cities and communities.

Learning and development opportunities where you'll have access to emerging talent programs, building your career through clear career pathways, and technical and leadership training and development opportunities.

Inclusion and diversity is part of how we work and do what we do at John Holland. Our active commitment to being an employer of choice is evident in the delivery of our Gender Equality Strategic Plan supported by our Pride, Celebrate Women, RAP and Grow networks.

Flexible working that works for you as we know flexibility means different things to different people. Whether it's flexi-hours, flexi-parenting, flexi-leave, flexi-shifts, flexi-work, we're committed to helping our people work flexibly.