Cost engineer network

Reporting to our Head of Network Portfolio, we are looking for a Cost Engineer to develop, improve and manage tools and frameworks for project cost estimation while being responsible for the development, maintenance, and accuracy of cost estimation data. You will design, establish, and operate a financial forecasting framework and tools to assist in determining accurate costs. Working across our immediate and 10 year works programme, a key focus will be to develop maturity across our pricing estimates to ensure we are building accuracy into current and future forecasts and estimates. If you have a passion for continually improving models, analysing data and challenging the status quo, this is the role for you. About us Passionate, curious, and innovative are a few words that describe our people. We are powering the future, connecting communities, and igniting innovation. Orion owns and operates the electricity distribution network that provides power to central Canterbury. As the third largest electricity distribution network in New Zealand, we cover remote rural areas, regional towns, and the city of Christchurch. We are an essential service and take our responsibilities seriously. We are community owned and working here means a career with meaning and purpose that makes a difference in your very own neighbourhood. The role

• Develop cost forecasts for lifecycle asset replacement and growth projects, ensuring alignment with long-term asset management and investment strategies
• Research future pricing trends, including commodities, labour, and materials, to inform robust cost escalation methodologies and improve forecast accuracy
• Manage and improve cost estimation databases, ensuring accurate cost building blocks are available, and year-on-year CPI and inflation adjustments are accounted for
• Facilitate the creation and refinement of cost estimates and budgets for projects and programmes
• Develop estimates for new complex customer-initiated connections to the Orion network
• Collaborate to align cost estimates, escalation methodologies, and forecasting tools with overarching frameworks and governance, ensuring consistency across programme, portfolio, and project-level cost management

About you

• Previous experience in a Cost Estimation / Pricing Analyst type of role ideally including financial modelling within the electrical supply, transmission, or distribution industry with a Level 7 of bachelor's degree in QS, Construction or Economics
• Sound understanding of contracts, reporting writing and commercial acumen
• Effective planning, communication and organisational skills with a customer centric approach
• Familiarity with or accreditation to AACE International or similar
• Electricity industry experience and/or an understanding of the NZ regulatory environment as it applies to the electricity industry is preferrable.

We offer You'll find at Orion, you can come as you are and just be you. You will be joining a workplace that values who you are, the work you do, and the way you think. Importantly, we offer:

• Flexible working arrangements, and flexible locations with our Head office in Burnside and satellite offices in Rolleston and Ferrymead
• Three days of "My Days" leave
• A broad range of workplace benefits from a wellbeing allowance to access to our holiday house in Hanmer!

You might be surprised to find out that the company that brings the power to your home is innovative, inclusive, progressive, and quite good fun. To apply We encourage you to be you in your application! We are truly committed to diversity, inclusion and lifting our cultural capability. You don't need to be knowledgeable in these areas, but you do need to be on board with learning. Please reach out to us with any questions at zoe.dalton@oriongroup.co.nz. We will be screening applications as we receive them to move swiftly to interviews. To learn more about us, check out our careers site to find out more about working Orion. You must have the right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this job. Pre-employment checks are part of our recruitment process.