Sr Specialist - Project Estimating & Cost Control
Vale · Canada · CA$132,000 (stated in the posting)
Who We Are
We are a global mining company dedicated to safely delivering nickel, copper, cobalt, and platinum group metals essential for the world’s energy transition.
Our mission is to improve lives and shape a better future together.
From utensils to cellphones to satellites, our operations simplify daily life and enhance connectivity. Our metals are integral to life-saving medical equipment and the electric vehicles driving the fight against climate change – our work truly matters.
Join our diverse team of 15,000 talented individuals committed to transforming critical minerals into prosperity and sustainable development in countries like Canada, Brazil, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and Japan. We invite you to use your skills with us and contribute to something meaningful and enduring.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a Sr Specialist – Project Estimating & Cost Control to join our VBM / CTO / Studies / Project Controls team in Toronto, Ontario.
This is a permanent position reporting to the Sr. Manager, Project Controls - Canada and supporting Vale Base Metals' Canadian studies portfolio. The role serves as the technical leader for the estimating and cost control discipline in Canada and is accountable for the methodologies, standards, governance, quality, and consistency of capital and operating cost estimates, cost baselines, forecasts, and performance reporting across studies ranging from Preliminary Economic Assessments (PEA) through Pre-Feasibility Studies (PFS) and Feasibility Studies (FS). The successful candidate will ensure the integration of estimating, cost control, planning, risk management, and performance management disciplines, enabling informed investment decisions and supporting the successful delivery of Vale's capital portfolio.
About You
You are a highly experienced cost engineering and project controls professional with a strong background in capital project estimating, cost control, forecasting, and governance. You possess deep technical expertise in developing and validating project estimates while ensuring alignment with industry-leading standards and best practices.
You thrive in complex project environments where cost, schedule, risk, and performance must work together as an integrated system. Your ability to challenge assumptions, influence stakeholders, and provide objective analysis enables project teams and leadership to make confident investment and execution decisions. You are recognized for your technical credibility, analytical rigor, and commitment to continuous improvement.
In this role, you will:
Technical Leadership
- Serve as the technical leader and subject matter expert for estimating and cost control across Vale Base Metals' Canadian studies portfolio.
- Develop, maintain, and continuously improve estimating and cost control methodologies, procedures, templates, and governance requirements.
- Define and implement disciplined estimating and cost management practices aligned with Vale standards, AACE recommended practices, and project governance requirements.
- Provide technical leadership and guidance to project teams, engineering partners, EPCM contractors, and project controls practitioners.
Estimating for Studies (PEA, PFS and FS)
- Lead the preparation, review, validation, and reconciliation of capital and operating cost estimates throughout all study phases, including PEA, PFS, and FS.
- Ensure estimates achieve the required AACE estimate classification and meet project and governance requirements at each stage gate.
- Define estimate execution plans, including methodology, work breakdown structure, cost breakdown structure, basis of estimate development, estimate deliverables, and review processes.
- Review and challenge estimate assumptions, quantities, labour productivity factors, indirect costs, owner costs, contingency, escalation, exchange rates, and execution strategies.
- Conduct benchmark reviews, independent estimate validations, reconciliations, and variance analyses between study phases.
- Lead estimate review workshops and provide recommendations supporting project and investment decisions.
Cost Control and forecasting
- Establish and operate comprehensive cost control processes for the Canadian studies portfolio.
- Manage project budgets, commitments, actual costs, accruals, forecasts, cost trends, and estimate-at-completion (EAC) processes.
- Lead cost forecasting activities and provide analysis regarding cost performance, variance drivers, and emerging risks.
- Support implementation and management of project change control processes and ensure approved changes are reflected within project baselines.
- Develop monthly cost reports, dashboards, and performance analyses for Study Managers, functional leadership, and governance teams.
- Apply earned value management and performance measurement techniques where appropriate.
Integrated of Project Controls disciplines
- Ensure close integration between estimating, scheduling, risk management, change management, and performance management functions.
- Partner with Planning and Project Risk Management specialists to develop integrated project baselines.
- Support quantitative risk analysis and contingency determination activities through collaboration with project risk management teams.
- Ensure cost assumptions, schedule assumptions, and project risks are aligned and reflected consistently across project controls deliverables.
- Provide cost inputs supporting economic evaluations, business cases, and project investment submissions.
Continuous Improvement
- Develop and maintain Canadian estimating benchmarks, historical cost databases, productivity metrics, and cost intelligence.
- Benchmark project estimates against internal and external sources to improve estimate accuracy and competitiveness.
- Identify opportunities to enhance project controls tools, systems, automation, digital solutions, and applied AI capabilities.
- Collaborate with global project controls teams to share best practices, lessons learned, and standardized methodologies.
Experience
- Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in estimating, project controls, cost control, or capital project delivery.
- Extensive experience supporting large-scale capital projects within mining, metals, energy, infrastructure, industrial, or other asset-intensive industries.
- Demonstrated experience developing and reviewing AACE Class 5 through Class 3 capital cost estimates.
- Significant experience with cost control, forecasting, earned value management, change management, and project performance reporting.
- Experience supporting project governance reviews, investment decisions, and stage-gate processes.
- Experience working collaboratively with engineering consultants, EPCM contractors, and multidisciplinary project teams.
- Experience supporting multiple complex studies and projects simultaneously.
Education
- Undergraduate Degree in Engineering, Cost Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Business, Finance, Economics, or a related discipline.
- Advanced degree in Project Management, Cost Engineering, Finance, or Business Administration is considered an asset.
Skills & Competencies
- Deep expertise in capital cost estimating, cost control, forecasting, and project performance management.
- Strong understanding of AACE recommended practices, Total Cost Management principles, estimating classifications, contingency development, and escalation methodologies.
- Sound knowledge of project controls disciplines including planning, scheduling, risk management, change management, and governance.
- Strong understanding of project economics, financial evaluation, and investment decision support.
- Experience with estimating and project controls software solutions such as PRISM, Cleopatra, Aspen Capital Cost Estimator, Candy, Primavera P6, SAP, Power BI, and advanced Excel applications.
- Knowledge of mining, processing, infrastructure, sustaining capital, and industrial project environments.
- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong facilitation, communication, presentation, and stakeholder management capabilities.
- Ability to influence decision-making without direct authority.
- Proven coaching and mentoring capabilities.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality, consistency, and governance.
- Familiarity with automation, digital transformation, and AI applications within project controls is considered an asset.
What Makes This Role Unique
- Serves as the technical leader for estimating and cost control across Vale Base Metals' Canadian studies portfolio.
- Supports a portfolio of more than 10 active studies and projects representing approximately USD $2 billion in capital investment.
- Establishes and maintains the cost basis used to support major investment and funding decisions.
- Provides independent review and assurance support to capital projects across Vale's Canadian operations, including Ontario, Manitoba, and Newfoundland & Labrador.
- Plays a critical role in integrating estimating, scheduling, risk management, change management, and performance reporting into a single project controls framework.
- Contributes directly to improving project predictability, capital efficiency, governance effectiveness, and investment outcomes.
- Influences the development of project controls capabilities and estimating standards across Vale Base Metals in Canada.
What We Offer You
- Competitive compensation including a variable annual incentive plan
- Participation in a competitive Defined Contribution Pension package
- Comprehensive benefits package (company paid core coverage, health and dental coverage, flex accounts, disability plans, and optional insurances)
- Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation, personal, sick, parental)
- Work culture dedicated to safety, diversity & inclusion, and career growth
- Employee Family Assistance Program
- Virtual Healthcare online
- Online training and career development opportunities
Why Toronto
Toronto, Canada’s largest city and financial hub, is a center of innovation, commerce, and culture. Known for its diverse economy and vibrant urban environment, Toronto offers unparalleled access to talent, technology, and global connectivity.
Our Toronto office serves as a strategic hub for corporate functions, technology development, and business operations. Here, we drive initiatives that support Vale Base Metals’ global operations, leveraging advanced analytics, digital transformation, and strategic planning to ensure operational excellence across all regions.
Toronto’s dynamic ecosystem enables collaboration with leading technology partners, universities, and research institutions, fostering innovation in mining and metals processing. This location is integral to shaping the future of sustainable mining and advancing our commitment to responsible resource developmentto the future of responsible resource development and the global energy transition.
Include to Transform
At Vale Base Metals, we are committed to ensuring an inclusive work environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. Vale encourages everyone to express their ideas and opinions and values the plurality of individual profiles. We want our people to feel that all.
We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are critical to our success. We treat each other
fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or any other personal consideration that makes us different.
Vale is an equal opportunity employer seeking to increase diversity across our operations and improve equal opportunity at Vale and in the mining industry.
Accommodation is available throughout our recruitment process for applicants with disabilities.
Vale uses artificial intelligence to screen, assess, and/or select applicants for this position.
Pay Grade: F1T
Minimum Starting Salary: CAD 132,000
Apply by: 30th Oct 2026
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