Estimator

newcleo is driving forwards an exciting and challenging international programme to develop and deploy our innovative Lead-cooled Fast Reactor technology. We are looking for an experienced, highly motivated and pro-active Senior Estimator to support the programme to deploy the LFR200 Reactor in the UK and France.
As an Senior Estimator, your primary responsibility is to develop the estimate for the LFR200 Plant and help our engineering, supply chain and project delivery teams deliver the most cost effective and value for money power plant we can. You will be expected to help promote and nurture a 'delivery to cost' culture across all of newcleo and the role will have particular responsibility for establishing the cost baseline and driving accurate and insightful analysis, reporting and management against it.
You will also work closely with Project Controls colleagues in the newcleo Enterpise PMO and PMOs for France, Italy and Fuel Cycle Programme to share knowledge and ensure alignment of project controls processes, systems and tools across the company.
As newcleo is a start up company the role will require a hands-on proactive approach to estimating and project controls generally; the individual must be comfortable with early-stage programmes and have the ability to work with ambiguity and change whilst establishing a clear path towards successful project delivery. The role provides the opportunity for an individual to expand their capability and experience as the programme grows from its early definition through to multi £billion delivery.
Main duties/role and responsibilities:
Estimating and Cost Planning Methodologies and Approach

• Support the development and maintenance of whole life cost estimates for both the development programme as well as the proposed capital assets (site and LFR plant).


• Select appropriate methodologies for the development of the required estimates.


• Contribute to the development of the cost breakdown structure and integrate with the WBS for the LFR 200 programme.


• Support the development of budgets for projects and/or programmes and oversee actual and forecast costs against them.


• Help develop and maintain of estimating tools, templates, guidelines, and benchmarking database with relevant cost data including lessons learnt to assist in the development of future estimates.


• Enable the development of Reference Class estimates across the full lifecycle of design, procurement, manufacturing, construction and commissioning using appropriate benchmarking data.


• Work with the newcleo Supply Chain Management function to source cost data from suppliers/contractors to support overall estimate development. Input to an appropriate cost intelligence database to support estimate development, cost modelling, optioneering and value engineering.


• Contirbute to the Basis of Estimate for the LFR200 Programme. Ensure the recording of all underpinning assumptions and data sources used in producing the estimate in a clear and easily identifiable format.


• Help undertake cost analysis of the design, manufacturing and construction processes to support the identification of cost savings or value improvements (VA/VE). Develop and run cost scenarios to support design and programme optioneering and decision making.


Process Development and Implementation

• Support continuous improvement of estimating and cost planning methodologies, standards, systems, tools and processes. Ensure their consistent application across the Programme.


• Support the development and implementation of newcleo's estimating and cost modelling capabilities


Governance and Assurance

• Comply with estimate governance, audit and assurance arrangements for the LFR 200 Programme, and work to the overall programme and project controls governance practices.


• Ensure baseline management and change control for all estimates in maintained.


• Ensure that the consistent and accurate cost information gets to key governance meetings in a timely manner.


• Assure estimates are realistic and based on industry standard units, with transparency to drive competitive project performance.


• Support proactive health checks and reviews on the development and maintenance of all estimates, support PMs and other key stakeholders with implementing findings and recommendations.


Reporting and Performance Management

• Generate and communicate high quality, accurate cost data to support overall project management, strategic decision making and risk/ issue management.


• Support the development of cost estimate reporting frameworks and processes in relation to programme and project costs.


• Work with PMs and other key stakeholders as required to gain periodic updates to all estimates.


• Support in drawing conclusions from cost data, collaborating with project managers to provide analysis and recommendations on areas of focus and proactive interventions.


Risk Management and Uncertainty

• Work with the Project Managers/Engineers to identify and monitor project and/or programme risks (threats and opportunities) and help the delivery team with the planning and implementation of mitigation responses.


• Undertake analysis of cost trends, generate appropriate performance indicators, and provide feedback on areas of risk and opportunities.


Knowledge Management and Continuous Improvement

• Support with lessons learnt and knowledge capture to support continuous improvement in estimate development and management across newcleo.


• Actively contribute to the development and execution of Programme and Project Management good practice, including taking a leading role in the newcleo PMO Community of Practice.
  
  Experience of estimating/cost planning in complex infrastructure/energy projects/programmes (ideally with experience of working within a highly regulated environment).


• Experience of projects/programmes in the nuclear sector beneficial but not essential.


• Experience of developing and maintaining estimates for large scale programmes from early programme definition through to delivery.


• Experience and capability in helping to establish estimating and cost planning frameworks, systems and processes.


Expertise and Knowledge

• Able to provide high quality estimating and cost planning services for high complexity projects/programmes, with an expertise in the application of good practices/principles of project controls including controlling of cost and schedule; baseline management; forecasting; performance measurement (inc. EVA), change control and risk management.


• Strong knowledge of estimating and cost planning and other relevant project controls methods, processes, tools and software (e.g. MS Excel, MS Project, PRA, Power BI).


• Understanding of the application of cost/schedule risk analysis including contingency development and analysis.


• An understanding of pricing algorithms and their use would be benefical.


• Able to play a key role in multidisciplinary teams


• Stays up to date with key industry / professional trends including areas such as data analytics, information management and digital solutions., Combination of academic qualification and appropriate professional experience.


• Professional affiliation preferrable (e.g. RICS, AACE).


• Evidence of continuous professional development and career progression.


Personal Attributes

• Good communication (both written and verbal) and interpersonal skills


• Creates credibility with internal stakeholders, able to build confidence and influence effectively at all levels.


• Results focused with the ability to meet commitments and deadlines.


• Attention to detail with an ability to assure reports produced by others, providing meaningful, actionable insights as well as being able to simplify data for presentation to a wide audience.


• Ability to act as a role model and inspire and empower others.


• Willingness to travel between Manchester, Gloucester, London, Lyon, Paris and Turin.


• Fluent in written and spoken English.


• Language skills in French or Italian would be beneficial, but not essential.


Security

• The role will require the individual to achieve a national security clearance equivalent to a BPSS standard, or higher, within a reasonable period.


Residential Status and Location

• Right to work in the UK.
  
  Privately funded and headquartered in London, newcleo was launched in 2021 - and since raised a total of EUR 400m - to be an innovator in the field of nuclear energy. Its mission is to generate safe, clean, economic and practically inexhaustible energy for the world, through a radically innovative combination of existing, accessible technologies.

With visionary co-founders, newcleo capitalises on thirty years of R&D activity in metal-cooled fast reactors and liquid-lead cooling systems, and our senior management and advisory team can boast hundreds of years in cumulative hands-on experience.
newcleo's technology, mostly comprising a novel approach to already qualified solutions, addresses equally well the three challenges affecting the nuclear industry to date: waste, safety and cost.

• Waste: fast reactors are capable of efficient use of depleted uranium, plutonium and Minor Actinides. When operated with MOX fuel generated from reprocessed nuclear waste, newcleo's reactors not only ensure sustainability by closing the fuel cycle, but can also boost energy independence.


• Safety: lead-cooled reactors operate at atmospheric pressure. The properties of lead (thermal capacity and conductivity, boiling point, chemically inert, low neutron activation, shielding properties) together with newcleo's passive safety systems ensure very high levels of safety.


• Cost: newcleo's reactor design has been optimised over the last 20 years leading to the concept of an ultra-compact and transportable 200MWe module with improvements in energy density compared to other technologies. Costs are kept low by means of simplicity, compactness, modularity, atmospheric pressure operation and elevated output temperature.


newcleo is also working to significantly invest in MOX fuel manufacturing in developed countries, extracting energy from the current nuclear industry by-products.
newcleo is ready to develop a new, sustainable, and completely safe way of generating nuclear energy that will help humanity reach zero emissions, and mitigate of global warming.