Tech Specialist - Cost Estimation

What’s The Role

The Technical Specialist – Cost Estimation role focuses on the development, delivery, maintenance, and management of a standardized and consistent suite of Project Services, with a core emphasis on Project Cost Estimating. This TAO Project Services Technical Specialist position will provide remote support from Chennai, Kuala Lumpur, or Manila. TAO teams support partners across Downstream Manufacturing and Chemicals, Integrated Gas & New Energies, Upstream, Downstream assets, and other Shell corporate functions. TAO operates across four global locations: Chennai, Manila, Cyberjaya, and Krakow.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide technical leadership for the TAO Project Services team, acting as functional lead for Cost Estimation and supporting frontliners on deliverables.
• Responsible for developing TAO-PS _ community and acting as a mentor / coach for all the frontlines.
• Develop Estimate basis and Plan detailing how the estimate will be developed.
• Prepare cost estimates at various stages of project maturity (Concept to Execution).
• Develop estimates using approved methodologies, historical data, benchmarks, and cost models.
• Apply the appropriate estimate classification and accuracy range.
• Ensure estimates are aligned with defined scope, execution strategy, and schedule.
• Support estimate reviews, validations, and assurance activities.
• Develop benchmarking packages at appropriate level to check estimate results from top down versus both internal and external comparable data.
• Work with IPA forms and reports to understand comparison of Shell projects to industry datasets
• Utilize Technical, Economical, Commercial, Organizational & Political (TECOP) profile to establish appropriate deterministic cost contingency.
• Utilize cost methodologies and tools to produce cost estimates for all phases of project delivery process.
• Incorporate project complexity factors into project estimates and assemble key input data such as project objectives, scope and execution plan.
• Assess prospect scope and develop consistent estimates ranging from Type 0 to Type 4.
• Support estimate reviews, validations, assurance activities, and benchmarking against historical performance, industry norms, KPIs, and IPA datasets.
• Work closely with Project Leads and teams to improve predictability by providing analysis, early warnings, decision support, and change impact assessments on cost and schedule.
• Maintain and enhance project and portfolio dashboards, automate reports, manage SharePoint estimate repositories, and facilitate estimate kick‑off and review meetings.
• Enable adoption of automation and digital tools, support TAO deployment, migration and QA/QC activities, and ensure compliance with Shell policies, standards, and governance requirements.
  
  

What You Bring

• University Degree in Engineering and/or certification as Project Services Manager/Lead or equivalent
• At least 12 years of work experience in Cost Estimation in Oil & Gas/ Petrochemicals or equivalent industries.
• Solid hands-on experience in Project Controls, Scheduling, Cost Engineering, Cost Estimating, Project Management, and other aspects of Project Services is a must.
• Preferably strong skills in Excel and experience in estimation tools: ASPEN TECH, CCET etc.
• Level 1 Estimation capability is preferred
• Experience of implementing changes and continuous improvement projects.
• Able to demonstrate in-depth technical knowledge and required skill sets for the role.
• Able to proactively manage stakeholder expectations and experience in working across different cultures.
• Certification in Project Management from PMI / IPMA.
• A self-starter, taking initiatives and work without close supervision.
• Due to multiple/conflicting priorities, candidate needs to be strong in prioritization, managing stakeholder expectations and be resilient under pressure.
• Sound understanding of business/process workflow and have a mature mindset to deal and behave under tough/challenging situations.
  
  

What We Offer

You bring your skills and experience to Shell and in return you work with talented, committed people on one of the most important challenges facing our planet. You’ll have the opportunity to develop the skills you need to grow in an environment where we value honesty, integrity, and respect for one another. You’ll be able to balance your priorities as you become the best version of yourself.

• Progress as a person as we work on the energy transition together.
• Continuously grow the transferable skills you need to get ahead.
• Work at the forefront of technology, trends, and practices.
• Collaborate with experienced colleagues with unique expertise.
• Achieve your balance in a values-led culture that encourages you to be the best version of yourself.
• Join an organisation working to become one of the most diverse and inclusive in the world. We strongly encourage applicants of all genders, ages, ethnicities, cultures, abilities, sexual orientation, and life experiences to apply.
• Grow as you progress through diverse career opportunities in national and
• international teams.
• Gain access to a wide range of training and development programmes.
  
  

After you submit your application, you will receive an email providing a link to an online assessment that is a mandatory part of the process. The email will come from HireVue - please check your spam/junk mailbox if you do not see the email. Once completed, your application will be reviewed to determine next steps. Thank you for your interest in Shell.

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