Turnaround Cost Control Lead, NA

Basic Function

LyondellBasell’s Global Asset Integrity and Turnaround Department is a world-class, central engineering support organization – advancing continuous performance improvements in our petrochemical facilities worldwide. 

The Turnaround (TA) Cost Lead is responsible for overseeing the development of cost estimates across all phases of the project, as well as managing cost controls and reporting for multiple TA events with total costs ranging from $50 million to $200 million, depending on the size and complexity of the turnaround and related capital projects. This role ensures alignment with Turnaround work processes, facilitates accurate budgeting, and drives improvements in cost management. The TA Cost Lead collaborates closely with event managers, planners, and finance teams to maintain transparency and provide strategic recommendations for cost optimization and risk mitigation. The position resides in the Global Asset Integrity & Turnarounds (GAIT) group.

Roles & Responsibilities

Cost Management & Control
•    Support GoalZERO HSE performance by ensuring cost alignment with safe, efficient, and compliant operations.
•    Oversee cost management processes in line with Turnaround Standards and Recommended Practices.
•    Maintain ownership of TA cost control, tracking budgets, commitments, Value of Work Done (VOWD), spend phasing, and future forecasting.
•    Ensure cost forecasts align with actual delivery progress, as reflected in the TA schedule.
•    Ensure cost transparency and provide regular updates to the TA Steering team on deviations during event execution.
•    Oversee contractor cost management processes, ensuring all contractual requirements are met.
Budgeting, Estimation & Reporting
•    Develop and manage cost estimates for Development Funding requests (AFD1 and AFD2) and final funding approval budgets.
•    Review and approve TA cost estimates, preparing pre-spend reports and Approval for Funding Expenditure (AFE).
•    Prepare and review cost reports for each event, providing updates on spending and future forecasts.
•    Analyze cost data, identify variances, and recommend corrective actions.
Collaboration & Communication
•    Collaborate with TA planners, event managers, and support teams to consolidate cost estimates and manage budgets.
•    Provide clear communication on cost updates, variances, and total cost forecasts to event leads and stakeholders.
•    Facilitate quarterly financial and performance reviews, maintaining transparency against annual spend targets.
Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) & Governance
•    Establish and comply with Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) in SAP, ensuring proper tracking through work orders and purchase orders.
•    Support governance cycles, assisting with the preparation of Authorization for Expenditures (AFEs) and ensuring compliance with HSSE requirements.
•    Maintain visibility on Change Control, ensuring approved and pending changes are reflected in cost tools.
Continuous Improvement & Post-Event Review
•    Facilitate post-event look-back sessions and participate in Lessons Learned and Lookback workshops to identify cost optimization opportunities.
•    Lead continuous improvement initiatives to streamline processes, reduce turnaround scope, and optimize costs.

Min. Qualifications

Education: 
High School Diploma, Engineering, Construction Management, or Business degree preferred

Work Experience: 
Typically, minimum of 8-10 years of experience in cost management, project controls, or financial planning, ideally within the oil & gas, chemical, or heavy industry sectors.

Languages:
English

Travel:
10% - 25% travel required in North America for our manufacturing sites. Willingness to take out of area assignments during execution of Turnaround 

Skills

•    Extensive experience managing cost control for large-scale Turnaround (TA) events.
•    Proven ability to develop cost estimates, manage budgets, and perform financial reporting for complex, multi-phase projects.
•    Proficiency in SAP or similar enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, particularly in cost tracking and Work Breakdown Structures (WBS).
•    Strong Excel skills, including the ability to build detailed financial models, forecasts, and variance analysis.
•    Demonstrated ability to lead and manage cross-functional teams, ensuring effective communication and collaboration with finance, operations, and event management teams.
•    Strong leadership and influencing skills, with experience overseeing contractor cost management and ensuring alignment with contractual requirements.
•    Strong analytical abilities to identify cost variances, risks, and opportunities, along with the capability to recommend corrective actions.
•    Experience driving continuous improvement initiatives to optimize costs, streamline processes, and enhance project delivery.
•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex cost data and insights clearly to stakeholders, including senior leadership.

Competencies