Karamtara Engineering
Website:
karamtara.com
Job details:
About the Role:
We are establishing a greenfield Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) manufacturing facility and are seeking an exceptional Head of Cost Management to own the full CAPEX lifecycle — from pre-FEED estimation through to plant commissioning — before transitioning into operational cost benchmarking and control post-COD. Sitting at the intersection of capital project controls, manufacturing cost engineering, and strategic procurement governance, this role is central to ensuring that every capital expenditure decision is grounded in technical rigour and commercial discipline.
Key Responsibilities:
Estimation, Benchmarking & Cost Baseline
- Develop Class 1–5 cost estimates (per AACE standards) across all CAPEX workstreams: civil & structural, mechanical & electrical, plant & machinery, utilities, and enabling infrastructure.
- Build and maintain a proprietary cost database benchmarked against comparable global BESS and Li-ion gigafactory projects (CATL, BYD, ACC, Ola Electric, and others).
- Establish should-cost models for all major equipment and construction packages; define and track cost KPIs including cost per GWh installed, civil cost per sq. ft., and equipment cost per assembly line.
- Own the integrated cost baseline (CBS tied to project WBS) and maintain a live risk-adjusted cost model, including Monte Carlo-based contingency ranges for major workstreams.
Project Controls & Schedule Integration
- Implement Earned Value Management (EVM) — track CPI, SPI, EAC, and ETC on a rolling basis across all packages.
- Lead change order management: evaluate scope changes for cost and schedule impact; maintain the change register, variance log, and contingency drawdown governance.
- Integrate cost loading into the master project schedule (Primavera P6 or equivalent) alongside the Project Director and Construction Manager; flag schedule-driven cost risks proactively — delay penalties, acceleration premiums, and procurement lead-time exposure.
Procurement, Contract Governance & Techno-Commercial Analysis
- Develop bid packages, BOQs, and RFQ cost templates for plant and machinery and civil contracts; evaluate vendor bids against should-cost models and lead commercial due diligence.
- Support EPC/EPCM procurement strategy across battery module and pack lines, container assembly lines, HVAC, BMS infrastructure, and material handling systems; review and negotiate commercial terms with legal and project teams.
- Translate engineering designs and specifications into accurate cost models; assess value engineering opportunities and provide techno-commercial input into design decisions and CAPEX phasing strategies.
- Track committed vs. actual vs. forecast costs across all purchase orders and contracts; establish cost reporting obligations with key contractors and vendors.
Governance, Reporting & Post-COD Transition
- Produce monthly CAPEX dashboards for the Board: budget vs. actual, forecast to complete, variance by workstream, and key risks; establish cost governance policies, delegation of authority matrices, and CAPEX approval workflows.
- Interface with Finance for CAPEX capitalisation, drawdown scheduling, and lender or investor due diligence reporting.
- Post-commissioning, build the operational cost benchmarking framework — direct material cost per kWh, assembly cost per unit, overhead absorption rates, and yield-adjusted unit economics — and anchor the standard costing system for the manufacturing P&L.
Qualifications & Experience:
- 15–22 years of experience overall, with at least 8–10 years in cost engineering or project controls on large industrial CAPEX projects (>₹1,000 Cr / >$100M).
- Demonstrated experience on greenfield manufacturing facility build-outs — automotive, electronics, semiconductor assembly, or heavy industrials; energy storage or EV a strong plus.
- Strong command of EVM, CBS/WBS structuring, risk quantification (Monte Carlo), and should-cost modelling across EPC/EPCM contracting frameworks.
- Proficient in Primavera P6 or MS Project for schedule-cost integration; advanced Excel; working knowledge of SAP PS or Oracle Primavera EPPM.
- Familiarity with BESS technology components — cell chemistry, pack and container assembly, BMS, and testing — sufficient to interrogate engineering assumptions and vendor claims.
Desirable:
- Direct experience with gigafactory, semiconductor fab, or large-scale electronics assembly plant builds, domestically or internationally.
- Exposure to FIDIC/EPC contract structures and lender or IFC reporting requirements, including project financing due diligence.
- MBA or PGDM in Finance as a complement to the engineering background.
Key Competencies:
- Sharp commercial acumen with a strong technical grounding — able to read drawings and interrogate specs, not just spreadsheets.
- High attention to detail with the ability to zoom out to the strategic picture.
- Confident communicator who can challenge engineers and vendors constructively.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity during a fast-moving greenfield setup.
- Integrity and independence in cost assessment — able to deliver unbiased findings to leadership.
What We Offer:
- A pivotal role in building a first-of-its-kind BESS manufacturing facility from the ground up.
- Competitive compensation package including performance incentives.
- Opportunity to shape cost governance processes and standards from Day 1.
- Collaborative, mission-driven team focused on accelerating the energy transition.
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