Senior Manager, Project Finance & Econom - Melbourne, VIC, Australia

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Job Summary:

Joining Bechtel Enterprises (BEn), Bechtel’s project development, finance and investment group, as Senior Manager, Project Finance & Economics for Asia Pacific is an opportunity to be the in-region owner of financial modelling and project economics for a small team that supports Bechtel’s businesses across the region and is building a development business in Australia. We are looking for an experienced practitioner who personally builds, owns and explains techno-economic and project finance models, and who is comfortable working with engineers, estimators and commercial teams to turn technical inputs into investment cases that senior leaders, customers, partners and lenders can rely on.

The role has two complementary parts: development and transaction modelling for the power and data centre opportunities BEn APAC is pursuing in Australia; and project economics and financing analysis for Bechtel’s Mining & Metals business and other business units in Australia and, through BEn’s global Mining & Metals coordination role, in other regions. The successful candidate will also help establish the models, templates and market assumptions the business will use as its development activity grows.

This is a senior practitioner role. The successful candidate will build and review models personally, challenge assumptions constructively, work to BEn Financing Services standards and explain what the analysis means for project design, commercial terms, capital structure and investment decisions. The position reports to the Managing Director, Bechtel Enterprises Asia Pacific, and works closely with the Development Director and BEn Financing Services.

Major Responsibilities:

Project Economics for Mining & Metals and Bechtel Business Units:

• Build and own order-of-magnitude to feasibility-level project economics models for customer studies and Bechtel pursuits, integrating capital cost, operating cost, production schedule, revenue and commodity price inputs from Bechtel’s technical teams into transparent NPV, IRR, payback and cost-driver outputs.
• Design models that study teams can use directly to test design, scope and execution choices (for example capital intensity, cost levers, reliability and maintenance assumptions, phasing and contracting models) and see the effect on project returns.
• Analyse contracting models, EPC target cost and value engineering options, third-party infrastructure and capital recovery structures for mining and metals customers.
• Support BEn’s global Mining & Metals coordination role with analysis for pursuits in other regions, including the Middle East, Africa and South America, in coordination with BEn Financing Services.
• Prepare clear, well-sourced analysis for use by Bechtel business units and their customers, working within BEn's internal review and approval processes.

Development and Transaction Modelling:

• Build, maintain and review project finance and techno-economic models for power, data centre and related infrastructure development opportunities, including capital and operating costs, construction and ramp-up schedules, fuel and power pricing, and revenue and offtake arrangements.
• Model power cost and supply scenarios (gas-fired, firmed renewables, storage, behind-the-meter and grid-connected configurations) and data centre revenue structures, and quantify the economic consequences of design, phasing, offtake and financing choices.
• Model development budgets, development expenditure, partner contributions, carried interests and BEn's development returns and exit value, and analyse term sheets, offtake, energy supply, equipment, EPC and shareholder arrangements.
• Work directly with the Development Director, engineering, estimating and scheduling teams and external advisers to convert project inputs into the financial case and identify gaps and inconsistencies.
• Prepare the economics for screening, gate review, structuring and investment approval papers, with scenarios, sensitivities and conclusions rather than model outputs without interpretation.

Financing and External Review:

• Support engagement with equity partners, banks, export credit agencies and concessional lenders through model packs, debt cases, term sheet comparisons and responses to due diligence questions.
• Prepare models for BEn Financing Services review, internal assurance and independent model audit; resolve findings and maintain a complete review record.
• Explain model conclusions, key sensitivities and downside cases to senior leaders, business unit teams, partners and non-financial specialists.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Requires bachelor’s degree (or international equivalent) in engineering, finance, economics, accounting or a related field, and 10+ years of hands-on experience building, reviewing and owning techno-economic or project finance models for mining, energy, infrastructure or other capital-intensive projects; or 14+ years of relevant work experience.
• A record of building models from first principles and carrying them through study, investment committee, transaction, lender or independent model audit review. Experience limited mainly to model oversight, reporting or running established models will not be sufficient.
• Experience with Australian mining, energy or infrastructure projects and an understanding of the commercial and regulatory context in which they are developed.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Requires bachelor’s degree (or international equivalent) in engineering, finance, economics, accounting or a related field, and 10+ years of hands-on experience building, reviewing and owning techno-economic or project finance models for mining, energy, infrastructure or other capital-intensive projects; or 14+ years of relevant work experience.
• A record of building models from first principles and carrying them through study, investment committee, transaction, lender or independent model audit review. Experience limited mainly to model oversight, reporting or running established models will not be sufficient.
• Experience with Australian mining, energy or infrastructure projects and an understanding of the commercial and regulatory context in which they are developed.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Advanced Excel capability and disciplined, structured modelling practice, including scenario and sensitivity control, error checking, documentation and version management.
• Strong understanding of project economics and capital project evaluation: capital and operating cost estimation, production and ramp-up schedules, commodity and energy pricing, levelised cost analysis, NPV, IRR and payback.
• Working knowledge of project finance concepts, including cash flow waterfalls, debt sizing and sculpting, cover ratios, tax and funding structures.
• Experience working with engineers, estimators, schedulers, commercial teams and external advisers, and the judgement to challenge technical and commercial inputs.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to explain complex model results and decision implications to senior non-modellers.
• Takes personal responsibility for model integrity, works independently, manages several live pieces of analysis at once and delivers to tight deadlines.
• Willingness to travel within Australia and occasionally internationally.

Additional Desired Qualifications:

• Engineering background combined with a postgraduate or professional qualification in mineral economics, finance or business (for example MEng, MSc, Master of Finance, MBA, CFA, CA or CPA).
• Experience in a developer, project sponsor, infrastructure investor, lender, engineering consultancy or transaction advisory team.
• Experience with mining and metals project economics (for example copper, iron ore, smelting and refining, critical minerals) and with power generation, gas, storage, renewables, hydrogen, LNG or data centre economics.
• Experience with independent model audit, lender models, Australian concessional finance or public-private partnership structures.
• Capability with Power BI, Python or other tools used for data analysis, automation, Monte Carlo simulation or model assurance.

Total Rewards/Benefits:

For decades, Bechtel has worked to inspire the next generation of employees and beyond! Because our teams face some of the world's toughest challenges, we offer robust benefits to ensure our people thrive. Whether it is advancing careers, delivering programs to enhance our culture, or providing time to recharge, Bechtel has the benefits to build a legacy of sustainable growth. Learn more at Bechtel Total Rewards

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