Cost Manager

Overview

As a Cost Manager in our Transmission & Distribution team, you will deliver robust commercial and cost management across the project lifecycle to keep schemes on time and within budget. You will collaborate with clients, contractors and multidisciplinary teams to manage risk, forecast costs, and drive value. You’ll contribute to major UK infrastructure projects that modernise the electricity network, offering opportunities for progression and leadership. This role combines hands-on cost control with mentoring junior colleagues and seeking continuous improvement to processes.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with clients, contractors and stakeholders
• Administer contracts per objectives and governance
• Prepare and maintain cost forecasts, budgets and financial reports
• Monitor expenditure, identify variances and implement mitigations
• Manage contract cash flow and payments
• Support programme delivery through cost control and value engineering
• Handle contract changes and compensation events with governance
• Produce accurate commercial reporting and improve forecasting
• Provide commercial advice to teams and clients
• Negotiate final accounts and lead commissions with junior staff
• Drive continuous improvement in commercial processes

Key requirements

• Experience delivering cost management services in infrastructure, utilities, construction or engineering
• NEC3 or NEC4 contract administration (Option C advantageous)
• Cost forecasting, budgeting and reporting
• Change control and compensation event management
• Valuations and final accounts
• Risk and opportunity management
• Procurement and tender evaluation
• Estimating and pricing
• Value management and value engineering
• Collaborative, multidisciplinary team working
• Leading commissions and mentoring juniors
• Identify efficiencies and drive improvement
• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management or related discipline
• Desirable: Membership of RICS, CIOB or equivalent

• Collaborative mindset
• Stakeholder management
• Analytical thinking
• NEC3/NEC4 contract administration
• Cost forecasting and budgeting
• Cost reporting

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