Senior Cost Consultant (Senior Estimators & Cost Planners)

Overview

In this Senior Cost Consultant role, you will lead estimating and cost planning across infrastructure projects, from early business cases to delivery phase estimates. You will work within Gleeds’ infrastructure team to produce robust cost plans, challenge estimates, and drive cost intelligence. You’ll coordinate multi-disciplinary inputs, mentor junior estimators, and support clients in understanding cost outputs. This is a chance to shape major programmes and contribute to a trusted, global consultancy renowned for its cost management excellence.

Pay / Benefits

• Great Place to Work employer
• flexible working and core hours
• generous holiday allowance with purchase option
• competitive salary with reviews
• Employee Assistance Programme
• global travel scholarship programme

Responsibilities

• Lead the production of estimates and cost plans across multiple project maturity stages (from business case to detailed delivery)
• Own estimate structure, methodology, assumptions, and presentation
• Ensure technical quality and completeness of estimate deliverables
• Plan and deliver estimating commissions to meet client/programme requirements
• Lead estimate reviews and provide technical challenge for robustness
• Develop estimate assumptions, exclusions, risk allowances, and Basis of Estimate docs
• Coordinate inputs from design, engineering, and commercial stakeholders
• Support benchmarking and development/application of cost intelligence
• Analyse cost data to identify drivers, risks, and opportunities
• Explain estimate outputs to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Mentor and support junior estimators
• Contribute to continuous improvement of estimating processes, tools, and data

Key requirements

• Experience leading production of estimates and cost plans in infrastructure or construction
• Experience developing estimates across multiple project stages
• Strong understanding of estimating principles, methodologies, and best practice
• Experience applying industry standard Methods of Measurement (e.g. NRM, RMM, CESSM, MMHW or similar)
• Experience developing estimate assumptions and Basis of Estimate documentation
• Understanding of estimate risk, uncertainty, and contingency development
• Ability to communicate estimate outcomes clearly to stakeholders
• Experience collaborating with design teams, engineers, and project stakeholders
• Experience mentoring or supporting junior team members
• Degree, HNC, HND, or equivalent in Quantity Surveying, Cost Management, Engineering, or related discipline, or relevant practical experience
• Professional membership of RICS, ACostE, CICES, CIOB, or similar is desirable

• Clear communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Collaborative teamwork with cross-disciplinary groups
• Mentoring and developing junior colleagues
• Estimating methodologies and best practices
• Cost planning across project lifecycle
• Cost benchmarking and cost intelligence

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