Associate Cost Manager

Overview

As an Associate Cost Manager at Arcadis, you will lead complex cost management for major development and infrastructure programmes. You will act as a trusted advisor on commercial matters, guiding projects from business case through completion. You’ll build long-term client relationships, mentor teams and contribute to the growth of the Places business. This role combines technical excellence with strategic leadership to deliver value for clients and communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of complex cost management commissions across major development and infrastructure programmes
• Provide strategic cost, commercial and procurement advice from business case through to project completion
• Oversee cost planning, benchmarking, estimating, risk management, value engineering, change control and final account resolution
• Provide commercial leadership on large-scale projects with senior stakeholder engagement
• Ensure delivery of high-quality, commercially focused advice to support client decision-making
• Act as senior point of contact for key clients and strategic accounts
• Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, project sponsors and delivery partners
• Identify opportunities to expand client relationships and generate new business opportunities
• Support account planning and contribute to growth of the Places portfolio
• Represent Arcadis at industry events and client forums
• Provide leadership and mentorship to Cost Consultants and Quantity Surveyors
• Take line management responsibility and support career development
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, high-performing team culture
• Promote knowledge sharing and technical excellence across teams
• Support recruitment, succession planning and capability growth
• Lead preparation of fee proposals, commercial bids and strategic pursuits
• Take responsibility for commission performance including revenue, profitability and utilisation
• Contribute to business planning and growth strategies across Places sectors
• Support innovation and service development initiatives
• Contribute to regional and national business performance targets
• Provide oversight and assurance of project deliverables across commissions
• Ensure compliance with governance procedures and standards
• Lead commercial risk identification and mitigation strategies
• Review and approve key project outputs before client submission
• Drive continuous improvement of cost management processes, systems and best practices

Key requirements

• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Cost Management or related built environment discipline
• MRICS or equivalent professional accreditation
• Significant consultancy experience delivering cost management services in the built environment
• Proven experience leading large and complex programmes, developments or portfolios
• Strong understanding of construction procurement, contracts, risk management and commercial strategy
• Demonstrable experience managing senior client relationships and strategic accounts
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management
• Leadership and mentoring abilities
• Strategic thinking and client relationship management
• Cost management
• Cost planning and benchmarking
• Estimating and value engineering

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