Cost Manager / Senior Cost Manager (MEP) – Real Estate

Overview

In this role you will lead MEP cost management on projects within our Real Estate team, shaping budgets, cost plans and early estimates. You will manage design teams, oversee tendering and procurement, and deliver post-contract reporting. You will mentor junior cost professionals and actively collaborate with contractors and clients to drive robust cost outcomes. You will contribute to developing MEP digital tools and promote best practices across the MEP community. This is a great opportunity to work on high-profile estates and help turn complex projects into measurable value for clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead MEP deliverables on projects or manage direct MEP commissions such as asset upgrades
• Establish early budgets, provide early estimating, and develop cost plans
• Manage design teams to budget, oversee tendering and procurement (single and two-stage), and deliver post-contract reporting
• Mentor Assistant Cost Managers and Cost Managers within the MEP team
• Collaborate with contractors and MEP supply chains, ensuring strong relationships
• Support development of MEP digital systems and tools, promoting best practices within the MEP community

Key requirements

• Proven track record in cost management/quantity surveying across the full project lifecycle
• RICS (or similar) qualification or working towards a degree/HNC level
• Ability to level and negotiate tender returns and issue recommendations
• Experience with change control processes and cost negotiations
• Experience reviewing payment applications and final account reconciliations
• Experience reviewing and validating cost build-ups and rate analysis
• Proficiency with CostX for basic counts
• Proactive engagement with contractors and clients
• Benchmarking using available data
• Updating and tracking the Client Workbook for change orders
• Willingness to undertake detail-oriented, process-driven tasks

• Mentoring and coaching
• Strong stakeholder engagement
• Proactive communication
• MEP cost management
• Budgeting and cost planning
• Tendering and procurement (single/two-stage)

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