Associate Director – Cost Management – Water/Utilities

Overview

In this role you will lead end-to-end cost management for a major London infrastructure project, acting as the day-to-day client interface and delivering value-added commercial services. You will guide cost planning, procurement, post-contract cost control, and reporting, while nurturing client relationships and developing new business opportunities. You’ll may manage a cost team and collaborate with other consultants to drive project outcomes. This is a high-visibility role with a clear impact on project delivery and value realization.

Responsibilities

• Conduct feasibility studies and procurement reporting
• Apply value management techniques at project outset with specialist support
• Manage estimating and cost planning, owning the final cost plan
• Oversee procurement stages from pre-qualification to contract preparation
• Ensure post-contract cost variances and change control are effectively managed
• Oversee cost checking and valuation work
• Produce and present monthly post-contract cost reports
• Lead value engineering and life cycle costing initiatives
• Negotiate and agree final accounts
• Lead client and consultant interfaces across project stages
• Lead a cost management team when appropriate
• Develop new business opportunities with existing and new clients
• Identify and implement improvements to cost management procedures, templates, and products
• Staff management and resource planning for cost management team
• Knowledge management activities related to cost management

Key requirements

• Proven cost / commercial management experience
• MRICS preferred
• NEC3 contracts experience (Option C – Target Cost)
• Post-contract administration experience
• Experience on major programmes and projects
• Experience in infrastructure sectors (rail, aviation, water/utilities, highways)
• Experience in leading and managing teams

• Client liaison and relationship management
• Leadership and team management
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Cost management and cost planning
• Procurement management
• Post-contract cost control and change management

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