A substantial cost management role across London's most interesting residential, retail, and commercial schemes. You'll manage budgets from feasibility through final account, work directly with clients and senior stakeholders, and shape how complex mixed-use developments are delivered commercially.
TLDR...key experience needed:
- Managing subcontract accounts
- Commercial strategy
- NEC/JCT contract administration
- Change management
- Claims management
- Procurement leadership
- Final account negotiations
- Managing commercial teams
- Reporting to project boards.
The Opportunity
Our client is a respected developer and construction firm with a strong project pipeline across residential, PBSA, retail, and commercial sectors. They're expanding their cost management team and looking for someone who can operate autonomously on high-profile schemes whilst remaining commercially sharp and stakeholder-focused. The firm values technically sound professionals who think commercially first and aren't afraid to challenge decisions that don't stack up financially.
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead pre and post-contract cost management across residential, PBSA, retail, and mixed-use developments, from feasibility through final account.
- Prepare and manage detailed cost plans, budgets, cashflows, and financial forecasts, with clear reporting to clients and funding partners.
- Manage procurement strategies and tender processes, advising on contract routes (primarily JCT, with NEC experience valued).
- Review contractor and supply-chain submissions, lead change control procedures, and manage variations and risk commercially.
- Work with multi-disciplinary design teams to ensure schemes remain on budget and on programme, leading value engineering workshops where necessary.
- Monitor contractor performance against agreed budgets and programmes, validate payment applications, and manage cost reporting on live projects.
- Support clients on development viability, phasing strategies, and commercial risk throughout the project lifecycle.
- Build and maintain strong client relationships, reporting clearly to senior stakeholders and managing expectations across complex delivery teams.
What We're Looking For
- Proven pre and post-contract experience across residential, PBSA, retail, commercial, and mixed-use developments in private practice consultancy.
- Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying or a related discipline, MRICS qualified or actively working towards chartership.
- Strong working knowledge of NEC and JCT contracts, cost planning, procurement, and commercial management fundamentals.
- Proficient in measurement and cost management software such as CostX, Bluebeam, or QSCA. Experience with Power BI or similar reporting tools is advantageous.
- Excellent analytical and negotiation skills, comfortable managing complex multi-phased projects and engaging directly with senior stakeholders, consultants, and contractors.
- Commercially focused, organised, detail-driven, and technically competent in construction methodologies.
- Understanding of sustainability, low-carbon design, or modern methods of construction is beneficial.
What's On Offer
- Hybrid working 2 days per week from home
- Permanent role with genuine progression into senior cost management as the business grows.
- Exposure to high-profile, complex developments across multiple sectors in London and beyond.
- Autonomy and responsibility early, working directly with clients and senior stakeholders rather than as a back-office resource.