BSE Cost Manager

Ridge and Partners LLP; Oxford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ridge and Partners LLP in Woodstock near Oxford seeks an experienced Commercial Manager or Quantity Surveyor with strong MEP cost management skills. You will work on a varied project portfolio and partner with engineers, project managers, architects, and cost managers throughout the lifecycle.

You will measure mechanical and electrical systems, develop MEP cost plans from RIBA Stage 2, and challenge contractor costs to achieve best value while preparing client-ready cost reports and valuations.

Qualifications

• Solid experience in building services cost management.
• Proven involvement in preparing and managing MEP costs.
• Good understanding of procurement strategies, including plant vs. subcontract.
• Experience preparing and agreeing monthly valuations and client reports.

Responsibilities

• Measuring MEP systems and applying rates to prepare cost reports.
• Prepare MEP cost plans from early stages using benchmark data.
• Review contractor cost reports and provide evidence-based recommendations.
• Prepare clear cost reports for client review and sign-off.
• Collaborate with engineers, project managers, architects, and cost managers.
• Identify budget impacts from design development and advise on mitigation.
• Review monthly valuations and agree them with contractors.
• Interrogate contractor reports to support the wider team.

Skills

MEP cost management

Valuations & reports

Procurement knowledge

Cost benchmarking

Tools

Bluebeam

Smartsheet

Job description

If you are an experienced Commercial Manager or Quantity Surveyor with a strong understanding of mechanical and electrical building services and ready for your next career move, please read on as we are recruiting. This role will be based in our Woodstock office (just outside Oxford) and you will join a dynamic team that is continuing to strengthen and expand its commercial management capability.

In this role, you will work on a varied portfolio of projects across multiple sectors, with values ranging from thousands to hundreds of millions of pounds. You will collaborate with a broad in-house team, including engineers, project managers, architects and building cost managers, giving you a wider perspective and the chance to contribute throughout the project lifecycle.

What you will be doing

• Measuring mechanical and electrical systems, applying appropriate rates and preparing complete, well-supported cost reports.
• Preparing MEP cost plans from RIBA Stage 2 onwards, using benchmark data, rules of thumb and current market intelligence.
• Carrying out commercial reviews of MEP work packages and contractor recommendations, challenging assumptions and identifying opportunities to achieve best value.
• Preparing clear cost reports for client review, agreement and sign-off.
• Working with main contractors and specialist subcontractors to identify practical routes to affordability.
• Identifying potential cost increases arising from design development, preparing budget assessments and advising the commercial lead on the likely impact.
• Reviewing monthly valuations and supporting information, then agreeing valuations with contractors.
• Interrogating contractor commercial reports and providing clear, evidence-based advice to the wider project team.

What we are looking for

• Solid experience in building services cost management, with proven involvement in preparing and managing MEP costs which will be covered at interview.
• Good working knowledge of with mechanical and electrical systems, components and installation methodologies at interview.
• The ability to measure MEP systems and use that analysis to check, test and challenge contractor costs.
• Good understanding of procurement strategies, including the differences between plant and equipment procurement and specialist subcontract procurement.
• Experience preparing and agreeing monthly valuations and producing monthly commercial reports for clients.
• Strong commercial judgement, attention to detail and the confidence to challenge information constructively.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills,
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel. Experience with Bluebeam, Smartsheet or similar software would be advantageous.