Cost Engineer

Vital Human Resources; Mansfield; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Vital Human Resources is recruiting an experienced Cost Engineer for a Mansfield-based, hybrid role to support a Local Authority across construction and operational projects.

The ideal candidate has a background as a Quantity Surveyor, Cost Estimator, or Cost Engineer with strong NEC contracts experience, cost estimation, forecasting and budgeting skills. The position runs on a contract basis with an end date in January 2027 and requires at least two days in the Mansfield office.

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Quantity Surveyor, Cost Estimator, Cost Engineer or similar commercial/cost-focused role.
• Strong experience in construction, civil engineering or infrastructure projects.
• Good working knowledge of NEC contracts.
• Experience dealing with compensation events and early warnings.
• Strong cost estimating, forecasting, budgeting and financial reporting skills.
• Ability to collaborate with Project Managers, Programme Managers and other key stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide costing support to Programme and Project Managers across complex construction and operational projects.
• Lead on project cost estimation to keep projects within budgets and cost tolerances.
• Conduct ongoing cost monitoring, forecasting and financial planning throughout the project lifecycle.
• Collaborate with Risk Managers to cost risks and apply optimism bias where appropriate.
• Advise on NEC contracts, including compensation events and early warnings.
• Support Project Managers in managing variations, additional works and remedial works.
• Identify and resolve cost-related issues in a timely and commercially effective manner.

Skills

Cost estimation

Forecasting

Budgeting

NEC contracts

Financial reporting

Stakeholder management

Job description

Mansfield | Hybrid Working

Contract until end of January 2027

Minimum 2 days per week in the Mansfield office

Inside IR35

I'm currently recruiting for an experienced Cost Engineer to support a Local Authority across a range of construction and operational projects.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially focused professional with strong experience in project cost management, forecasting and NEC contracts.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide costing support to Programme and Project Managers across complex construction and operational projects.
• Lead on project cost estimation, helping ensure projects remain within agreed budgets and cost tolerances.
• Undertake ongoing cost monitoring, forecasting and financial planning throughout the project lifecycle.
• Work closely with Risk Managers to ensure project risks are appropriately costed and optimism bias is applied.
• Provide advice and commercial support around NEC contracts, including compensation events and early warnings.
• Support Project Managers in managing variations, additional works and remedial works.
• Identify and resolve cost-related issues in a timely and commercially effective manner.

About You

• Previous experience as a Quantity Surveyor, Cost Estimator, Cost Engineer or similar commercial/cost-focused role.
• Strong experience within construction, civil engineering or infrastructure projects.
• Good working knowledge and practical experience of NEC contracts.
• Experience dealing with compensation events and early warnings.
• Strong cost estimating, forecasting, budgeting and financial reporting skills.
• The ability to work closely with Project Managers, Programme Managers and other key