Cost Engineer - Project Controls - Energy Projects

Turner & Townsend; Lancing; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is hiring a Cost Engineer in Lancing to support the Energy & Natural Resources division during a significant growth period. This role involves managing complex cost control for projects, ensuring budget adherence, and collaborating with project teams. Candidates should have solid experience in project controls and cost engineering, with opportunities to work in a supportive and diverse environment.

Join us for a chance to make a significant impact while contributing to sustainable outcomes. We value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Cost Engineering/Control across the project lifecycle.
• Desirable nuclear experience but not essential.
• Familiar with Earned Value Management (EVM) and cost forecasting techniques.

Responsibilities

• Implement and maintain cost control systems and procedures.
• Develop project Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS).
• Lead cost control assurance activities.

Skills

Project Controls

Cost Engineering

Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Communication Skills

Education

Professional membership (e.g., Association for Project Management)

Job description

At Turner & Townsend we’re passionate about making the difference – we are committed to delivering Sustainable Net Zero outcomes for our clients, helping our people to realize their potential, and doing our part to create a prosperous society. The world is changing, and we have a responsibility to support that change, helping drive it and be part of it. Through the commitment, capability and care our team brings, we build trust between clients, suppliers, governments, and society. Delivering better outcomes that have a positive impact on the world around us. We work smarter to face the challenges of the future; bringing the clarity that helps teams realise their full potential across the real estate, infrastructure, and natural resources sectors. It’s how we’ve made the difference for 75 years. Transforming performance for a green, inclusive and productive world.

Job Description

Due to increased opportunities and demand in the Energy & Natural Resources division, the team is recruiting Cost Engineers to join a diverse and supportive team during a period of significant growth. Our Transmission and Distribution client is at the forefront of industry‑leading change, and we are keen to speak to like‑minded individuals with senior cost engineering experience to see what Turner & Townsend can offer you.

A Cost Engineer will be responsible for work packages and projects of varying size and complexity. Work packages may vary from multiple smaller projects to one which could be significantly larger in value. A Cost Engineer will lead cost control for multiple non‑related projects or single highly complex projects within the programme of works, managing relationships between time, cost, risk, change, reporting and scope, and creating and maintaining robust cost controls and reports that provide accurate data to drive management decisions.

Key Accountabilities

• Tailor Cost Control approaches to meet the client’s needs and align with best practice.
• Implement, administer and maintain cost control systems and procedures to track project budgets, commitments, expenditures and forecasts.
• Collaborate with the Integrated Project Team to establish a robust, integrated, well‑structured Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB) and support the change control process.
• Develop project Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS) and align budget time‑phasing against the Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) to track and control actual costs.
• Map and integrate cost estimates to the WBS to set the project budget against the correct Work Packages, Planning Packages and Control Accounts.
• Adhere to NEC or FIDIC contract processes for management, control and reporting of cost data.
• Lead the production of accruals to ensure that the Actual Cost of Work Performed (ACWP) is accurately reflected in a timely manner.
• Support the change process by providing cost information for change notes to underpin forecasts.
• Update project forecasts to keep comprehensive and aligned Estimate To Complete (ETC).
• Work with the project team to set out and implement cost capture requirements, ensuring appropriate work orders, requisition structure and alignment of purchase orders with cost breakdowns.
• Align Purchase Orders with CBS to give clarity of Cost Performance Indices within the Project.
• Validate and interrogate supply chain data to assist accurate cost forecasting and trending, and work with the supply chain to understand variances and drive cost accuracy.
• Interact with Management and Leadership when delivering updates on Cost Control within a complex project/programme environment.
• Guide and influence cost control processes on complex projects/programmes and associated reports.
• Demonstrate leadership while developing the technical ability of the delivery and cost control team.

Qualifications

You have professional Project Controls experience specialising in Cost Engineering/Control across the project lifecycle. Nuclear experience is desirable but not essential. You understand Earned Value Management (EVM), progress reporting, forecasting and performance reporting and analysis, and can coordinate with other teams using multidisciplinary knowledge.

• Obtain BPSS level security clearance.
• Member of a relevant professional body (e.g., Association for Project Management, Project Management Institute).
• Familiar with different cost performance reporting and cost forecasting techniques.
• Experience leading Cost Control Assurance activities as part of project performance cadence.
• Understand how Scheduling, Risk Management, Reporting and Change Control intersect with Cost Control.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Make risk‑based decisions when parameters are unclear and use sound judgement.
• Strong leadership skills, able to mobilise, inspire and lead by example.
• Strong stakeholder management experience.
• Navigate conflict situations and defuse tension.
• Desire to work within the nuclear sector.

Additional Information

We provide a great place to work where each person has the opportunity and voice to effect change. We support a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work‑life balance.

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.