Cost Manager

Turner & Townsend; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Cost Manager to support major water and infrastructure programmes in the UK. You will lead cost planning, estimating, forecasting and cost control, working across diverse projects and delivery models to optimise value.

The role emphasizes governance, risk management and proactive commercial advice to clients. You will collaborate with clients, contractors and partners, manage procurement activities and ensure timely cost reporting and final accounts.

Qualifications

• Experience in the infrastructure, engineering or construction industry with client‑facing delivery.
• Experience providing cost and commercial management across infrastructure projects lifecycle.
• Ability to independently manage defined packages or cost management activities.
• Produces accurate and timely cost information with appropriate oversight.
• Experience developing cost plans, estimates, budgets, forecasts and cost reports.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost planning, estimating, forecasting and cost control across major water and infrastructure projects.
• Support procurement activities including tender documentation, evaluation and negotiations.
• Manage valuations, variations, payments and final accounts.
• Provide sound cost and commercial advice to optimise value and risk control.
• Collaborate with clients, contractors and delivery partners to ensure governance and delivery excellence.

Skills

Cost management

Commercial management

NEC contracts

Procurement support

Valuations & final accounts

Stakeholder management

Governance & CDM

Consultancy experience

Growth mindset

Client-facing delivery

Cost reporting

Cost planning & forecasting

Education

Quantity Surveying or Cost Management

MRICS (preferred)

Job description

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries. Working with our clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people’s lives. Working in partnership makes it possible to deliver the world’s most impactful projects and programmes as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success. Our capabilities include programme, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions. We are majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with our partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with the premier programme, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.

We have exciting opportunities for Cost Managers to join our expanding team. Due to continued growth across the UK water, wastewater and infrastructure sectors, we are seeking experienced Cost Managers to support the successful delivery of major programmes and projects.

As a Cost Manager, you will support the delivery of cost and commercial management services across a diverse pipeline of major water and infrastructure projects and programmes, from inception through to completion. Working across a range of contractual and collaborative delivery models, you will undertake cost planning, estimating, forecasting, cost control, change control, commercial reporting and contract administration, supporting the management of risk and identification of opportunities to optimise value. You will work collaboratively with clients, contractors and delivery partners to support positive financial, commercial and project outcomes, while maintaining high standards of safety, quality and performance.

The successful candidate will be comfortable operating in a regulated environment, managing competing priorities and working collaboratively across multiple stakeholders. A strong focus on governance, programme controls, safety and delivery excellence is essential.

Cost Managers at Turner & Townsend:

Cost Managers at Turner & Townsend work on a broad range of projects and programmes in the Utilities sector, including clean and wastewater treatment facilities, mains installation and replacement, environmental improvement, asset management, developer service, Major Projects, Strategic Resource Options, and many more. We are looking for individuals with the following skills, experience and attributes:

• Demonstrable experience within the infrastructure, engineering, or construction industry, with a proven track record of delivering complex projects and programmes in a client-facing environment
• Experience providing cost and commercial management services across infrastructure projects throughout the project lifecycle
• Ability to independently manage defined packages, scopes or cost management activities, escalating complex commercial or contractual matters appropriately
• Produces accurate and timely cost information with appropriate review and oversight
• Experience developing and maintaining cost plans, estimates, budgets, forecasts and cost reports, including monitoring performance, identifying variances and supporting informed decision-making
• Experience supporting procurement activities, including tender documentation, tender evaluation and commercial negotiations
• Experience managing valuations, variations, applications for payment and final accounts, ensuring these are progressed accurately and in a timely manner
• Ability to provide sound cost and commercial advice, supporting cost control, value management and the achievement of project objectives and key performance indicators
• Interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with clients, contractors, multidisciplinary teams and key project interfaces
• Promotes safe delivery and compliance with project governance requirements, with an appropriate understanding of health, safety and wellbeing principles, including Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM)
• Strong working knowledge and practical experience of NEC contracts, including the administration, management and successful delivery of projects under NEC frameworks, with an ability to proactively manage risk, programme, compensation events and stakeholder relationships
• Demonstrates a sound understanding of operating within a consultancy environment, acting as a trusted advisor to clients while maintaining independence from both client and supplier organisations, and balancing multiple stakeholder needs to achieve successful project outcomes
• Creative and curious, with growth mindset with a collaborative one-team approach

Qualifications

• Experience within the water, utilities or environmental sectors
• Experience working across a range of delivery models with exposure to programme or portfolio delivery and transformation management activities
• Familiarity with public sector organisations, non-departmental or arm’s length bodies relevant to infrastructure
• Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, such as different procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Relevant qualification in Quantity Surveying or Cost Management or equivalent professional experience
• Ideally hold or be working towards an appropriate professional body membership (MRICS) or equivalent

Additional Information

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.

SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects:

Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects: