Cost Manager

RIDGE SURVEYORS LIMITED; West of England; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

RIDGE SURVEYORS LIMITED is seeking an experienced Cost Manager to support major infrastructure programmes focused on Water and Environment. You will work within a collaborative commercial team, delivering cost plans, benchmarks and whole-life costing while administering NEC3/NEC4 contracts.

The role offers opportunities across multiple regional offices in the UK and requires strong client and stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or related field.
• RICS accreditation or progression toward chartered status.
• Experience on pre- and post-contract NEC3/NEC4 administration.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support cost management activities across the full project lifecycle.
• Prepare and manage cost plans, estimates and benchmarks with whole-life costing.
• Administer NEC3/NEC4 contracts and support pre/post-contract commercial activities.
• Support payment applications, cost control, forecasting, change and risk management.
• Provide data-driven cost and commercial insight to support decisions.
• Produce high-quality commercial reporting and earned value management.
• Identify opportunities to improve value and optimise costs for clients.
• Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Support business growth through networking and market engagement.

Skills

Infrastructure cost management

NEC3/NEC4 knowledge

Data-driven decision making

Collaborative working

Education

Quantity Surveying / Commercial Management degree

Tools

CostX

CEMAR

Job description

Are you an experienced Cost Manager looking to make a real impact within the UK's infrastructure sector? We are expanding our commercial team and are seeking Cost Managers to support the delivery of major infrastructure programmes, with a particular focus on the Water and Environment sector.

We're looking for professionals who thrive in a collaborative, outcome-focused environment and enjoy working closely with clients, consultants and contractors to deliver successful project outcomes. This opportunity is ideal for someone who wants to be part of a growing team, contribute to shaping our future success, and work on projects that make a positive difference to communities and the environment.

The roles can be based from any of our offices in: Cardiff, Bristol, London, Winchester, Reading, Oxford, Cheltenham, Cambridge, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester or Newcastle.

What you need to do to be effective in this role

• Work collaboratively within integrated project teams alongside clients, contractors and multidisciplinary consultants.
• Lead and support cost management activities across the full project lifecycle.
• Prepare and manage cost plans, estimates and benchmarks, applying whole-life costing principles where appropriate.
• Administer NEC3/NEC4 contracts, supporting both pre-contract and post-contract commercial activities.
• Support the management of payment applications, cost control, forecasting, change management, risk and value management processes.
• Assist project teams in managing early warnings, compensation events and commercial risk.
• Provide data-driven cost and commercial insight to support informed decision-making.
• Produce high-quality commercial reporting, including performance metrics, earned value management (EVM) and outturn cost analysis.
• Identify opportunities to improve value, optimise costs and enhance commercial outcomes for clients.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients and industry stakeholders.
• Support business growth through networking, market engagement and identifying new opportunities.
• Contribute positively to a collaborative team environment and support the development of colleagues.

Skills and experience you need to have for this role

• Infrastructure experience, specific focus on Water and Environment background (this is essential), other sectors are also desirable (energy, transport, defence).
• Strong cost management experience across major infrastructure programmes.
• Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Candidates will be associate or full members of RICS (or an appropriate professional institution) or be committed to obtaining chartered status.
• Have both site and office-based experience on a variety of infrastructure projects.
• Successful applicants will have a background on pre and post contractual administration of the NEC3/NEC4 forms of contract. NEC Accredited is desired but not essential.
• Be collaborative, with a can-do, problem-solving attitude.
• The aspiration to join a growing team where the prospect of contributing to something new excites you.
• Have an understanding and have used cost software including, but not limited to CostX, CEMAR etc.
• Have an understanding of the Construction Playbook, Value Toolkit, Project 13 and Public Procurement regulations.

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