Director (Team Lead) - Cost Consultancy

Lambert Smith Hampton; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Lambert Smith Hampton in London seeks a commercially astute Director in Quantity Surveying to lead the Cost Management team. You will drive revenue, manage key client relationships, and mentor junior staff while delivering service excellence across projects.

You'll shape business development, oversee budgets, and advance the real estate and construction agendas within the UK market, leveraging MRICS qualifications and a degree in Quantity Surveying.

Qualifications

• Degree in Quantity Surveying is essential.
• MRICS (Quantity Surveying) qualification required or in process.
• Strong client relationship management and business development skills.
• Excellent communication and leadership capabilities.
• Experience leading cost management teams on large-scale projects.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead the cost management team with accountability for performance.
• Identify and nurture internal and external client relationships.
• Proactively win new clients and contribute to fee proposals and bids.
• Collaborate with colleagues across service lines to deliver integrated services.
• Oversee project budgets, reporting and financial controls.
• Manage contract administration and procurement processes.
• Provide mentorship and develop junior staff.

Skills

Client relationships

Leadership

Business development

CostX

Communication

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying

MRICS (Quantity Surveying)

Tools

CostX

Job description

Department: Cost Consultancy, Project & Building Consultancy

Location: London

About us:

Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) is one of the largest commercial property consultancies in the UK with 31 offices and over 1,000 employees. Working with commercial property owners, investors, developers and occupiers, we partner with household names across many sectors in both the private and public sector. We advise on all aspects of the commercial property lifecycle including, investment, leasing, valuation, development and asset management.

Our Cost, Project & Building Consultancy teams advise our clients on the full spectrum of Cost Management, Project Management and Building Consultancy services.

Based in London but with a national remit, the Cost Management element of this team are currently delivering a variety of project management, contract administration and cost management instructions across numerous sectors on complex £multi-million new build, reconfiguration, asset enhancement, refurbishment and CAT B schemes. We collaborate across the Building Consultancy, Cost Management, Project Management and all other LSH teams to support our clients across the full spectrum of LSH services on offer.

The team strives to add more value by advising from the earliest stage; costing, undertaking feasibility and options appraisals, through programming and advising on technical aspects of development and lease agreements. Our remit covers projects across all procurement methodologies from inception to completion and handover, managing multiple stakeholders and deliverables.

A significant proportion of the instructions we receive are repeat business from our existing clients. We work hard to fully understand, meet and exceed our clients’ expectations. This has allowed us to develop strong relationships with our clients, which in turn allows them the confidence to award us with further instructions and recommendations to their partners and other potential clients.

This opportunity:

The team are currently searching for an outward looking commercially astute Director with a background in professional quantity surveying services. The team's DNA includes client care, entrepreneurial drive and strategic networking to maximise the opportunities within LSH.

This position will act as the Cost Management Team Lead with a focus on revenue generation, managing client relationships, supporting business development initiatives and mentoring / training junior members of staff and service delivery.

The team has significant growth aspirations that will include the recruitment of additional team members e.g. QS, Senior QS or Associate QS, to support the Team Lead in the delivery of workload and day-to-day running of the service line.

This is a great opportunity to join the team at an exciting time of significant investment from the business to grow the team.[MR1]

Key Responsibilities:

• Ownership and accountability for the performance of the cost management team.
• Identification and nurturing of client relationships both internal and external.
• Proactively identifying and winning new clients with measurable targets for business generation, utilising the wider LSH network
• Contributing to fee proposals, bid responses and pitch presentations to new and existing clients
• Collaborating with colleagues across service lines
• Project and development budget oversight and financial reporting – monitoring expenditure, preparing reports, and ensuring sound financial control.
• Contract administration – handling JCT contracts, preparing valuations, and authorising payment certificates.
• Procurement – coordinating tender processes, promoting cost efficiency, and following recognised best‑practice standards.
• Commercial assurance – reviewing project audits, validating cost estimates, and checking compliance with financial policies.
• Risk and change management – assessing potential financial risks and managing compensation or variation events.
• Stakeholder engagement – collaborating with clients, consultants, and contractors to maintain strong working relationships.
• Digital tools proficiency – experienced in using costX and other cost management systems.
• Contractor & supplier oversight – supervising financial aspects of projects and ensuring supplier compliance.
• Client account management – managing day‑to‑day accounts and ensuring smooth service delivery.
• Team leadership and mentoring – guiding junior colleagues, supporting their professional growth, and encouraging development.
• Degree in Quantity Surveying
• MRICS (Quantity Surveying) qualified
• Relevant experience and passionate about your career in Quantity Surveying.
• Interested in real estate, buildings and construction.
• Self‑motivated, ambitious and driven to grow the services line within London and across the UK
• Willingness to represent LSH at industry events, networking and professional forums
• Able to take ownership, have pride in your work, personable, professional and presentable
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build rapport with colleagues and clients.

We understand the value that a diverse and inclusive working environment brings to Lambert Smith Hampton. We celebrate the different perspectives and insights that people can bring through their cultures and backgrounds. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or any other protected characteristic.

We want to ensure that your application can be considered for all relevant roles across the Lambert Smith Hampton group of companies, including subsidiary and affiliate companies. We believe that this will ensure that talented people interested in developing their career with us will be considered for the widest range of opportunities that we can provide and will also receive the best candidate experience.

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