Senior Cost Consultant (Education Sector)

Mace Group; Winchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity to join a dynamic cost & commercial management team within a forward-thinking company. This role focuses on advising key education sector clients on cost planning, project budgeting, and strategic procurement services. You will champion safety and quality while fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. With a strong emphasis on integrity, you will ensure compliance and ethical operations while supporting the development of new business opportunities. If you have a passion for excellence and a drive to make a positive impact, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Experience in cost consultancy practice and managing people.
• Knowledge of capital planning and strategic procurement.

Responsibilities

• Manage cost planning and present cost plans to clients.
• Conduct feasibility studies and manage procurement processes.
• Support delivery of cost management services and strategic outcomes.

Skills

Cost Planning

Project Budgeting

Forecasting

Strategic Procurement

Risk Management

Client Management

Excel Proficiency

Capital Planning

Sustainability Knowledge

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying/Cost Management

Professional Membership (MRICS)

Tools

Excel

Job description

Position status:This opportunity is for a secured position. If you would like to be considered, please click to apply.

At Mace, our purpose is to redefine the boundaries of ambition. We believe in creating places that are responsible, bringing transformative impact to our people, communities and societies across the globe. To learn more about our purpose, culture, and priorities, visit our strategy site. Strategy Site

Within our consult business, we harness our unique combination of leading-edge practical expertise and project delivery consultancy to unlock the potential in every project.

The project:

An exciting opportunity to join the cost & commercial management team working with a small selection of our key strategic education sector clients. The role will involve advising across a full range of cost planning, project budgeting, forecasting and strategic procurement services.

Our values shape the way we consult, and define the people we want to join us on our journey:

Safety first - Going home safe and well:

• You will be an advocate of Mace's value of safety first, and be accountable for leading and maintaining exceptional safety, quality, cost, programme, sustainability and project compliance standards.
• You will possess technical expertise in local health and safety rules and regulations relevant to project portfolio.
• You will champion a diverse and inclusive working environment, and understand the importance of the wellbeing of the people you manage.

Client focus - Deliver on our promise:

• You will manage cost planning including ownership of and presenting cost plans to clients and internal stakeholders.
• You will manage the procurement process, ensuring stages including prequalification, enquiry, analysis, selection and contract preparation are performed effectively.
• You will support the delivery of cost management services to deliver key strategic outcomes and KPIs, directly influencing strategic development of plans.
• Conducting feasibility studies and benchmarking.
• Applying the value management techniques at the outset of a project.
• Managing, estimating and cost planning activities to include taking ownership of and presenting the final cost plan.
• Ensuring that post-contract cost variances and change control processes are managed effectively.
• Ensuring that cost checking and valuation work is managed effectively.
• Ensuring the production of monthly post-contract cost reports and presenting them to the client.
• Ensuring that final accounts are negotiated and agreed.
• Being a key interface with client and other consultants at all project stages.
• Marketing and business development duties including being mindful of the need to support the consultancy team in promoting Mace in the region.
• Knowledge of the standard form of industry contracts.
• Assisting in the development of new business opportunities with existing and new clients.

Integrity - Always do the right thing:

• You will work to ensure that budgets and other operations are fiscally and ethically viable, and meet organisational and legislative compliance obligations.
• You will support the senior construction delivery team in influencing the long term development of strategy for a function or Business Unit (BU), creating a sustainable business future.
• You will commit to making a positive impact for our people, our clients, and our planet, and take ownership for holding others to account who do not uphold the Mace values.

Create opportunity for our people to excel:

• You will support Managers and other junior members of your project team and provide an environment to share knowledge and experience.
• You will actively network, innovate, and seek understanding of best practice, utilising the full depth of knowledge of Mace group, the centres of excellence, Mace way control centre and knowledge hub.
• You will provide technical expertise and support to delivery teams, creating a culture of ownership, promoting roles and responsibilities.

You’ll need to have:

• Previous experience in a cost consultancy practice undertaking a similar role.
• Previous experience working with Education sector clients.
• Sound knowledge and ability to undertake and advise on capital planning, forecasting and strategic procurement.
• Strong understanding of industry best practice.
• Previous experience of managing people and risk management.
• Experienced in the use of excel including sortation formulas, pivot tables, graphs, etc.
• Understanding of the impact of wider industry hot topic issues such as Sustainability, Social Value, Carbon Reduction.
• A degree in quantity surveying/cost management or equivalent.
• Professional membership i.e. MRICS (Essential).

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfil all of the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation.

We are also open to discussing part-time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable within the role.