Senior Cost Manager

United Utilities; Kendal; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday

Up to 14% pension

Healthcare plan

Flexible and hybrid working

Job summary

United Utilities is seeking a Senior Cost Manager to lead cost management within our PMO in Capital Delivery. You will own budgets, forecasts, and cost governance across a portfolio of wastewater projects, shaping decisions and challenging senior stakeholders.

You will lead a small team, embed standards, and drive best practice while delivering high-quality cost intelligence, contributing to vital infrastructure that serves millions in the North West.

Qualifications

• Strong expertise in cost control and project controls within large capital programmes.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Experience with NEC4 contracts and end-to-end cost reporting.

Responsibilities

• Leading programme cost management, including budgets, forecasts, and performance tracking.
• Partnering with Planning, Risk, Controls, and Project Managers to ensure joined-up cost data.
• Driving cost control processes including commitments, accruals, and financial reporting.
• Providing clear insights, identifying risks, trends, and variances against baseline.
• Managing and implementing changes to programme baseline effectively.
• Leading and developing a small team of Cost Managers.
• Embedding consistent standards, governance, and best practice across the programme.

Skills

Cost controls

Project controls

Stakeholder influence

Team leadership

Communications

Education

Degree-level education

APM/ PMI qualifications

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

Job number UU03566 Country United Kingdom Region Cumbria Location name Kendal - Kent House, Mintsfeet Road South, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 6ND Posting End Date 17/09/2026 Band 4a Role Type Permanent Work hours 37 Hours per Week Salary Competitive Salary

The Opportunity:

We’re looking for a strategic and influential Senior Cost Manager to play a key leadership role within our PMO team in Capital Delivery.

In this role, you’ll take ownership of cost management across a dynamic programme of wastewater projects, driving strong financial governance, enhancing cost performance, and ensuring best-in-class cost control throughout the project lifecycle.

You won’t just be managing numbers; you’ll be shaping decisions. Acting as a trusted expert, you’ll bring the confidence to challenge, influence senior stakeholders, and elevate standards across the programme.

You’ll also lead and develop a small team, fostering capability and ensuring consistent, high-quality cost intelligence across all projects.

This is a high-impact, visible role where your expertise will directly support the delivery of essential services to millions of people across the North West.

Why this role stands out:

• Strategic influence - Shape programme decisions and drive financial performance
• Leadership opportunity - Develop and mentor emerging talent
• Meaningful impact - Contribute to vital infrastructure and regulatory commitments
• Supportive culture - Learn, grow and take action without unnecessary bureaucracy

You’ll be joining a diverse PMO team, from apprentices to seasoned experts, where collaboration, development and doing the right thing are at the heart of how we work.

Our ambition?
To act as the intelligent Sat-Nav guiding successful project delivery.

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading programme cost management, including budgets, forecasts, and performance tracking
• Partnering with Planning, Risk, Controls, and Project Managers to ensure accurate, joined-up cost data
• Driving cost control processes including commitments, accrals, and financial reporting
• Providing clear insights, identifying risks, trends, and variances against baseline
• Managing and implementing changes to programme baseline effectively
• Leading and developing a small team of Cost Managers
• Embedding consistent standards, governance, and best practice across the programme

About you:

You’re a confident, proactive cost professional who thrives in a fast-paced project environment and enjoys influencing outcomes.

You’ll bring:

• Strong expertise in Cost Control, Project Controls, or Programme Delivery
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence and challenge stakeholders
• Experience using Primavera P6
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with confidence to raise and resolve issues
• Experience developing or mentoring others within a project controls environment
• Degree-level education or equivalent experience
• Professional qualifications (APM, PMI or similar)
• Knowledge of NEC4 contracts

Why join United Utilities?

We believe in rewarding our people and helping them thrive:

• 26 days holiday + 8 bank holidays
• Up to 14% employer pension contribution (21% combined)
• Comprehensive healthcare plan
• Flexible and hybrid working options

At United Utilities, our purpose is simple:

To deliver high-quality water for a greener, healthier, and more prosperous North West.

We’re proud to be recognised as a Top 50 Inclusive Employer (ranked #4 in the UK) and we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone can grow, succeed and truly belong.

When you join us, you’re not just building a career, you’re helping shape sustainable infrastructure for generations to come.