Senior Cost Manager

United Utilities; Kendal; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday + bank holidays

Up to 14% pension contribution

10.5% bonus scheme

Healthcare plan

Flexible and hybrid working

Job summary

United Utilities is seeking a strategic Senior Cost Manager to lead cost management across a major capital delivery programme in the North West. In this role you’ll own budgets, forecasts and performance reporting, and you’ll develop a small cost-management team to ensure best-in-class governance.

You’ll influence senior stakeholders, embed standards, and play a pivotal part in delivering essential infrastructure and regulatory commitments for millions.

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent experience.
• Professional qualifications (APM, PMI or similar).
• Knowledge of NEC4 contracts.
• Strong expertise in Cost Control, Project Controls or Programme Delivery.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder influence abilities.
• Experience using Primavera P6.

Responsibilities

• 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, 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 Control

Project Controls

Stakeholder influence

Team leadership

Communication

Primavera P6

NEC4 contracts

Education

Degree-level education

APM/PMI or similar

Tools

Primavera P6

NEC4 contracts

Job description

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.

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)
• 10.5% bonus scheme + recognition awards
• 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.