Senior Cost & Programme Manager

SolvTalent; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SolvTalent is seeking a Senior Construction Cost & Programme Manager for its international Real Estate & Facilities Management function. You will lead the commercial and programme performance of construction across a multi-country portfolio, acting beyond individual projects to drive cost efficiency and governance.

The role reports to the Director of Construction and requires broad stakeholder engagement. You will manage cost planning, benchmarking, spend tracking, budget reviews and contract

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in built environment or construction.
• Strong cost planning, budget management and financial reporting experience.
• Experience managing large, complex property or construction portfolios.
• Exposure to projects across multiple countries or regions.
• A degree or equivalent qualification in QS or cost management.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to construction cost planning, benchmarking and commercial performance.
• Oversee project pipeline governance, reporting and future development.
• Manage spend tracking and financial reporting across the programme.
• Lead project budget reviews and capital investment governance.
• Perform budget-to-spend analysis across live projects.
• Conduct contractor performance reviews and benchmarking.
• Handle commercial agreements and contract management.
• Identify and deliver cost efficiencies across the portfolio.
• Develop regional cost intelligence and benchmarking.
• Report programme and commercial performance to senior stakeholders.

Skills

Cost management

Budget management

Financial reporting

Stakeholder management

Data interpretation

Executive reporting

International travel

Education

Quantity Surveying degree

Job description

Location: United Kingdom with International remit

SolvTalent is retained by a major international organisation to appoint a Senior Construction Cost & Programme Manager into its global Real Estate & Facilities Management function.

Operating across 860 locations in 24 countries, with a portfolio continuing to grow by approximately 50 locations each year, the business is investing in the capability, governance and commercial performance of its international construction programme.

Reporting directly to the Director of Construction, this is a senior and highly visible role responsible for leading the commercial and programme performance of construction projects across an extensive multi-country estate.

Rather than managing individual projects, you will take a portfolio-wide view – developing the systems, governance, benchmarking and commercial insight needed to improve cost performance and deliver greater consistency across the international construction programme.

The role

You will take ownership of:

• Construction cost planning, benchmarking and commercial performance
• Project pipeline governance, reporting and future development
• Spend tracking and financial reporting across the programme
• Project budget reviews and capital investment governance
• Budget-to-spend analysis across live projects
• Contractor performance reviews and benchmarking
• Commercial agreements and contract management
• Identifying and delivering measurable cost efficiencies
• Developing regional cost intelligence and benchmarking
• Reporting programme and commercial performance to senior and executive stakeholders

You will work closely with internal Property, Construction, Commercial and Finance teams alongside external Quantity Surveyors, Project Managers, Employers Agents, contractors and consultants.

About you

We are looking for an experienced construction commercial professional who combines strong technical capability with the confidence to operate at senior stakeholder level.

You are likely to have:

• 5+ years' experience within the built environment or construction sector
• Strong cost planning, budget management and financial reporting experience
• Experience managing large, complex property or construction portfolios
• Exposure to projects across multiple countries or regions
• A relevant degree or equivalent qualification, ideally within Quantity Surveying or Cost Management
• Excellent analytical and data interpretation skills
• The ability to translate complex commercial information into clear executive-level reporting
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• The willingness to travel internationally

This could suit an experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor, Commercial Manager, Cost Manager, Programme Cost Manager or Portfolio Cost Manager looking to move into a broader international client-side leadership role.

Why consider it?

This is an opportunity to move beyond individual project delivery and influence how construction investment is managed across an entire international organisation.

You will have visibility across a significant global property portfolio, direct exposure to senior leadership and the opportunity to shape the commercial strategy, governance and performance of a growing construction programme.