Senior Cost Manager

Primark; Dublin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Pension

Bonus potential

27 days leave

Bank holidays

Tax Saver Tickets

Fitness centre

Subsidised cafeteria

Job summary

Primark is seeking a Senior Cost Manager to lead commercial and cost planning for its global capital programme. You’ll partner with property, construction, procurement and finance teams across international markets to maximise value on every investment.

You’ll own cost benchmarking, governance, and external QS and cost consultancy relationships, delivering data-driven insight to support robust investment decisions in a fast-growing, multi-site retail business.

Qualifications

• Degree in Quantity Surveying with MRICS status and significant QS/Commercial experience.
• Proven ability to lead commercial governance and cost management on complex programmes.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management and data-driven decision making.
• Experience managing external QS/Cost Consultancy partners in multi-market environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the commercial and cost planning activites for Primark's global capital programme, providing expert cost and commercial leadership from property acquisition through to construction mobilisation, ensuring maximum value from every investment.
• Drive commercial due diligence and feasibility assessments for new property opportunities, developing cost plans, evaluating risks, and supporting robust investment decisions across international markets.
• Own and develop Primark's cost planning and benchmarking capability, maintaining global cost models, market intelligence, and cost databases to improve forecasting, investment planning, and value optimisation.
• Establish and oversee commercial governance frameworks, including cost controls, reporting standards, stage-gate reviews, and investment approval processes to ensure commercially sound decision-making.
• Lead and manage external Quantity Surveying and Cost Consultancy partners, driving performance, consistency, innovation, and accountability across Primark's international portfolio.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across Property, Construction, Procurement, Finance and the wider business, influencing strategic investment decisions and identifying opportunities to deliver significant cost savings and commercial value.

Skills

Quantity Surveying

Commercial Management

Cost Consultancy

Stakeholder management

Data-driven insight

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying

MRICS status

Job description

Property Operations at Primark

What’s a career at Primark all about? The positive impact you’re making, the experiences you’re having and the people you’re with. You’re our inspiration. Embrace what sets you apart, own your career and develop in ways you never expected. Leave your mark. And do it your way.

Because we strive to put people first.

Culture, our way

What You’ll Get

The work you do shapes the impact we have. We’re focused on providing you with the culture to reach your potential. Your wellbeing is our top priority.

Let’s talk lifestyle:

• Healthcare, pension, and potential bonus.
• 27 days of leave, plus bank holidays and if you want, you can buy 5 more.
• Tax Saver Tickets
• fitness centre
• subsidised cafeteria

What You’ll Do As a Senior Cost Manager

In your role, you’ll collaborate with different people across a range of skillsets. Here’s a flavour of your day-to-day:

• Lead the commercial and cost planning activites for Primark's global capital programme, providing expert cost and commercial leadership from property acquisition through to construction mobilisation, ensuring maximum value from every investment.
• Drive commercial due diligence and feasibility assessments for new property opportunities, developing cost plans, evaluating risks, and supporting robust investment decisions across international markets.
• Own and develop Primark's cost planning and benchmarking capability, maintaining global cost models, market intelligence, and cost databases to improve forecasting, investment planning, and value optimisation.
• Establish and oversee commercial governance frameworks, including cost controls, reporting standards, stage-gate reviews, and investment approval processes to ensure commercially sound decision-making.
• Lead and manage external Quantity Surveying and Cost Consultancy partners, driving performance, consistency, innovation, and accountability across Primark's international portfolio.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across Property, Construction, Procurement, Finance and the wider business, influencing strategic investment decisions and identifying opportunities to deliver significant cost savings and commercial value.

What You’ll Bring

We want every person in our organisation to feel like they’re making a key contribution. Here are some of the experiences and skills you’ll need for the role:

• A degree in Quantity Surveying and Chartered MRICS status, with significant experience in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or Cost Consultancy.
• Deep expertise in commercial, financial, and cost management, with a proven track record of delivering value across complex capital programmes.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, challenge, and guide senior decision-makers using data-driven commercial insight.
• Experience managing external Quantity Surveying, Cost Consultancy, and professional services partners, ensuring high-quality delivery and commercial outcomes.
• A background in retail, commercial, or multi-site property environments, ideally within an international or multi-market organisation.
• Demonstrated success in developing cost benchmarking frameworks, commercial governance processes, and strategic investment plans, with knowledge of procurement best practices and project management qualifications viewed as an advantage.

Excited? Good. Because it’s energising to put your skills to work, in a growing global business committed to encouraging people to express themselves – and feel a sense of belonging.

About Primark

At Primark, people matter. They’re the beating heart of our business and the reason we’ve grown from our first store in Dublin in 1969 to a £9bn+ turnover business a over 80,000 colleagues and over 440 stores in 17 countries today. Our values run through everything we do. In essence, we're Caring and always strive to put people first. We're also Dynamic, bravely pushing the boundaries to stay ahead. And finally, we succeed Together.

If you need any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request, during your recruitment journey, such as extended time or breaks between online assessments, a sign language interpreter, mobility access, or assistive technology please contact your talent acquisition specialist.

All offers of employment are subject to background checks, including right to work, reference education and for some roles criminal, and financial checks. If you have any concerns, please reach out to our talent acquisition team to discuss.

REQ ID: JR-12796