Senior Cost Manager

Role Overview

An opportunity has arisen for a Senior Cost Manager to lead and deliver cost management services on complex infrastructure, energy, and defence projects across the Southern region. The role will suit an experienced cost professional with strong project controls awareness, capable of providing strategic cost leadership, governance, and commercial insight across multiple workstreams.

You will play a key role in overseeing cost estimates, forecasts, and reporting throughout the project lifecycle, supporting senior stakeholders with informed financial decision-making and ensuring robust cost control within NEC contract environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and management of cost plans, estimates, budgets, and forecasts across major projects and programmes.

• Provide senior-level cost reporting, analysis, and assurance, including performance trends, variances, and forward-looking forecasts.

• Interface closely with project controls, planning, and commercial teams to ensure integration of cost, schedule, and scope.

• Apply and oversee Earned Value Management (EVM) principles to monitor project performance and drive corrective actions.

• Operate within NEC contract frameworks, supporting change control, compensation events, and commercial governance.

• Establish and manage Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS) to enable accurate cost control.

• Support risk and opportunity management, including quantitative cost impacts and mitigation strategies.

• Maintain and assure cost data within enterprise systems, with SAP experience being desirable.

• Provide guidance, mentoring, and technical support to junior cost and project controls team members.

• Engage confidently with clients and senior stakeholders, providing clear, credible commercial advice.

Skills & Experience

• Significant experience in cost management / commercial management within infrastructure, energy, defence, or major construction environments.

• Strong understanding of project controls principles, cost governance, and performance management.

• Practical experience with EVM and working within NEC3 / NEC4 contract environments.

• Proven capability in developing and managing WBS and CBS structures.

• Experience using SAP or comparable ERP / cost management systems (desirable).

• Excellent analytical, reporting, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Personal Attributes

• Confident, proactive, and capable of operating at a senior level within complex project environments.

• Flexible and willing to travel across the Southern region 2-3 days per week.

• Motivated to progress into leadership and advisory roles, contributing to team development and continuous improvement.

• Strong communicator with the ability to influence and support decision-making at senior levels.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.