Mechanical Cost Manager - Real Estate Construction

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on project strategies, manage prequalification of vendors, assess proposals and bid leveling documents for mechanical trades, and lead bid interviews and contractor appointment processes.
• Manage estimating services across full project lifecycle with a focus on mechanical systems, including developing detailed cost estimates, reviewing junior team outputs, presenting to clients, and providing value engineering recommendations and risk assessments.
• Engage with mechanical subcontractors and vendors to review, validate, and challenge pricing, leveraging benchmark data and historical cost information.
• Establish and manage cost reporting processes, including preparing and presenting cost reports and forecasts, maintaining project budgets, and developing commercial risk registers with emphasis on mechanical scope.
• Lead cost control activities by reviewing payment applications, evaluating contractor entitlements, assessing change orders related to mechanical work, and supporting dispute avoidance and resolution.
• Manage and monitor the invoicing process to ensure accuracy and alignment with project progress.
• Benchmark project performance against comparable projects, with a focus on mechanical and MEP cost metrics.
• Oversee final accounting processes, including post-contract audits and financial closeout activities, ensuring accuracy of mechanical trade packages.
• Facilitate post-project reviews with clients to capture lessons learned and contribute to continuous improvement and internal knowledge sharing.
• Develop and implement procedures governing project handover, including commissioning and closeout of mechanical systems.
• Perform detailed cost management activities using bid analysis sheets, change control documentation, estimating software, and quantity take-off tools specific to mechanical scopes.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, mechanical engineering, or a field related to construction.
• Minimum 3–5 years of relevant experience working in a cost management role in the construction industry, with exposure to mechanical/MEP systems.
• RICS accredited or working towards it is valuable.
• Experience supporting cost management on medium or large sized commercial or real estate construction projects.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, including procurement routes, value management, and value engineering, with a strong understanding of mechanical systems (HVAC, piping, and equipment).
• Strong communication skills and ability to interface with clients, contractors, and mechanical trade partners.