Senior Cost Manager - Commercial Real Estate Construction

Responsibilities

• Estimating and negotiating change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
• Provide estimating, cost planning, and budget management services, including producing and presenting final cost plans.
• Review and participate with design teams, contractors, and project stakeholders in the development and validation of cost estimates.
• Support cost management delivery across a range of commercial real estate asset classes, including office, retail, industrial, mixed-use, multifamily, hospitality, and other development projects.
• Reconcile changes and assist project teams to ensure cost and budget data is accurate and aligned with project objectives.
• Communicate and meet with owners, developers, project managers, consultants, and contractors to gather project status information and prepare cost estimate updates.
• Prepare written comments and analyses of contractor submissions, including executive summaries, budget reviews, and commercial recommendations.
• Coverage all sources of cost information for cost discussions, including contractor pricing, subcontractor bids, consultant estimates, market benchmarks, and quantity take-offs.
• Inform and drive engineering and design priorities based on cost impact and project budget objectives.
• Work proactively with minimal supervision to resolve cost and scheduling issues.
• Manage cost checks and carry out valuations on larger projects, ensuring timely and accurate cost validation processes.
• Coordinate all sources of cost information for cost discussions, including contractor pricing, subcontractor bids, consultant estimates, market benchmarks, and quantity take-offs.
• Inform and drive engineering and design priorities based on cost impact and project budget objectives.
• Work proactively with minimal supervision to resolve cost and scheduling issues.
• Manage cost impact assessments, contingency management, commitment tracking logs, and forecast reporting.
• Prepare funding data presentations and coordinate value engineering (VE) sessions with key stakeholders.
• Develop cost plans and estimates throughout the design phase, delivering updated cost plans at key project milestones.
• Provide commercial input to design optioneering and value engineering exercises.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and lead negotiations on behalf of clients to achieve fair and competitive contract pricing.
• Perform quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure post-contract cost variances and change control processes are managed effectively.
• Participate in project due diligence activities, cost audits, budget reviews, draw reviews, and ongoing financial monitoring of construction projects.
• Support the review of project budgets, cost-to-complete forecasts, contingency utilization, and funding requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure cost auditing and valuation work is managed effectively and that robust validation and reporting processes are in place.
• Carry out the production of monthly cost reports, including budget performance, cost variance analysis, contingency tracking, and forecasted final costs.
• Ensure final accounts are negotiated and agreed upon in a timely manner.
• Compile built-cost and benchmarking records for future cost planning and market analysis.
• Identify, coach, and mentor talent to realize their potential and celebrate the success of others.
• Display excellence in leadership and service delivery on commissions in line with the conditions of appointment.
• Financial Management: Utilize internal software to track ongoing margin levels, monthly fee/resource forecasts, and financial performance for each commission.
• Implement and maintain internal Business Management Systems and company delivery methodologies to ensure consistent delivery of best practices for clients and the business.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Real Estate, or a related construction field.
• Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience working in a cost management, quantity surveying, or construction cost control role.
• RICS accredited or working toward accreditation is preferred.
• Experience leading cost management services on medium to large-scale commercial real estate and construction projects of moderate to high complexity.
• Experience supporting owner-side project delivery, capital projects, project monitoring, construction lending support, cost verification, draw reviews, or financial oversight functions is a plus.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, including procurement strategies, value management, value engineering, budgeting, and cost controls.
• Strong understanding of project financial management, change management, cost forecasting, and reporting processes.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and client-facing skills.