At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead cost management on major infrastructure projects and ensure financial control.
- Company: Join Arcadis, a global leader in sustainable design and consultancy.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel reimbursement, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainable projects while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Degree in Quantity Surveying or related field; experience with NEC4 contracts preferred.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with a commitment to equality and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets. We are more than 36,000 people, in over 70 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.
The Senior Cost Consultant will provide expert commercial and cost management support on major infrastructure projects, working within NEC4 ECC and PSC contract environments. The role focuses on delivering robust cost assurance, defined cost assessment, forecasting, and value management throughout the project lifecycle. The Senior Cost Consultant ensures effective contract administration, financial control, and governance compliance. This role involves collaboration with multiple stakeholders and requires 2–3 days per week on site or at client offices.
Role Accountabilities
- Commercial Management & Cost Assurance: Lead assessment of Defined Costs and Price for Work Done to Date (PWDD) under NEC4 ECC/PSC contracts. Conduct progressive and six‑monthly audits of supplier accounts and cost records. Undertake clause 50.9 reviews and support Strategic Gateway Assessment Reviews (SGARs). Provide commercial input into Outline and Final Business Cases (OBC/FBC). Lead the assessment of Compensation Events and Budget Change Events (X22.6). Support dispute avoidance and supplier performance management. Identify and track commercial opportunities and efficiencies against project targets.
- Cost & Budget Management: Prepare accurate cost forecasts to ensure sufficient funding for contractual commitments. Support the Service Manager in achieving forecasting accuracy of ±4% monthly and ±2% annually. Manage and agree the cost and time impact of change, maintaining rigorous change control. Support the agreement of Target Outturn Costs and manage budgets, risk, and inflation allowances. Maintain and validate monthly supplier data and baselines for earned value reporting. Support accurate forecasting for land and property costs and provide challenge where required.
- Contract Administration & NEC Support: Support the NEC Project Manager in fulfilling duties under NEC4 ECC within public sector governance frameworks. Administer all NEC communications including acceptances, assessments, notices, certificates, and decisions. Lead contract administration meetings and produce monthly progress reports. Ensure 100% of PWDD assessments are completed accurately and on time. Monitor progress against the Activity Schedule and lead recovery planning where necessary. Maintain accurate data across systems (CEMAR, PRISM, riskHive, P6, etc.). Produce completion and hand‑back reports confirming delivery against scope, quality, and budget.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Engineering, or related discipline.
- Chartered membership or equivalent professional qualification with RICS or CICES.
- NEC4 accreditation is desirable.
- Proven experience in commercial management and cost assurance within the infrastructure sector, ideally on major programmes or frameworks (e.g., National Highways).
- Strong knowledge of NEC4 ECC and PSC contracts, including Defined Cost and PWDD assessment.
- Demonstrated experience delivering projects from inception to completion.
- High level of commercial acumen, analytical ability, and attention to detail.
- Proficient in cost and project management systems (CEMAR and PRISM).
- Willingness to travel and work at client sites for 2–3 days per week (reimbursed).
Why Arcadis? We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills‑based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together. You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you. Together, we can create a lasting legacy. Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.
Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We believe that by working together diverse people with different experiences develop the most innovative ideas. Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of how we improve quality of life and we work closely with our people across six ED&I Workstreams: Age, Disability, Faith, Gender, LGBT+ and Race. A diverse and skilled workforce is essential to our success.
Senior Cost Consultant/Cost Consultant in Birmingham employer: Arcadis
Contact Detail:
Arcadis Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Cost Consultant/Cost Consultant in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Senior Cost Consultant role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Arcadis and understanding their projects and values. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their mission of delivering sustainable solutions. We want to see your passion for making an impact!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Cost Consultant, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to manage budgets and costs effectively. Role-play scenarios with friends or mentors to build confidence before those crucial discussions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Let’s make it happen together!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Cost Consultant/Cost Consultant in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Cost Consultant role. Highlight your experience with NEC4 contracts and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about cost consultancy and how you can contribute to our mission at Arcadis. Keep it concise but impactful – we love a good story!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of how you've delivered value in previous roles, especially in commercial management and cost assurance. Numbers speak volumes, so include them where possible!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Arcadis
✨Know Your NEC4 Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of NEC4 ECC and PSC contracts. Be prepared to discuss how you've applied these in past projects, especially regarding Defined Costs and PWDD assessments. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the theory but can also apply it practically.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
During the interview, highlight specific examples where you've successfully managed costs and budgets on major infrastructure projects. Discuss how you’ve identified commercial opportunities and efficiencies, as this aligns perfectly with what they’re looking for in a Senior Cost Consultant.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Collaboration
Since the role involves working with multiple stakeholders, be ready to share experiences where you’ve effectively collaborated with different teams. Talk about how you’ve led contract administration meetings or produced progress reports, as this demonstrates your ability to manage relationships and communication.
✨Demonstrate Your Analytical Skills
Be prepared to discuss how you approach cost forecasting and risk management. Bring examples of how you’ve maintained accuracy in your forecasts and managed change control. This will showcase your analytical ability and attention to detail, which are crucial for the role.