At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage project costs and collaborate with teams to ensure financial success.
- Company: Join Costain, a leader in smart infrastructure solutions across the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic consultancy environment with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on projects that improve lives and infrastructure.
- Qualifications: Degree or relevant experience in cost management and project lifecycle.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
As a Cost Engineer, you are required to be commercially focused, confident in running your own project as well as working effectively within a team. You will be joining a growing consultancy team working on a variety of contracts within multiple sectors. You will be required to undertake short‐term or long‐term commissions to address a variety of customer needs. Candidates with a track record of cost management at pre‐ and post‐contract, working on contracts through the development cycle to delivery through the construction phase would be preferred. This is a hybrid role with 4 days working from home, and one day in the Gloucester office.
Responsibilities
- Control, monitor, analyse and report cost related aspects for designated projects within a portfolio.
- Ensure all cost and contract transactions on a project are understood and managed in an appropriate way.
- Continually monitor project risk and change status to maintain current forecast.
- Liaise with project team members and contractors with regards to progress and cost forecasting.
- Monitor, control and analyse project cost information, identify variances, and bring these to the attention of the project manager with possible alternatives.
- Prepare specific reports to facilitate challenge and analysis to meet the project's specific needs.
- Challenge cost variances against the baseline plan with individual task leaders/contractors and/or outside stakeholder management as necessary to enable mitigation.
Essential – Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
- Understand the inter‐relationship between time, cost and commercial aspects of the project life cycle.
- Experience across the whole project and programme life cycle (e.g., engineering, procurement, construction, installation/commissioning).
- Proficient in the interpretation of earned value analysis.
- Excellent MS Office skills and well versed in the preparation of reports and information using packages such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Desirable
- Working knowledge of Primavera.
- Experienced in the use of finance and project software.
- Working knowledge of relevant health and safety legislation.
Qualifications
- Degree or suitable experience.
About Us
Costain helps to improve people's lives with integrated, leading edge, smart infrastructure solutions across the UK's energy, water, transportation and defence markets. We help our clients improve their business performance by increasing capacity, improving customer service, safeguarding security, enhancing resilience, decarbonising and delivering increased efficiency. Our vision is to be the UK's leading smart infrastructure solutions company. We will achieve this by focusing on blue‐chip clients whose major spending plans are underpinned by strategic national needs, regulatory commitments, legislation or essential performance requirements. We offer our clients leading edge solutions that are digitally optimised through the following five services which cover the whole lifecycle of their assets: future‐shaping strategic consultancy; consultancy and advisory; digital technology solutions; asset optimisation and complex programme delivery. Our culture and values underpin everything we do.
Costain appreciates the time and effort taken when applying for one of our positions but, due to the high volume of responses, we are unable to provide individual feedback on candidates at application phase. We do share individual feedback following an interview.
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that discloses they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high‐volume, seasonal and high‐peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non‐disabled people.
Cost Engineer in London employer: Costain
Costain is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and development within a collaborative and innovative work culture. With a hybrid working model allowing four days from home and one day in the Gloucester office, employees enjoy flexibility while contributing to impactful projects across vital sectors such as energy and transportation. The company fosters a supportive environment where team members are encouraged to challenge themselves and develop their skills, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in smart infrastructure solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Cost Engineer in London
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Costain, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Cost Engineer at Costain.
We think you need these skills to ace Cost Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Costain
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
