Senior Cost Manager

Senior Cost Manager – Exeter

Cumming Group is an international project and cost management consultancy delivering innovative solutions in construction, real estate, and infrastructure. With a commitment to collaboration, transparency, and performance excellence, we support some of the world’s most respected clients across a diverse range of sectors.

Job Profile Summary:

At Cumming Group, you will work on some of the world’s most exciting construction projects across a variety of sectors, in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where your success is measured by the impact you make.

As a Senior Cost Manager, you will provide expert-level cost consultancy and project support for projects across various stages and sectors from concept design to construction completion. You will be responsible for delivering estimates, procurement advice, and post-contract administration, working independently or managing a team, depending on project size and scope.

You will partner with a diverse set of clients and internal teams to deliver exceptional value, acting as a trusted advisor and helping to ensure successful project outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Take day-to-day delivery responsibility for larger projects or programmes of work with minimal supervision.
• Prepare budget estimates, cost plans, and client reports.
• Provide risk and value management.
• Manage contract administration including valuations, forecasts, cost reports, and attendance at project meetings.
• Prepare bills of quantities, schedules of rates, or other methods of work evaluation.
• Deliver all outputs accurately, on time, and to a high standard of quality.
• Contribute towards bid and tender preparation and business development initiatives.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships and support business growth through networking.
• Mentor junior team members, fostering professional growth and capability development.
• Provide procurement and contract advice, and manage tender preparation and evaluation.

Skills & Experience:

• Proven consultancy experience delivering results in a client-facing role.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities with experience managing small teams.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Sound knowledge of cost management processes and industry standard forms of contract (e.g., JCT, NEC).
• Ability to prioritise workloads, work under pressure, and manage multiple complex projects.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and forward-thinking approach.
• Resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

• Degree-qualified in Construction, Cost Management, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or another RICS-accredited discipline.
• MRICS (or working towards) preferred.
• Minimum 7 years’ experience in cost management, ideally within the infrastructure sector.
• Strong IT skills including MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Cumming Group is committed to creating a diverse workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All job applicants will receive equal treatment without regard to age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, “race” (including nationality, national / ethnic origins, colour), marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, gender reassignment, religion or belief.

Note for Recruitment Agencies:

We prefer to hire directly, and we will be in touch with our PSL agencies if this role is eligible for release.