Associate Director - Cost Consultancy (Corporate Real Estate) in London

Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in every person or project and redefine the boundaries of ambition.

Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey.

This Associate Director role will support the cost and commercial cost management office (CMO)/programme management office (PMO) lead across commercial governance, cost reporting, benchmarking, capital planning, budgeting, forecasting and strategic procurement, while helping ensure consistent cost management across a complex programme of work.

This CMO/PMO role is based in a client office in London for a prestigious global Corporate Real Estate client.

The opportunity

An exciting opportunity to join the Private Sector Corporate Real Estate team.

The role will involve supporting the Cost and Commercial lead across a full range of deliverables including commercial reviews, benchmarking, capital planning, project budgeting, forecasting and strategic procurement services.

At Mace, we are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are passionate about cost management and always aim to provide the highest standard of delivery for their clients.

You’ll be responsible for

• Cost management, reporting and controls
• Managing and ensuring consistency of cost management and reporting across numerous projects within the programme.
• Delivering cost control and reporting services for presentation to stakeholders.
• Tracking and controlling project accruals and commitments against budgets.
• Building project forecasts and benchmarks to inform and measure portfolio and programme performance.
• Governance, risk and commercial assurance
• Providing oversight and governance of cost and commercial management, including cost planning, benchmarking and reporting of cost, cashflow, procurement, contracts and claims.
• Tracking project contingency and exposure associated with risk events and remaining project risks.
• Tracking project change control to ensure alignment with agreed baselines and controls.
• Ensuring compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, industry standards and RICS guidelines.
• Data integrity
• Developing and improving project cost and commercial databases to accurately track and control commercial status, driving data integrity and industry best practice.
• Tracking and interpreting trends and issues through dashboards and reports in Power BI or equivalent tools.
• Stakeholder management
• Managing and influence key senior stakeholders, identifying and implementing continuous improvement plans and key business improvements.
• Sharing technical and functional expertise to upskill capability, while developing and maintaining internal and external relationships.
• Values and behaviours
• Demonstrating team management and leadership, driving appropriate behaviours and a continuous improvement culture.
• Providing performance management, technical development, career development and coaching.
• Delivering improvements in systems and processes, driving transformational change.
• Working collaboratively towards the common goal of net zero carbon transition and share responsibility for proactively identifying and managing associated carbon emissions and reductions during delivery.

You’ll need to have

• A degree in quantity surveying/cost management, or equivalent.
• Professional membership, such as MRICS/FRICS, or equivalent.
• Detailed knowledge of forms of contract.
• Proficient knowledge and expertise in the specific sector or market relevant to the role.
• Capex versus Opex cost analysis and advice.
• Comprehensive understanding of present-day issues such as sustainability, social value and carbon reduction.
• Expert knowledge of industry best practice.
• Sound knowledge and experience of contract law and contractual frameworks relating to construction, with confidence to undertake and advise on contract administration and contract management.
• Strong knowledge of value engineering and life cycle costing.
• Technical competencies
• Demonstrable experience of delivering service excellence to clients, preferably within the corporate real estate sector.
• Proven experience in cost planning, budgeting and estimating.
• Sound understanding of costs and timescales of work undertaken, including the implications and risks of failure to deliver.
• Advanced experience of working with large cost data sets.
• Strong negotiating, influencing and communication skills to command professional respect at all levels.
• Excellent data management skills, including Microsoft Excel, advanced formulas and pivot tables (desirable).
• Experience of working within a CMO/PMO office is desirable.
• Analytical skills.
• Digital competence.
• Professional effectiveness
• Ability to be effective communicator with excellent interpersonal skills to prepare reports, negotiate and build relationships with key stakeholders and teams.
• Agile and ability to work in fast paced environments.
• Problem solving and analytical skills for resolving challenges.
• Ability to seek opportunities for implementing improved working practices.
• Leadership competencies
• Sharing key information and learning generated with colleagues.
• Identifying and generating business development opportunities with existing clients.
• Identifying and participating in new initiatives that add value that led to service improvement e. g. BIM.
• Champions and operates within an inclusive environment.
• Understands personal strengths and weaknesses, seeks learning and support where appropriate.
• Previous experience of managing people (desirable).

Our values

Safety first - Going home safe and well\

We champion a safe, diverse and inclusive working environment, understanding the importance of wellbeing in every team.

Client focus - Deliver on our promise\

We own the quality of deliverables, strategic outcomes and build long term relationships with our clients.

Integrity - Always do the right thing\

We influence positive outcomes within our industry, while always aligning with our compliance obligations.

Create opportunity - For our people to excel\

We champion a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities, inspiring our people and teams to develop.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates.

Even if you feel you do not fulfil all the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation.

We are also open to discussing part time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable with-in the role.

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