Senior Cost Manager / Senior Associate - Utilities in London

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced MEP Cost Manager or Senior Cost Manager to join a growing cost management team delivering high-profile projects across the built environment. You will work on ambitious, technically complex schemes across sectors including data centres, major projects, hotels and leisure, retail, residential, sports and entertainment, and industrial and logistics. These projects sit at the forefront of innovation, sustainability and transformation, offering the chance to make a visible impact while developing your career in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment.

The role offers variety, responsibility and progression, with the opportunity to build strong client relationships, contribute to successful project outcomes and work closely with talented project teams. Hybrid and flexible working arrangements support a healthy work-life balance, while ongoing learning, mentoring and development opportunities help you continue to grow professionally.

You will join a specialist commercial consultancy team supporting complex regulated and non-regulated utility environments, including power, water, wastewater, telecoms, district energy, gas, renewables and emerging energy infrastructure. The role is ideal for a confident, client-facing professional who can combine strategic commercial thinking with hands-on delivery leadership.

You will help shape commercial strategy, drive best practice, support major bids and provide trusted advice across the full project lifecycle. This is a standout opportunity for someone who wants to influence outcomes on nationally significant infrastructure programmes while developing their leadership profile in a fast-moving sector.

• Lead the commercial delivery of major utilities and energy infrastructure projects.
• Provide pre- and post-contract quantity surveying services across complex programmes.
• Develop robust cost plans, forecasts, commercial reports and risk registers.
• Support procurement strategy, tender evaluation, contract administration and change control.
• Advise on cost modelling, benchmarking, market intelligence and value-for-money opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with clients, contractors, supply chain partners and project teams.
• Promote commercial governance, compliance and best practice across projects.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes and reporting standards.
• Contribute to project financial performance, revenue growth and profitability.
• Work collaboratively to deliver successful outcomes on time, on budget and to a high standard.

Responsibilities:

• Provide commercial leadership across utilities programmes, including power, water, telecoms, district energy, gas, renewables and emerging energy infrastructure.
• Lead cost management, commercial assurance and contractual governance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support bid development, market positioning and the creation of compelling commercial propositions.
• Advise on procurement routes, contract strategy, tender documentation and supplier engagement.
• Manage cost reporting, forecasting, budget control, risk management and change control.
• Influence senior stakeholders through clear, confident and commercially grounded advice.
• Lead and mentor project teams, supporting capability, quality and consistent delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement across commercial processes, tools and reporting.
• Keep pace with market developments, regulatory change and emerging best practice in the utilities sector.
• For Associate and Senior Associate level roles, demonstrate proven leadership across people, projects, clients and business development.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or a related construction, engineering or technical discipline.
• Chartered or working towards professional accreditation such as MRICS, MCInstCES or MCIOB.
• Significant experience delivering commercial services on major utility, infrastructure, engineering or capital delivery programmes.
• Strong understanding of regulated and non-regulated utility environments, including electricity, water, wastewater or multi-utility networks.
• Proven capability in commercial management, cost planning, procurement, contract administration and dispute resolution.
• Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships across clients, contractors, consultants and supply chain partners.
• Track record of leading or supporting tendering, procurement and commercial strategy for major projects.
• Experience with standard forms of construction contract, including FIDIC, JCT and ideally NEC3 or NEC4.
• Utilities sector experience in transmission, distribution, grid connections, EHV projects or wider energy infrastructure would be highly advantageous.
• Knowledge of the UK Transmission and Distribution ecosystem, including DNOs, IDNOs and ICPs, would be beneficial.
• Strong commercial reporting, forecasting, cost control and risk management skills.
• Ability to operate independently at senior level while contributing positively to a high-performing team.

Behaviours:

• A confident communicator who can build trust quickly and influence at senior level.
• Commercially astute, proactive and outcome-focused, with a commitment to delivering excellent service.
• A natural collaborator who shares knowledge, supports colleagues and contributes to a positive team culture.
• Comfortable balancing strategic thinking with practical delivery in a fast-paced project environment.
• Motivated by growth, innovation and the opportunity to make a visible impact in the utilities and energy sector.

What they will offer you:

A Sunday Times top 100 employer, this company will provide you with a flexible, friendly and creative environment in one of their UK offices to develop your skills and challenge yourself. They will support you to innovate, collaborate and build a meaningful career. Their strong network of people and knowledge will help expand your horizons and give you access to a variety of interesting projects across the UK and potentially further afield.

Employees are rewarded with competitive salaries, opportunities to purchase shares in the business and many other benefits including:

• 28 days holiday + bank holidays (option to purchase up to 5 extra days per year).
• Company pension scheme.
• Health Insurance.
• Life Assurance.
• Bicycle Purchase Scheme.
• Health Screening.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Dental Cover.
• Professional Memberships plus many more benefits.

Despite our best efforts it is not always possible to respond to every application individually due to the high volume of responses we receive on each vacancy. Only candidates who are short listed will be contacted for this particular role and if you have not heard from us within 7 days please assume that you have not been successful. However, we will keep your details on our database, and will contact you when other suitable positions come in.