At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead cost management and engineering for exciting projects, ensuring competitive pricing and compliance.
- Company: A leading independent engineering firm with a rich history and innovative approach.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible benefits, private healthcare, and 25 days holiday.
- Other info: Join a culture of inclusion and respect, with clear development paths and ongoing support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on groundbreaking projects while developing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in cost management or estimating, strong commercial acumen, and leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
This is an exciting opportunity to take full accountability for regional Cost Management and Cost Engineering, ensuring the delivery of accurate, competitive prime costs and high quality, compliant tenders. As Cost Manager, you will lead and develop the cost engineering function, oversee pricing from pre tender through PCSA and into delivery alignment, and take ownership of the overall project price. You will work collaboratively with regional work winning teams, supporting Bid Management, Pre Construction and Operations to ensure clear visibility of cost drivers, risks, opportunities, and assumptions throughout the project lifecycle. This role plays a key part in helping secure new business, strengthening client relationships and enabling well informed decision making at a senior level.
Responsibilities
- Provide effective leadership and development of the cost engineering team to achieve sales and gross profit targets.
- Ensure consistent and compliant pricing across all pre construction activities, in line with NG Bailey processes and delegated authority requirements.
- Work with Pre Construction Leads to define clear pricing strategies focused on profit, risk management and client value.
- Report monthly on tenders and PCSA activity, including progress against programme and any required mitigation actions.
- Collaborate with Operations, Commercial, Cost, Design & Technical, Procurement, Planning, and project teams to shape and communicate tender pricing strategy.
- Deliver effective cost planning services and maintain accurate historic cost data across project types and sectors.
- Maintain a detailed understanding of market pricing, competition, risks, market activity, and key stakeholders.
- Work with Procurement and technical leads to validate quotations, apply optimal buying strategies and maintain supply chain compliance.
- Maintain accountability for Estimation, SharePoint and related systems, ensuring timely production of required monthly reports.
- Following contract award, organise and ensure thorough handover of winning bids to Operations, providing clear evidence of tender basis, commercial opportunities and risk areas.
- Maintain the highest levels of commercial confidentiality in all aspects of employment.
Requirements
- Management experience and/or 5+ years as a Senior Estimator.
- Experience leading cost engineering and/or estimating teams (desirable).
- Strong commercial and financial acumen with the ability to influence at all levels.
- Experience in cost planning, pricing strategy, and risk management.
- Knowledge of procurement and supply chain engagement best practice.
- Evidence of Design and Commercial training (essential).
- Evidence of Management training (essential).
- Evidence of Health & Safety training (essential).
- Professional Management qualification (desirable).
- Qualifications in Design and/or Commercial disciplines (desirable).
Benefits
- Financial compensation if working away from home.
- 25 days holiday per annum, plus bank holidays.
- Pension with leading provider and up to 8% employer contribution.
- Private healthcare.
- Free 24/7 365 Employee assistance program to support mental health and wellbeing (including counselling sessions and legal advice).
- Discounts.
- Personal development programme.
- Flexible Benefits.
- Car/Car Allowance.
Next Steps
As a business, we are on a journey to build on our culture where everyone is included, treated fairly and with respect. This starts with recruitment and how we bring people into the organisation. We will do our best to outline the recruitment process to you ahead of time with plenty of notice. If you require any accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure your needs are met.
About Us
We are one of the leading independent engineering and services businesses in the UK. Founded in 1921, with a turnover of £500m and 3000 employees, we are proud of our history of developing great people through our investment in training. Working across a variety of sectors within the building and infrastructure industry, our innovative, responsible and forward-thinking approach allows us to work on fantastic ground-breaking projects, providing solutions using the latest tools and technologies. Progression is something we value, and we will make sure that when you join us you have a clearly defined development path, supported by regular reviews, training and ongoing support to enable you to be the best you can be.
Cost Manager - MEP in Manchester employer: NG Bailey Engineering
As a leading independent engineering and services business in the UK, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that values every employee's contribution. With a strong commitment to professional development, we offer tailored training programmes and clear progression paths, ensuring that our Cost Managers not only excel in their roles but also grow within the company. Located in Manchester, our team enjoys competitive salaries, flexible benefits, and a supportive environment that prioritises mental health and wellbeing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Cost Manager - MEP in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at local events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that Cost Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their projects, values, and recent news. We want to see you shine and show how your skills in cost management can directly benefit our team!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Run through common interview questions with a friend or in front of the mirror. We want you to feel confident discussing your experience in cost planning and risk management when you meet us.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. We’re excited to see how you can contribute to our cost engineering function!
We think you need these skills to ace Cost Manager - MEP in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Cost Manager role. Highlight your experience in cost management, pricing strategies, and team leadership. 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 this role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. We love seeing genuine enthusiasm for the position.
Showcase Relevant Experience:When detailing your work history, focus on experiences that relate directly to cost engineering and management. We’re keen to see examples of how you've successfully managed costs and collaborated with teams in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at NG Bailey Engineering
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Cost Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your strong commercial and financial acumen. Brush up on key metrics related to cost management, pricing strategies, and risk management. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully influenced decisions at a senior level in previous roles.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
This role requires effective leadership of the cost engineering team. Prepare examples of how you've led teams in the past, focusing on achieving sales and gross profit targets. Highlight any training or development initiatives you've implemented to enhance team performance.
✨Understand the Market Landscape
Familiarise yourself with current market pricing, competition, and key stakeholders relevant to the MEP sector. During the interview, be prepared to discuss how you would maintain a detailed understanding of these factors and how they influence pricing strategies.
✨Collaborative Mindset
Collaboration is key in this role, so think about how you've worked with various teams like Operations, Procurement, and Design in the past. Be ready to share specific examples of how you shaped and communicated tender pricing strategies through teamwork.
