At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead cost management and engineering for exciting projects, ensuring competitive pricing and high-quality tenders.
- Company: A leading independent engineering firm with a rich history and innovative approach.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible benefits, private healthcare, and 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
- Other info: Join a culture of inclusion and respect, with clear paths for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the construction industry 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’re 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’ll 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 Little Hulton employer: NG Bailey
NG Bailey is an excellent employer, offering a unique opportunity to be part of a pioneering team at the University of Bristol. With a strong emphasis on safety and compliance, employees benefit from a collaborative work culture that fosters professional growth and development, alongside competitive remuneration and benefits. Join us to make a meaningful impact in a high-profile environment while enjoying the support and resources needed to excel in your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Cost Manager - MEP in Little Hulton
✨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 NG Bailey, 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 Manager - MEP at NG Bailey.
We think you need these skills to ace Cost Manager - MEP in Little Hulton
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 NG Bailey
✨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!
