At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop cost management teams for UK water utilities and environmental agencies.
- Company: Join a leading consultancy with a focus on water and regulated utilities.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and flexible working locations across the UK.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for mentorship and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape major programmes and frameworks while making a real impact in the industry.
- Qualifications: Degree in relevant field and experience in people management and cost management.
The predicted salary is between 59400 - 72600 £ per year.
We are expanding our Cost Management leadership team within the Water and Regulated Utilities sector and have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Associate. You will shape and lead major programmes and frameworks for UK water utilities and environmental agencies. This is a senior management role requiring significant industry experience, commercial acumen, and the ability to mentor and develop high-performing teams.
The Senior Associate role will support the Associate Partner in leading the team as Operations Lead - to support the effective running, growth and development of our Cost Management service within a consultancy environment. This is a people-focused operational leadership role, responsible for ensuring teams are well supported, appropriately resourced and consistently delivering high-quality cost management services for clients across the built environment and infrastructure sectors.
The role can be based from any of our offices in: Cardiff, Bristol, London, Winchester, Reading, Oxford, Cheltenham, Cambridge, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester or Newcastle.
What you need to do to be effective in this role:
- Lead, support and develop cost management teams, ensuring individuals have clear objectives, regular feedback, effective workload management and appropriate development plans.
- Build a positive, inclusive and high-performing team culture where people feel supported, accountable and motivated to deliver excellent client outcomes.
- Oversee day-to-day operational performance across the cost management service, ensuring work is appropriately prioritised, resourced and delivered to agreed standards.
- Work with senior leaders to plan team capacity, recruitment needs, succession planning and future skills requirements in line with business growth.
- Support project and framework delivery by helping teams resolve resourcing, process, quality or performance challenges quickly and constructively.
- Promote consistent ways of working across cost planning, cost reporting, procurement advice, contract administration support, change control and commercial assurance.
- Monitor performance indicators, workload pressures, commercial performance and client feedback, escalating risks and recommending practical improvements.
- Lead cost assurance and governance activities across the team, ensuring consistency and compliance with commercial performance indicators.
- Support collaboration between Cost Management, Project Management, Advisory and business support teams to improve delivery and client service.
- Contribute to leadership discussions, business planning, governance, risk management and service development.
- Lead major programmes and frameworks, ensuring delivery to time, cost, and quality standards.
- Drive capability development, mentoring and coaching senior cost managers and cost managers.
- Support the Associate Partner with client strategies, building strong relationships and identifying opportunities for growth.
- Provide expert advice on regulatory, commercial, and contractual frameworks, including NEC.
- Represent Ridge at industry forums and contribute to thought leadership.
The skills and experience you need to have for this role:
- People Management: Proven experience leading, coaching and developing teams, including performance conversations, workload management, wellbeing awareness and career development.
- Operational Leadership: Strong ability to manage competing priorities, improve ways of working and create structure in a busy consultancy environment.
- Cost Management Understanding: Strong appreciation of quantity surveying and cost management services, including cost planning, procurement, contract administration, change control and project reporting.
- Strong understanding of NEC contracts, governance, and commercial frameworks.
- Consultancy Experience: Experience working in a professional services, construction consultancy or client-facing delivery environment.
- Commercial Awareness: Ability to understand project profitability, utilisation, resourcing, fee management and the commercial impact of operational decisions.
- Communication and Influence: Confident communicator able to build trust with colleagues, senior leaders, clients and project teams.
- Performance and Quality Focus: Able to set expectations, monitor delivery standards and support teams to provide consistent, high-quality outputs.
- Problem Solving: Practical, calm and solutions-focused approach to resolving operational, people and delivery challenges.
- Client Relationship Management: Excellent communication and influencing skills with experience managing senior stakeholders.
Qualifications:
- Degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Environmental Science, Project Management, or related field.
- Chartered RICS Professional (MRICS/FRICS) or equivalent; or open to working towards a suitable qualification.
Locations
Associate, Cost Management - (Water / Utilities) in Newport, Wales employer: Ridge & Partners LLP
At Ridge, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work culture in our Winchester office. Our Mechanical Design Engineers benefit from diverse project exposure across various sectors, along with ample opportunities for professional growth and development within a supportive team environment. With a focus on sustainability and innovation, we empower our employees to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a fulfilling career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate, Cost Management - (Water / Utilities) in Newport, Wales
✨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 Ridge & Partners LLP, 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 Associate, Cost Management - (Water / Utilities) at Ridge & Partners LLP.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate, Cost Management - (Water / Utilities) in Newport, Wales
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 Ridge & Partners LLP
✨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!
