Senior Manager - Cost Planning

Job description

The Senior Manager, General BU Cost Planning supports the delivery of the employer’s cost planning requirements within assigned business units, development projects, and governance activities. The role provides structured cost planning support, consultant coordination, Stage Gate review input, benchmarking analysis, and cost governance assistance to help ensure that project budgets, cost plans, and design-to-budget decisions are evidence-based, consistent, and aligned with the employer’s standards. The role operates within the Business Unit cost planning environment and supports the application of the the employer Cost Planning Technical Guidelines, asset class guidelines, cost planning processes, benchmarking requirements, and digital tools. While detailed cost plans may be prepared by external cost consultants or project teams, the Senior Manager is responsible for reviewing assigned outputs, coordinating comments, maintaining cost planning records, and escalating key issues to business unit and cost planning leadership for review and decision-making. Role Purpose To support General BU Cost Planning in applying consistent cost planning standards across the employer’s business units and development assets. The role helps ensure that cost planning activities are well coordinated, consultant outputs are reviewed in line with agreed requirements, Stage Gate submissions include the required cost planning information, and business units receive clear, reliable, and evidence-based cost planning support throughout the asset lifecycle. Key Accountabilities · Coordinate cost planning activities for assigned projects, workstreams, business unit support activities, and development programmes. · Support the implementation of the the employer Cost Planning Technical Guidelines, asset class guidelines, templates, trackers, reporting standards, and cost planning governance processes. · Review and comment on cost consultant outputs, including cost plans, reconciliations, assumptions, risk allowances, benchmarks, cost reports, and design-to-budget recommendations. · Maintain clear and current cost planning records for assigned projects, workstreams, or business unit support areas. · Support Stage Gate reviews by checking cost planning readiness, completeness, compliance, and alignment with required deliverables. · Coordinate with business units, development teams, design teams, commercial, procurement, finance, project controls, digital teams, and external consultants to support integrated cost planning outcomes. · Support early-stage cost advice, feasibility input, benchmark checks, and pre-concept cost planning where required before the appointment of project cost consultants. · Assist with the briefing, mobilisation, coordination, and performance monitoring of executive and project cost consultants. · Track scope and cost movements across project phases and escalate material changes, risks, opportunities, and non-compliance issues in a timely and structured manner. · Apply benchmarking data, cost planning software, digital tools, and cost planning analytics to support the review and validation of cost positions. · Support business unit cost planning capability through training, onboarding, guidance, and adoption of the employer ways of working. · Contribute to the preparation of cost planning review packs, governance papers, leadership updates, dashboards, and trackers. · Promote consistent ways of working, professional standards, and continuous improvement across the cost planning community. Key Performance and Success Measures · Assigned projects or workstreams maintain clear, current, and evidence-based cost planning records. · Stage Gate cost planning deliverables are checked, coordinated, and submitted in line with the employer cost planning requirements. · Consultant-produced cost plans are reviewed with clear comments, actions, assumptions, and escalation points recorded. · Material cost movements, cost risks, scope changes, and non-compliance issues are identified and escalated promptly. · Cost planning guidelines, templates, trackers, and reporting processes are applied consistently across assigned workstreams. · Benchmarking data and cost planning analytics are used to support the review and validation of cost plans. · Business units and project teams receive timely and practical cost planning support. · Consultant deliverables are coordinated and monitored against agreed scopes, timelines, and quality expectations. · Stakeholder feedback reflects collaboration, reliability, responsiveness, and professional cost planning support

Requirements

• This role is aligned to the Senior Manager skill profile within the the employer cost planning framework. The role is expected to operate primarily at Working level across core managerial, stakeholder, and governance capabilities, with developing Practitioner-level capability in cost planning, benchmarking, consultant coordination, Stage Gate support, and design-to-budget processes
• · Collaboration: Works effectively with business units, design teams, procurement, finance, commercial, project controls, digital teams, and consultants to support aligned cost planning outcomes
• · Communication: Communicates cost planning information clearly and concisely, with the ability to prepare structured updates, comments, trackers, and review summaries for project and leadership review
• · Governance: Supports Stage Gate reviews, cost planning assurance checks, compliance reviews, and the application of the employer cost planning standards
• · Influence: Builds credibility with stakeholders and consultants, raises issues constructively, and supports evidence-based cost planning discussions
• · Leadership: Coordinates assigned tasks and workstreams, supports consultant activity, contributes to consistent ways of working, and helps embed the employer cost planning processes
• · Technical: Applies practical knowledge of cost planning, benchmarking, cost plan reconciliation, risk and contingency, design-to-budget, CAPEX planning, construction cost drivers, and cost planning software
• · Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Economics, Commercial Management, Civil Engineering, Engineering, or a related discipline
• · Minimum 12 years of relevant experience in cost planning, quantity surveying, estimating, pre-contract commercial management, or development cost management
• · A graduate qualification in Civil Engineering, combined with relevant cost planning, quantity surveying, estimating, or commercial experience and evidence of working towards RICS or equivalent professional accreditation, would be acceptable
• · Experience working on large-scale development, infrastructure, mixed-use, entertainment, sports, retail, residential, hospitality, or public realm projects is preferred
• · Experience reviewing or supporting the review of consultant-produced cost plans across design stages

Skills