Senior Cost Manager – WSP UK & Ireland
Join WSP as a Senior Cost Manager and work across the health and life sciences sectors in the UK & Ireland.
Overview
At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. Lexica is a leading specialist consultancy, transforming environments for clients in health and life sciences. From June 2025, Lexica is a member of WSP (UK) Ltd and will be fully integrated into the organisation by Jan 2026.
We are helping organisations to become more efficient and effective in the core sectors that we work in; whether improving patient pathways for the NHS, developing laboratories to facilitate world‑leading science, or rationalising educational campuses to attract the highest calibre students and research investment.
Key Responsibilities
- Support delivery of projects across the health and life sciences sectors and provide full cost management services from initial feasibility through to completion on complex refurbishments and new‑build schemes.
- Deliver robust cost plans, support procurement and tendering, administer contracts, and ensure strong cost control throughout the project lifecycle.
- Work closely with NHS Trust, science clients, and design teams.
- Experience in project delivery utilising all common procurement strategies.
- Negotiate contract T&Cs for all NEC and JCT forms of contracts with contractors on behalf of clients and deliver the typical QS role for contracts from placement through to project completion.
- Lead tender processes including production of Tender and Value for Money reports.
- Assist in the cost management of projects through the entire project lifecycle.
- Prepare estimates, cost plans using the NRM‑based approach.
- Prepare pricing schedules, tender and contract documentation.
- Undertake monthly assessments for payment.
- Conduct construction phase cost management, attend site meetings, negotiate and agree variations with the contractor, and prepare the monthly cost report for the client.
- Produce cost reports and cashflows, present to stakeholders, and support the preparation of business cases for public funding approval.
- Be familiar with the construction industry and work within a fast‑paced consultancy environment.
- Actively engage in value and risk management, facilitating structured risk workshops and delivering value engineering proposals.
- Manage more junior team members in the delivery of projects, assisting in their learning and development while delivering for the client.
- Manage the delivery of projects within the QS scope of services and agreed fee amount, and identify and raise potential changes or challenges to delivery internally with senior members of the team.
Qualifications & Experience
- Educated to degree level or equivalent in Quantity Surveying/Commercial Management.
- Chartered Professional in surveying with either the RICS or CIOB, or sufficient experience to attain chartership.
- Demonstrable track record of successful outcomes and ability to work with own initiative.
- Understanding of typical traditional and design and build contract T&Cs and mechanisms commonly used in the UK.
- Experience in managing two‑stage procurement processes and successful delivery on behalf of the client at each stage.
- Competence in project controls and financial management, maintaining accurate reporting across all project stages and ensuring compliance with client funding requirements and audit standards.
- Strong communication, client‑facing skills and ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.
- Commercial awareness, logical thinking and efficient, accurate work to high standards.
Senior Level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment Type
Full‑time
Job Function
Finance and Sales
Industry
Professional Services
EEO Statement
WSP welcomes applications from all qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. Please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.
