Cost Engineer – Water & Wastewater Infrastructure
North East England – Long-Term Framework Delivery
Up to £60,000 + Car / Allowance + Industry-Leading Benefits
A major UK infrastructure delivery partner is seeking a Cost Engineer to join its commercial function, supporting the successful delivery of multi-year water and wastewater capital programmes across the North East. This is a key role within a high-performing integrated project team, operating on large-scale upgrade and improvement schemes that are critical to regional water resilience.
Role Overview
You will take accountability for robust cost management processes from early design through delivery and close-out. Working closely with engineering, planning, procurement and commercial leads, you will drive accurate performance intelligence, support commercial governance, and ensure cost certainty is maintained throughout each project’s lifecycle.
Core Responsibilities
* Lead cost control activities across multiple live projects, ensuring alignment to budget, allowances and approved baselines
* Develop and maintain detailed cost breakdown structures, cost loading and earned value tracking
* Support the development of Target Costs and cost benchmarking for future work packages
* Lead change control governance: assess and quantify variations, support compensation event management, and maintain risk allowances
* Produce & present commercial cost reports, CVRs, forecasts and variance analysis to internal leadership and client representatives
* Provide cost insight and data-driven recommendations to improve financial performance and programme outcomes
* Support supply chain analysis, cost audits and value engineering reviews
* Maintain strong compliance with NEC contract mechanisms and framework commercial procedures
What You’ll Bring
* Proven experience as a Cost Engineer / Senior Cost Engineer within water, utilities, civil infrastructure, or complex EPC environments
* Strong technical cost engineering capability, measurement, cost modelling, earned value, risk & change control
* Working knowledge of NEC contract administration and commercial reporting
* Excellent command of Excel and cost management systems; familiarity with ERP, CEMAR or project controls tools welcomed
* Ability to communicate complex cost information clearly to project and client stakeholders
* A proactive, rigorous and delivery-focused approach to commercial governance
The Opportunity
* Join a well-established and growing delivery partnership with secured pipeline into AMP8 and beyond
* Exposure to high-value, multi-disciplinary programmes delivering tangible community impact
* Clear long-term progression pathway within an expanding project controls & commercial structure
* Collaborative environment with strong leadership support and continued professional development
* If you are a commercially astute Cost Engineer with the drive to influence project cost performance and the ambition to progress into senior commercial leadership, we would welcome a confidential conversation.
📩 To register your interest, get in touch with:
Ciaran McElhinney – Commercial Talent Solutions
Email: ciaran@commercialtalentsolutions.com
Mobile/WhatsApp: +44 7932 606765