Location: Manchester with client site visits; hybrid working.
Contract: Permanent | Full time | Flexible core hours.
Gleeds Energy is recruiting a Senior Cost Engineer to join our consultancy team delivering early works packages for major energy programmes. This senior, client facing role combines technical cost engineering with commercial leadership, providing independent assurance and pragmatic advice across complex, high‑value early works. You will work alongside multidisciplinary design and delivery teams to establish robust cost baselines, validate estimates and forecasts, and ensure transparent, defensible cost positions throughout the project lifecycle.
As Senior Cost Engineer you will lead cost assurance activities from tender through to final account. You will design and implement estimating and forecasting processes, perform detailed cost risk analysis, and maintain benchmarking and historical cost databases. Your role is to challenge assumptions, validate contractor and design team outputs, and present clear, evidence‑based cost advice to senior stakeholders and project boards. This is a consultancy role where technical rigour, commercial judgement and excellent stakeholder engagement are essential.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead estimating and cost forecasting for early‑works packages, ensuring accuracy, traceability and auditability
* Validate estimates, forecasts and final account positions to protect value for money and programme integrity
* Perform cost risk assessments and probabilistic analysis to quantify uncertainty and inform contingency strategy
* Establish and maintain cost baselines, benchmarking datasets and historical cost libraries
* Provide clear commercial assurance reporting and present cost positions to project leadership and governance forums
* Challenge scope, change submissions and contractor claims to secure robust commercial outcomes
* Support procurement and contract strategy with cost input and scenario analysis
* Mentor junior cost engineers and promote best practice cost engineering across project teams
* Contribute to tender pricing, bid reviews and commercial negotiations as required
What we are looking for in our next Senior Cost Engineer
* Proven track record as a cost engineer, quantity surveyor or cost manager on major construction or infrastructure projects
* Strong experience in estimating, forecasting, cost risk analysis and final account management
* Proficient in cost modelling techniques and tools, with experience of Monte Carlo or similar probabilistic analysis
* Commercially astute with excellent numeracy, analytical and presentation skills
* Confident communicator able to influence senior stakeholders and present complex cost positions clearly
* Familiarity with NEC contracting and experience in regulated or technically demanding environments is desirable
* Degree or professional qualification in Quantity Surveying, Cost Engineering or equivalent experience
* Experience with cost systems and tools such as ARM, ERM, Safran or similar is advantageous
About us
Gleeds is a global property and construction consultancy with over 150 years of expertise, operating in 28 countries worldwide. From iconic landmarks to critical infrastructure, we drive innovation, sustainability and value, delivering transformative projects that shape communities and redefine the built environment.
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