Estimator, Construction, Quantity Surveyor

Job Title:

Estimator / Senior Quantity Surveyor / Senior Cost Manager Job Description

A leading project and cost management consultancy is seeking an experienced Cost Engineer, Quantity Surveyor, or Cost Manager to support large-scale capital projects for a major client in the life sciences sector. In this role, you lead end-to-end cost management activities across the project lifecycle, providing commercial and pricing expertise while partnering closely with clients, contractors, and project stakeholders. You play a key role in delivering accurate cost estimates, robust budgets, and clear financial reporting for complex construction projects in regulated and technical environments.

• Review project documents, drawings, and specifications to develop detailed and accurate cost estimates.

• Lead cost management and commercial oversight for assigned projects throughout design and construction phases.

• Prepare and maintain project cost plans, budgets, and forecasts, ensuring alignment with project objectives and constraints.

• Evaluate change orders, assess cost impacts, and review subcontractor and vendor pricing for accuracy and competitiveness.

• Manage contract administration activities, including reviewing contract terms, tracking obligations, and supporting contract negotiations.

• Monitor and manage project financial performance, identifying variances and recommending corrective actions as needed.

• Provide commercial and pricing expertise to project teams, advising on cost control, risk management, and value optimization.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with clients, subcontractors, vendors, and project stakeholders.

• Support business development efforts by contributing to proposals, presentations, and maintaining existing client relationships.

• Mentor and guide junior cost management professionals, sharing best practices and supporting their professional development.

• Deliver regular project cost and commercial reports to leadership and stakeholders, clearly communicating status, risks, and opportunities.

• Collaborate with project teams to support construction delivery methods, procurement strategies, and commercial management processes.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of estimating, cost control, and reporting tools and methodologies within the consultancy.

• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in estimating, quantity surveying, cost management, or construction cost consulting.

• Proven experience supporting complex construction projects within regulated or technical environments, such as life sciences, healthcare, or oil and gas.

• Strong understanding of cost estimating and forecasting, including the ability to develop detailed estimates and long-range cost projections.

• Solid knowledge of contract administration, including reviewing contracts and managing contractual obligations.

• Demonstrated experience in change management, including evaluating change orders and assessing cost impacts.

• Familiarity with construction delivery methods and how they affect cost, risk, and schedule.

• Strong commercial management skills, including cost control and budget management for large capital projects.

• Ability to communicate effectively with owners, contractors, and multidisciplinary project teams, both verbally and in writing.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and provide clear, actionable insights.

• Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities, with a track record of managing multiple projects or work streams simultaneously.

• Experience reviewing contracts and managing project financial performance, including tracking budgets, forecasts, and actuals.

• Proficiency in Excel with advanced skill level for cost modeling, data analysis, and reporting.

• Practical experience with estimation and construction-related cost control processes.

• Ability to work in a client-facing consulting or owner's representative environment and build long-term professional relationships.

• Experience supporting mission-critical or data center construction projects.

• Professional certifications such as MRICS, AssocRICS, CCP, CEP, CPE, or similar are highly desirable.

• Knowledge of construction contracts, procurement processes, and various project delivery methods.

• Experience with value engineering, lifecycle costing, and project cost modeling.

• Background in healthcare construction or oil and gas construction projects.

• Experience in quantity surveying and cost control for large capital…