Cost Planner

The Estimator / Cost Planning Manager assumes commercial and functional management. Key responsibilities include overseeing the pre-construction cost planning process, developing and implementing best-practice estimation methodologies, driving value engineering initiatives and managing commercial risk registers on major tenders. This role is responsible for tender sign-off and bid strategy alignment, engaging in client negotiation on project costs, and acting as a commercial liaison for external stakeholders.

• Utilise and support the development of the company’s preferred cost planning software and tools.
• Be proficient in taking off quantities using the Bovis measurement software.
• Collaborate with the commercial team to secure market prices for trade packages and analyse these against cost plan allowances.
• Prepare, review, and analyse preliminaries for first and second stage bids, including producing standard preliminaries aligned with the proposed bid strategy.
• Incorporate programming requirements, methodology, phasing, and associated implications into cost plans and preliminaries.
• Accurately quantify and price cost plans from Development Brief / Feasibility stage through to Contract Price with the preferred contractor.
• Ability to build rates from first principles (labour, plant, and materials) is desirable but not essential.
• Accurate forecasting (inflation) of current trade rates.
• Manage external consultants (EQ Bill of Quants Consultancy), including initial engagement, appointment, issue of information, quality control, and ensuring submission and return in line with the programme.
• Be able to assess sub-contractor proposals.
• Prepare design fees with support from the relevant Design Manager.
• Prepare cost plan commentary and supply key information to Bid Managers to support technical and written responses within tender submissions.
• Ensure that scope, assumptions, and pricing are clearly documented throughout all cost planning stages.

• Support project teams with change control and major variations during conversion and delivery stages.
• Support project and design teams in producing a design that meets cost plan requirements. Continuously analyse the design against cost plan assumptions, design briefs/target metrics, and benchmark projects.

• Lead or support a bid as a Cost Planner either independently or as part of a team, depending on project scale and complexity.
• Support compliance of the cost plan with brief, authority, financiers’, and customer requirements during the conversion stage.

• Support the updating of design and cost KPI's.
• Support benchmarking data and work streams (cost / design / programme), ensuring data is captured and maintained. And support an initiative for the development of benchmarking systems.
• Contribute to the development of best practices, standards, knowledge bases, sector expertise, industry trends, yardsticks, and benchmarks.
• Produce written narratives outlining key insights derived from cost and benchmarking analysis, including justification of the cost plan within the context of these findings.

Maintain CSCS card for the role

• Currently holding, or working towards a related Chartership such as MRICS / MCIOB

Ability to influence and lead teams

Ability to read drawings and construction design information

Data analysis and data analytics including use of PowerBI

Document control

Negotiation

Problem solving

Process compliance

Quantity take-off

Strong Commercial acumen

Tendering subcontract works packages of medium to high value

Time management and prioritising tasks in order to meet deadlines

• Written and verbal communication to influence and build…