Cost Lead

Project Controls Cost Lead - Capital Infrastructure

Sector: Nuclear New Build / Mega-Project Infrastructure

Location: London or Suffolk/Leiston area (Hybrid Working)

Position Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Vetting Requirements: Standard UK Baseline Vetting / Background Checks

The Opportunity:

We are partnering with a premier Tier 1 technical services and project controls consultancy to recruit a Project Controls Cost Lead. Operating within an expanding Nuclear Power Programmes division, this senior position oversees financial governance, baseline budget management, and cost forecasting for multi-billion-pound capital energy assets at various stages of the project lifecycle.

This role provides a unique blend of client-facing authority and internal leadership. You will direct a team of cost engineers to monitor multi-million-pound design and construction packages, implementing innovative cost-engineering processes to safeguard budget adherence on a landmark UK infrastructure development.

Key Responsibilities:

• Procedure Development: Author and establish comprehensive project cost control procedures tailored to client requirements, ensuring complete alignment with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the master Project Execution Plan.

• Capital Budget Management: Formulate, baseline, and manage Project Total Installed Cost (TIC) budgets derived from initial capital cost estimates.

• Cross-Functional Liaison: Partner directly with Project Managers and package leads to secure timely, accurate deliverables for monthly cost-reporting and forecasting cycles.

• Trend & Variance Interrogation: Review and interrogate detailed analysis of professional services costs, supply chain expenditure, and engineering man-hour trends to identify and mitigate projected budget overruns or under-runs.

• Project Controls Integration: Collaborate closely with Estimating and Planning/Scheduling functions to ensure consistent, aligned data streams across cost, resource allocation, and timeline progress.

• Earned Value Management: Manage and maintain robust Earned Value Measurement (EVM) systems to track the performance of both professional design services and major construction subcontracts.

• Change Control Ownership: Develop and oversee the project change management process. Compile, justify, and present complex variations reflecting the full impact of scope changes on budget and schedule frameworks.

• Contingency Forecasting: Manage and model risk contingency drawdown profiles to provide accurate forward-looking financial exposure reports.

• Team Leadership: Provide day-to-day direction, performance management, and task allocation for cost engineering personnel reporting into the project controls function.

• Executive Presentation: Compile and present high-level cost status reports, outturn forecasts, and financial risk reviews directly to senior management and client executives.

What We''re Looking For:

• Industrial Environment Track Record: Imperative experience delivering cost control and budget management frameworks within a combined design and heavy construction environment.

• Capital Cost Bias: Extensive, demonstrable experience focused on Capital Cost Management for mega-projects or major infrastructure programmes.

• Sector Background: Proven experience operating within the process industries, conventional power generation, oil and gas, or heavy infrastructure sectors (Nuclear sector experience is highly advantageous).

• Education & Credentials: Degree-level education or equivalent higher technical qualification in Project Controls, Commercial Management, Engineering, or Finance.

• Analytical Skills: Strong capability for driving process innovation, utilizing technical and financial data to find creative solutions to complex project controls challenges.

What''s on Offer (Package & Benefits):

• Salary: High-tier base salary aligned with senior project controls appointments.

• Work-Life Balance: Dedicated commitment to flexibility, including established hybrid working frameworks.

• Healthcare: Comprehensive private single medical cover and digital GP service access.

• Family Benefits: Enhanced parental leave pay structures alongside access to employee assistance and parental wellness programmes.

• Professional Development: Financial backing and reimbursement towards relevant professional institutional memberships and continued professional development (CPD).

• Corporate Culture: A highly collaborative, modern workspace backed by extensive global employee networks, matched-funding, and paid volunteering schemes.