Senior Cost Manager
Kendal, England, United Kingdom Full-time Posted 3 hours ago
The Opportunity:
We’re looking for a strategic and influential Senior Cost Manager to play a key leadership role within our PMO team in Capital Delivery.
In this role, you’ll take ownership of cost management across a dynamic programme of wastewater projects, driving strong financial governance, enhancing cost performance, and ensuring best-in-class cost control throughout the project lifecycle.
You won’t just be managing numbers; you’ll be shaping decisions. Acting as a trusted expert, you’ll bring the confidence to challenge, influence senior stakeholders, and elevate standards across the programme.
You’ll also lead and develop a small team, fostering capability and ensuring consistent, high-quality cost intelligence across all projects.
This is a high-impact, visible role where your expertise will directly support the delivery of essential services to millions of people across the North West.
Why this role stands out:
Our ambition?
To act as the “intelligent Sat-Nav” guiding successful project delivery.
What you’ll be doing:
You’re a confident, proactive cost professional who thrives in a fast-paced project environment and enjoys influencing outcomes.
You’ll bring:
We believe in rewarding our people and helping them thrive:
To deliver high-quality water for a greener, healthier, and more prosperous North West.
We’re proud to be recognised as a Top 50 Inclusive Employer (ranked #4 in the UK) and we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone can grow, succeed and truly belong.
When you join us, you’re not just building a career, you’re helping shape sustainable infrastructure for generations to come.
We’re looking for a strategic and influential Senior Cost Manager to play a key leadership role within our PMO team in Capital Delivery.
In this role, you’ll take ownership of cost management across a dynamic programme of wastewater projects, driving strong financial governance, enhancing cost performance, and ensuring best-in-class cost control throughout the project lifecycle.
You won’t just be managing numbers; you’ll be shaping decisions. Acting as a trusted expert, you’ll bring the confidence to challenge, influence senior stakeholders, and elevate standards across the programme.
You’ll also lead and develop a small team, fostering capability and ensuring consistent, high-quality cost intelligence across all projects.
This is a high-impact, visible role where your expertise will directly support the delivery of essential services to millions of people across the North West.
Why this role stands out:
- Strategic influence – Shape programme decisions and drive financial performance
- Leadership opportunity – Develop and mentor emerging talent
- Meaningful impact – Contribute to vital infrastructure and regulatory commitments
- Supportive culture – Learn, grow and take action without unnecessary bureaucracy
Our ambition?
To act as the “intelligent Sat-Nav” guiding successful project delivery.
What you’ll be doing:
- Leading programme cost management, including budgets, forecasts, and performance tracking
- Partnering with Planning, Risk, Controls, and Project Managers to ensure accurate, joined-up cost data
- Driving cost control processes including commitments, accrals, and financial reporting
- Providing clear insights, identifying risks, trends, and variances against baseline
- Managing and implementing changes to programme baseline effectively
- Leading and developing a small team of Cost Managers
- Embedding consistent standards, governance, and best practice across the programme
You’re a confident, proactive cost professional who thrives in a fast-paced project environment and enjoys influencing outcomes.
You’ll bring:
- Strong expertise in Cost Control, Project Controls, or Programme Delivery
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence and challenge stakeholders
- Experience using Primavera P6
- A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with confidence to raise and resolve issues
- Experience developing or mentoring others within a project controls environment
- Degree-level education or equivalent experience
- Professional qualifications (APM, PMI or similar)
- Knowledge of NEC4 contracts
We believe in rewarding our people and helping them thrive:
- 26 days holiday + 8 bank holidays
- Up to 14% employer pension contribution (21% combined)
- 10.5% bonus scheme + recognition awards
- Comprehensive healthcare plan
- Flexible and hybrid working options
To deliver high-quality water for a greener, healthier, and more prosperous North West.
We’re proud to be recognised as a Top 50 Inclusive Employer (ranked #4 in the UK) and we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone can grow, succeed and truly belong.
When you join us, you’re not just building a career, you’re helping shape sustainable infrastructure for generations to come.
