Associate Cost Manager - Utilities

Joining RLB’s Utilities & Energy team means becoming part of a high-performing, ambitious and supportive business that is helping shape the future of the UK’s critical infrastructure while offering genuine opportunities for professional development, career progression and exposure to some of the industry’s most exciting and technically challenging projects.

Role Overview

Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) is expanding its Utilities & Energy team and is looking for an Associate to take responsibility for all core Pre Construction Cost Management services on a variety of projects, as main client liaison as well as providing support to the existing team in the delivery of projects.

We are seeking an Associate to lead and grow our Commercial Utility Consultancy team. The role will suit a commercially astute, client-facing individual with deep knowledge of utility procurement, estimating, infrastructure cost modelling, pre-contract lifecycle and pre-contract commercial strategy. The role will involve you shaping our market positioning, supporting major bids, and embedding commercial best practice across utility and energy programmes. The role demands high-level strategic thinking, hands-on leadership, and the ability to influence both client-side and internally at RLB. This is a critical leadership role contributing to RLB’s ambitious growth within the utilities sector.

The role will suit someone who has delivered a range of utility infrastructure projects and offers an excellent platform to progress, with a very supportive and robust career development structure.

Role Responsibilities

Cost Planning and Estimating including:

• Lead and manage the preparation of indicative cost budgets and appraisals for utilities (Power, Water, Gas and Telecoms)
• Lead and manage preparation of detail cost estimates from RIBA stage 2, 3 and 4 containing all the cost elements using NRM method of measurement methodologies.
• Provide advice and opinion in respect of our client development plans and expectations.
• Value engineering studies.
• Identifies key opportunities for cost savings initiatives through financial analysis, benchmarking and best practices.
• Consult with suppliers and subcontractors to obtain pricing information and quotations.
• Lead and manage cost assurance and benchmarking process and present to clients.

Procurement including:

• Lead and manage procurement strategies for multiple utilities projects.
• Provide expert guidance on procurement routes for primary infrastructure, including statutory undertaker, IDNO/ICP, NAV, and EPC frameworks.
• Support the pre-market engagement to identify suppliers who can deliver power and other utilities projects.
• Lead and manage the preparation and issuing of tender documents.
• Lead and manage a competitive tender process including managing queries from tendering contractors.
• Managing and contributing to structured and documented tender evaluations.
• Lead and manage preparation of Contract Recommendation Reports.
• Lead and manage preparation of contract documents.
• Attending progress meetings
• Advising and liaising with internal project and cost control team

Client & Stakeholder Engagement Including:

• Act as lead commercial advisor to clients, including developers, funders, and public authorities.
• Build and manage relationships with stakeholders across the regulated and de-regulated utility marketplace.
• Represent RLB at industry events and within strategic client forums.
• Manage client expectations and ensure effective communication.

Team Leadership Including:

• As a line manager, you will provide performance feedback, support career development, and ensure capability growth within the team. You will help create a high-performance culture aligned to RLB’s values of Trust, Truth, Together, and Tomorrow. In addition, you will:
• Lead, coach and develop a team of senior cost managers and cost managers within the utilities division.
• Foster a collaborative working environment.
• Collaborate with delivery and technical/regulatory utility leads
• Collaborate across RLB’s wider business including cost, project management, and advisory disciplines.
• Contribute to the development of internal capability, service offers and market presence.
• Promote a strong safety culture.
• Provide clear and visible leadership.

Bid Leadership & Market Development Including

• Support or lead key proposals, fee submissions, and interviews for utility and infrastructure opportunities.
• Shape service lines, case studies, and delivery methodologies that align with market demand and client expectations.

Additional responsibilities

• The candidate will be an integral part of a team that is accountable for the commercial and contractual performance of a project.
• The candidate will Lead and manage the pre- contract commercial workstream across multiple utility programmes.
• To support business objectives of delivering value for money in all circumstances.
• To carry out assigned duties efficiently and in accordance with processes and procedures.
• Comply with established cost planning/estimating and procurement strategies.
• Take personal responsibility for complying with Environmental, Health, Safety, Security and Quality Standards
• Individually or as part of a team operate processes for the selection, appointment and management of cost planning and procurement elements of the projects.
• To provide clients with the appropriate cost planning and procurement advice, considering the technical commercial and regulatory implications of developing a utility network.
• Develop strategic commercial approaches tailored to regulated and developer-funded infrastructure.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a positive proactive approach to the role, and will be committed to delivering customer service excellence, with good commercial results.

• Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying or similar technical discipline.
• Strong understanding of electricity, Gas, water, wastewater or multi-utility environments (including regulated and non-regulated).
• Membership of a relevant professional body.
• Experience of cost planning software to produce estimates and understanding of.
• Ability to successfully manage complex projects in a proactive and diligent manner.
• Strong Feasibility and cost planning experience.
• Experience of preparing tender documentation and support for post contract services.
• Client facing, ensuring a high standard of technical delivery.
• Able to build long-term relationships.
• Previously employed by a consultancy or end user client.
• Stakeholder management with a clear focus on developing client accounts.
• A track record of working with teams and managing projects by prioritising workloads and delivering deadlines.
• A team player, outgoing, flexible, and career focussed.
• Proven experience in managing high voltage Transmission and Distribution projects.
• Experience in delivering EHV projects (132kV, 275kV, and 400kV), grid connections, and other utility-scale projects.
• Good working knowledge of the UK Transmission & Distribution ecosystem, including the DNO/IDNO landscape, and major players in the ICP market.
• Experience with standard construction contracts (e.g., NEC, Fidic, JCT).
• Proven track record in tendering and managing major projects.

Behaviours

• Strategic thinker with strong financial and contractual acumen.
• Excellent communication and leadership/