People Group
Operations Director - Cost Management
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Operations Director – Cost & Commercial Management | Private Sector
Location: London
Sector: Corporate Real Estate, Retail, Hospitality, Leisure & Mixed-Use
Level: Operations Director / Senior Leadership
The opportunity
A leading global property and construction consultancy is looking to appoint an Operations Director – Cost & Commercial Management, to take a senior leadership position within its growing Private Sector business.
This is a high-profile role combining commercial leadership, client delivery, team management, and business development. You will have responsibility for the successful delivery of complex cost and commercial management commissions, while helping shape the continued growth of the private sector offering.
The role will suit an established consultancy leader with the credibility to operate at senior client level, lead high-performing teams, and develop long-term relationships with major private sector organisations.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end delivery of cost and commercial management services across major private sector projects.
- Provide strategic commercial advice from feasibility and business case development through procurement, construction, and final account.
- Oversee estimating, cost planning, forecasting, value management, and cost control.
- Lead procurement strategies and ensure effective management of tendering, contractor selection, and contract formation.
- Provide oversight of post-contract cost management, change control, valuations, and commercial reporting.
- Drive value engineering and whole-life cost considerations to maximise client value.
- Ensure robust financial governance and accurate, high-quality reporting throughout project delivery.
- Act as a senior client interface, building trusted relationships with developers, investors, occupiers, and other key stakeholders.
- Identify and pursue new business opportunities, contributing to the growth strategy of the Private Sector division.
- Lead, develop, and recruit high-performing cost management professionals.
- Support the wider leadership team in developing market strategy, client propositions, and sector growth.
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What we're looking for
We're interested in senior cost consultancy professionals who can demonstrate:
- Significant leadership experience within a cost management / commercial consultancy environment.
- A strong track record of leading multidisciplinary or high-performing commercial teams.
- Experience delivering major projects for sophisticated private sector clients.
- A proven ability to develop senior client relationships and generate repeat business.
- Strong commercial understanding across cost planning, procurement, contracts, valuations, change, and financial reporting.
- Experience working across sectors such as corporate real estate, retail, hospitality, leisure, residential, or mixed-use development.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills, with the gravitas to operate confidently at board and senior client level.
- A commercially minded approach, with the ability to balance exceptional service delivery with business growth.
- A degree or relevant professional qualification is desirable, alongside relevant professional membership.
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Why this role?
This is an opportunity to join a well-established consultancy at a senior level and play a meaningful role in growing its private sector cost and commercial management business. You will have the platform, autonomy, and senior stakeholder exposure to influence both client outcomes and the future direction of the business.
Interested in finding out more?
Apply confidentially or get in touch for an initial discussion.
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