(MEP/CSA) Associate Director (Pre-Contract) – Data Centre

Role Summary

As a Senior Cost Manager specialising in pre‑contracts for Data Centre projects, you will lead all front‑end cost management activities before contract award. You will take ownership of cost planning, estimation, tender strategy, procurement support, risk assessment, and commercial advisory during early project stages.

Pre‑Contract / Pre‑Tendering Leadership

• Lead the preparation of detailed cost estimates, cost plans, and budgets across concept, schematic, and detailed design stages.
• Review design documents for scope gaps, cost risks, constructability considerations, and alignment with sector‑specific requirements.
• Manage full pre‑tendering workflows, including:
  • Preparing tender and procurement documentation
  • Shortlisting suitable bidders with relevant technical experience
  • Managing tender queries and clarifications
  • Running structured procurement processes
• Lead commercial tender evaluations, including comparisons, compliance checks, risk reviews, and moderating bidder interviews.
• Prepare clear tender recommendation reports for client approval.

Pre‑Tender Expertise

• Understand the cost drivers and unique requirements of data centre projects such as:
  • Service‑intensive works (MEP and utilities)
  • Clean or controlled environments
  • Technical spaces with specialised equipment allowances
  • High uptime, resilience, or production reliability expectations
• Apply market knowledge and benchmarking relevant to high‑tech or mission‑critical construction sectors.
• Identify long‑lead items or specialist trades that impact procurement strategy and pre‑tender cost accuracy.

Strategic Cost & Commercial Advisory

• Provide early commercial advice on market conditions, price trends, escalation factors, and supply‑chain capacity for relevant sectors.
• Lead value engineering workshops to identify practical, cost‑efficient alternatives without compromising operational needs.
• Advise clients on contract strategies, procurement routes, and phasing approaches suitable for mission‑critical or industrial environments.

Stakeholder Management & Coordination

• Facilitate structured communication across clients, designers, engineers, and procurement teams during early project stages.
• Lead pre‑tender alignment meetings focused on scope finalisation, interfaces, and commercial assumptions.
• Mentor junior team members and oversee quality of pre‑contract deliverables.

Controls, Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure all cost plans, estimates, tender documents, and analyses are accurate, consistent, and audit‑ready.
• Maintain robust governance over estimating methodologies, benchmarking, assumptions, and cost risks.
• Track, update, and communicate cost risks, allowances, exclusions, and clarifications throughout pre‑tender phases.