Cost Manager PDS Projects

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Cost Manager, Project & Development Services (PDS)

We are JLL
We are a professional services and investment management firm specializing in real estate. We help organizations around the world achieve their ambitions by owning, occupying and investing in real estate.

If you are looking to step up your career, JLL is the perfect professional home. At JLL, you will have a chance to innovate with the world’s leading businesses, put that expertise into action on landmark projects, and work on game-changing real estate initiatives. You will also make long-lasting professional connections through sharing different perspectives, and you will be inspired by the best. We are focused on opportunity and want to help you make the most of yours. Achieve your ambitions – join us at JLL!

Role Purpose
The Cost Manager is responsible for capex, cost control and financial management across a diverse portfolio of projects within Project & Development Services, including office fit-out, hospitality and retail. The role ensures projects are delivered within approved budgets, collaborating with project teams, finance teams and stakeholders to develop accurate cost estimates, track project expenses, conduct financial analysis and recommend ways to optimize project costs.

What this job involves / Key Responsibilities

Cost Estimation and Budgeting

• Collaborate with project teams and stakeholders to establish project budgets.
• Regularly review and update budgets based on actual costs and forecasts.
• Develop accurate, detailed cost estimates during the planning phase, managing the following processes: Prepare capex cost estimates for spend approval during scope definition, following best practice to ensure a high-quality estimate. Measure quantities and scope from design information; produce the Bill of Quantities (BoQ) and review and audit BoQs or other pricing documents prepared by others. Identify lower-cost scope alternatives and value engineering proposals so that final solutions stay within approved budgets. Review risk assessments, design and technical due diligence provided by others. Carry out market cost benchmarking and analysis across sectors and locations. Collaborate with project and program managers, engineers, architects, designers, clients, stakeholders and contractors on estimates.

Cost Control and Monitoring

• Monitor project expenses and ensure alignment with approved budgets.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and propose measures to optimize spending.
• Implement effective cost management processes and controls.

Financial Analysis and Reporting

• Analyse project costs, variances and trends to provide insights and recommendations.
• Prepare financial reports and presentations for clients and project stakeholders.
• Conduct financial risk assessments and provide mitigation strategies.

Sourcing and Tendering

• Support the procurement team in commercial bid review and tender clarification.
• Provide a construction cost normalization and comparison tender recommendation report (TRR).
• Lead commercial clarifications with bidders at resource, preliminaries and construction package levels.
• Prepare recommendations for the client’s approval.

Vendor and Contract Management

• Collaborate with procurement and contract management teams to negotiate favourable contracts and pricing.
• Evaluate vendor invoices and ensure accuracy and compliance with contract terms.
• Identify cost reduction opportunities in vendor contracts.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work closely with project managers and teams to integrate cost considerations into project planning and decision-making.
• Collaborate with finance teams to align project budgets and financial forecasts.

Continuous Improvement

• Stay up to date with industry best practices and emerging trends in project cost management.
• Identify and implement process improvements that drive efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain cost planning guidelines and templates for a consistent approach to capex estimating.
• Standardize methodologies and outputs in line with industry best practice, simplifying estimates to reflect the cost categories clients typically track.
• Collect and analyse benchmarking data to support strategic decisions based on costs and benefits.

Every day is different, and in all these activities we encourage you to show your ingenuity.

Sound like you? To apply you need to be:

Experience

• Essential: Bachelor’s degree in quantity surveying, building engineering, civil, architecture, MEP engineering or a related discipline.
• Essential: Minimum of 3 years’ experience with a consultant or general contractor in a similar role, preferably in a multi-cultural environment.
• Essential: Proven experience in cost management across more than one of the following sectors: office fit-out, hospitality (hotels) and retail.
• Essential: Excellent knowledge of the construction supply chain.
• Advantageous: Experience with data centre projects.
• Advantageous: Experience with FIDIC contract frameworks (Red, Yellow or Silver Book) or other standard forms of contract.

Skills

• Excellent written English to describe project background and cost impact, identify main risks, explain benchmark costs and deviations, and set out the basis of costs, assumptions and exclusions.
• Ability to provide support, tools and procedures to JLL’s Project Managers on cost proposals and benchmarking.
• Strong analytical ability, attention to detail, and facilitation and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to manage multiple or conflicting priorities in a high-pressure environment.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team, including with remote teams and stakeholders.
• Excellent numerical, commercial and financial acumen.
• All additional duties commensurate with the level of the role.

What you can expect from us
You will join an entrepreneurial, inclusive culture, one where we succeed together, across the desk and around the globe. Where like-minded people work naturally together to achieve great things.

Our Total Rewards program reflects our commitment to helping you achieve your ambitions in career, recognition, wellbeing, benefits and pay. We will offer you a competitive salary and benefits package.

Join us to develop your strengths and enjoy a fulfilling career full of varied experiences. Keep those ambitions in sight and imagine where JLL can take you.

Apply today!

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If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the requirements.  We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!

At JLL, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you're pursuing.

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