Senior Cost Manager – Property

At a glance

Salary range - £59,100.00 -£90,000.00 

Contract type - Permanent

Location - This role will be based at our Head Office in Pimlico, London, with occasional travel to other Partnership locations.

About the role

As Senior Cost Manager supporting the John Lewis Property Team, you will be the subject matter expert guiding projects from start through to completion by carrying out feasibility studies, cost planning, reviewing procurement strategies, negotiations, contract management, optimising capital investment expenditure, ensuring financial compliance across the project lifecycle, managing external consultants and leading the way with implementation of cost management strategies that align with our business objectives and ensuring we take a cost-out approach while maintaining quality. 

Take ownership of the overall annual cost management of the John Lewis capital and operational construction budgets, inclusive of major capital investment and capital replacement across our vast estate including some very exciting landmark projects.

This role offers a flexible, blended working environment within a culture that prioritizes professional growth and inclusion.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial & Financial Control

• Cost Planning & Estimating: Preparing early-stage feasibility budgets, cost plans, and life-cycle cost forecasts.

• Value Engineering: Drive a "Cost-out" culture through rigorous benchmarking, value engineering, and innovation.

• Contract Management: Provide strategic oversight of JCT/NEC contract selection, negotiation, and supply chain performance.

• Cost Control: Monitoring ongoing expenditure, identifying financial risks, valuing completed work, tracking project variations against the baseline budget and capitalisation of assets.

• Commercial Negotiation: Assessing contractor claims, negotiating variations, and finalizing final account settlements.

• Net Zero Commitment: Solutions and sustainable design to support the 2035 Net Zero operational target.

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Leadership & People

• Executive Reporting: Deliver high-level financial reporting and forecasting to demonstrate programme performance against KPIs.

• Team Development: Lead and mentor a multi-disciplinary team of External Quantity Surveyors.

• Stakeholder Management: Influence and collaborate with senior stakeholders to ensure programme buy-in and operational success.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• MRICS / MCIOB or Degree qualified (or equivalent) in Quantity Surveying / Commercial management.

• Strong knowledge of construction methodologies, the development process and the built environment including traditional and emerging techniques. 

• Highly knowledgeable in construction and engineering services project procurement and execution.

• Proven experience in cost management of retail-fit outs, refurbishments or developments.

• High competency in risk management and communication at all levels.

• Strong proficiency in cash flow forecasting, budget management, and financial reporting. 

• Exceptional client-facing and stakeholder management skills. 

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.  

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.   

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. 

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. 

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.  

Important points to note:  

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.  

We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview. 

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