Associate / Senior Associate Cost Manager (Utilities) at Rider Levett Bucknall
Rider Levett Bucknall · London, United Kingdom · Hybrid
- Professional
- Office in London
Why RLB?
At RLB, we live by four simple ideas: Truth, Trust, Together, Tomorrow. Four values that live at the heart of RLB. A place where People Make Progress.
We value your skills, talents and unique perspectives – we think they are priceless.
We value your skills, talents and unique perspectives – we think they are priceless.
Bring them to RLB and you’ll be empowered to shape our future and your career in new and meaningful ways.
We’ll give you opportunities to work on some of the most ambitious and exciting projects currently being designed and developed in the built environment sector.
You’ll continue to learn and advance as everyone who works for us is provided with a tailored training programme. Our mentoring and reverse mentoring schemes will enable you to share your expertise while gaining fresh insights.
What makes RLB unique is our inclusive culture. As an independent, employee-owned business, teamwork and collaboration lies at the heart of everything we do. Hybrid and flexible working arrangements and family-friendly policies are just some of the ways we invest in employee wellbeing.
Join us and you will thrive personally as well as professionally.
Role Overview
This role presents an excellent opportunity for a proactive individual to take responsibility for providing all core Cost Management services on a number of interesting projects while acting as main client liaison as well as providing support to the existing team in the delivery of projects.
We are seeking an Associate-level Commercial Consultant 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, infrastructure cost modelling, and lifecycle 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.
Our Utilities Consultancy team is built around three integrated specialisms: Commercial management, Project Delivery, and Technical/Regulatory service. As part of the UK Utilities leadership group, the Commercial function provides strategic advice and cost/commercial management services across regulated and non-regulated utility environments, supporting high-value infrastructure and digital asset projects.
This role presents an excellent opportunity for a proactive individual to take responsibility for providing all core Cost Management services on a number of interesting projects while acting as main client liaison as well as providing support to the existing team in the delivery of projects.
We are seeking an Associate-level Commercial Consultant 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, infrastructure cost modelling, and lifecycle 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.
Our Utilities Consultancy team is built around three integrated specialisms: Commercial management, Project Delivery, and Technical/Regulatory service. As part of the UK Utilities leadership group, the Commercial function provides strategic advice and cost/commercial management services across regulated and non-regulated utility environments, supporting high-value infrastructure and digital asset projects.
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Leadership & Strategy
- Lead and manage the commercial workstream across multiple utility programmes.
- Develop strategic commercial approaches tailored to regulated and developer-funded infrastructure.
- Identify and manage project risks.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements.
- Implement control mechanisms to assure project delivery.
- Provide cost assurance, benchmarking, value engineering, and whole-life costing for major utility schemes.
- Drive commercial innovation and client value creation through data-led insights and risk modelling.
- Analyse project processes and provide recommendations for improvement.
- Ensure best practices are followed and implemented.
- Support tendering and bidding processes.
Commercial Governance & Assurance
- Lead internal commercial assurance processes across utility projects to ensure consistency and mitigate risk.
- Monitor compliance with client frameworks, RLB’s commercial controls, and relevant regulatory guidance (e.g. Ofgem, Ofwat, DEFRA).
Bid Leadership & Market Development
- 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.
Pre-Contract & Procurement
- Develop procurement strategies that align with both client objectives and regulatory requirements.
- Lead tender preparation, evaluation, and contract negotiation processes.
- Provide expert guidance on procurement routes for primary infrastructure, including statutory undertaker, IDNO/ICP, NAV, and EPC frameworks.
- Develop Post-Contract & Project Controls
- Manage the financial performance of active projects
- Support programme recovery, dispute resolution and claim mitigation.
- Liaise with delivery and technical colleagues to ensure alignment between commercial objectives and engineering solutions.
Client & Stakeholder Engagement
- 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 market place.
- Represent RLB at industry events and within strategic client forums.
- Manage client expectations and ensure effective communication.
Team Leadership
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 commercial consultants 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.
Candidate Profile
Qualifications
- Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or relevant technical discipline.
- Chartered or working towards MRICS/MCInstCES/MCIOB preferred.
Experience:
- Significant experience in delivering commercial services on major utility infrastructure programmes.
- Strong understanding of electricity, water, wastewater or multi-utility environments (including regulated and non-regulated).
- Experience in commercial management and the delivery of projects in the regulated market place and de-regulated marketplace.
- Proven track record in managing multi-disciplinary teams and client relationships.
- Proficient in procurement advisory, cost planning, contract management and dispute resolution.
- Proven experience in managing high voltage Transmission and Distribution projects.
- Extensive 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., Fidic, JCT).
- Proven track record in tendering and managing major projects.
Skills:
- Strategic thinker with strong financial and contractual acumen.
- Excellent communication and leadership/people management skills.
- Confident presenter and client-facing professional.
- Capable of balancing delivery and leadership priorities.
- Ability to work under pressure and make evidence-based decisions.
- Strong commercial reporting and financial modelling skills
- Comfortable working across pre-construction, delivery, and close-out phases with agility.
- Ability to mentor junior team members and upskill peers through formal or informal coaching.
Behaviours
- Recognised as a client focused, positive collaborator who shares knowledge freely and offers support to their peers and seniors. Recognised as a team player with a strong willingness to learn.
- Demonstrates a positive and proactive approach to the role, and will be committed to delivering customer service excellence, with good commercial results.
RLB Employee Benefits
Our culture is built around enabling you to fulfil your potential, so you can look forward to benefits that include:
Hybrid Working - Working patterns to support your work-life balance. As well as competitive maternity and paternity packages.
Well-Rewarded - A competitive salary and generous holiday entitlement. As well as the opportunity to purchase up to five extra days.
Focus On Wellbeing - We offer a number of health and wellness options, including gym membership and cycle to work schemes.
Healthcare Packages - Private healthcare insurance and medical support, including dental insurance and eyecare vouchers.
Personal Development - A continuous learning and development programme, including established APC and in-house mentoring schemes.
Additional Benefits - We offer a wide range of benefits including a season ticket loan and professional membership subscriptions.
Exceptional Exposure - You’ll have the opportunity to work on diverse projects across different sectors and regions.
Social Responsibility - We hold team and social events as well as charity fundraising and volunteering activities.
Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commitment
We believe in building a diverse and inclusive environment where each person can be themselves, feel valued for their contribution and be challenged and supported to reach their full potential. We have a responsibility to support the communities in which we live and work, and that our workforce should reflect these communities and our clients. Our talent strategy should enable us to overcome bias in the construction industry by recruiting, retaining, developing, and promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce. Find out more here: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - RLB | Europe
If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during any stage of the application or interview process, please contact our recruitment team at: [email protected]
