Assistant Cost Manager

Your opportunity

We have an opportunity for an ambitious Assistant Cost Manager to join the team in our Bristol office. You will work closely with senior colleagues, supporting the delivery of a broad mix of projects across Bristol, the South West and, where appropriate, our wider national business. The role offers exposure to different sectors, clients and project stages, helping you build confidence, technical capability and commercial awareness.

Our work includes projects typically ranging from £1m to over £1bn across sectors such as commercial, residential, build-to-rent, later living, education, health, defence, manufacturing and public sector development.

What you need to do to be effective in this role

• Support the day-to-day delivery of cost management commissions as part of the Bristol Cost Management team.
• Contribute to building cost advice at various RIBA stages, including feasibility estimates, order of cost estimates, cost plans and pre-tender estimates.
• Undertake measurement in accordance with defined standards and contribute to the preparation of pricing documents, schedules and cost plan information.
• Support the evaluation of building designs and alternative proposals to help clients maintain budget control and secure best value.
• Assist with the preparation, issue, evaluation and reporting of tenders, including arithmetical checks, tender analysis and commercial review.
• Attend client, design team, contractor and progress meetings, contributing where appropriate and recording actions accurately.
• Support advice on contract terms and the preparation of building contract documentation, with exposure to JCT and NEC forms where relevant.
• Contribute to post-contract cost control, including valuations, payment recommendations, change control, cost reporting and final account preparation.
• Undertake cost research, market testing, data capture and benchmarking to support robust advice and decision-making.
• Maintain project documentation, follow quality assurance procedures and support consistent team standards.
• Build positive working relationships with clients, consultants, contractors and wider project stakeholders.
• Develop your professional skills through project experience, feedback, mentoring and, where relevant, APC support.

• Support cost planning at various RIBA stages, including preliminary estimates, elemental cost plans and design-stage cost advice.
• Assist with procurement reports and advice on single-stage, two-stage, negotiated and framework routes, as appropriate.
• Support the preparation of tender documentation, pricing schedules, analysis templates and contract sum analysis information.
• Assist with tender analysis, normalisation, commercial review, risk identification and preparation of tender reporting outputs.

• Support the valuation of completed works and preparation of progress payment recommendations.
• Assist with monitoring design change, measuring and valuing variations and advising on budget impact.
• Contribute to clear cost reports, risk registers, cashflow updates and change control summaries for clients.
• Support the preparation, negotiation and agreement of final accounts with contractors and supply chain partners.

The skills and experience you need to have for this role

• A relevant degree in quantity surveying, cost management or a similar RICS-accredited discipline.
• Working towards MRICS status, or a desire to commence the APC pathway.
• Some experience as an Assistant Quantity Surveyor, Assistant Cost Manager or similar role is desirable, although attitude, aptitude and willingness to learn are equally important.
• Good communication, numeracy, organisation and report writing skills.
• Confident using Microsoft Word and Excel. Experience with CostX, Bluebeam, Smartsheet or similar project tools would be advantageous.
• Holder of a UK driving licence.

About us

We are Ridge, a Built Environment Consultancy. We help our clients transform the quality and sustainability of the built environment.

Our 1,400+ people bring a vast range of skills, delivering a professional mindset, gritty discipline and a genuine passion to every one of the thousands of projects they undertake each year. They're the foundation of our success - they drive our vision, embody our values and separate us from the competition.

Come and join us if you're hungry to be part of an exceptional team - if you put quality first - if you're motivated by ingenuity and if you're always aspiring to be the very best.