We are looking for a Lead Strategic Cost Engineer to join Anglian Water's Cost Intelligence and Commercial Assurance function, leading the development of the cost intelligence framework that underpins major investment planning across the business.
This is a strategic leadership role responsible for cost collection, governance, modelling, assurance and estimating services. You will lead the development, calibration and assurance of total expenditure, carbon and operational cost models, ensuring decision-makers have robust, transparent and defensible cost intelligence to support efficient, evidence-based investment planning.
Lead the design and continuous improvement of cost collection templates and governance processes
Oversee quality assurance of cost submissions, ensuring alignment with SAP, cost models and business requirements
Lead the development, verification and calibration of total expenditure, carbon and operational cost models
Provide senior review and approval of investment and alternative estimates
Own and maintain estimating service guidance, documentation, training materials and system support content
Lead enhancements to the Cost Estimation System, ensuring updates are tested, documented and communicated
Analyse investment plan data to identify delivery efficiencies and cost performance opportunities
Support regulatory submissions and evidence packs through robust analysis, benchmarking and cost insight
Coach, guide and develop team members, building cost intelligence capability across the function
Degree level qualification or equivalent experience in engineering, quantity surveying, mathematics or a related technical discipline
Proven experience estimating large programmes of work using structured cost models
Strong experience in cost modelling, cost collection, benchmarking or investment planning
Experience working in a regulated environment, including exposure to price review or regulatory evidence
Strong understanding of infrastructure assets and the impact of investment and operational decisions
Excellent stakeholder management skills with confidence challenging and influencing across multiple teams
Strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills with excellent attention to detail
Ability to lead others, manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outputs under pressure
Desirable: Chartered or working towards chartership with a relevant professional body such as RICS. Experience in water, wastewater, utilities, embodied carbon modelling, system governance or regulatory cost assurance.
At Anglian Water, cost intelligence is central to how we plan and deliver investment for customers, communities and the environment. In this role, you will lead a key capability that shapes investment decisions, strengthens regulatory submissions and improves how the business captures, models and benchmarks cost performance. You will influence senior stakeholders, develop technical capability in the team and help embed a culture of transparent, data-driven cost management.
26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with length of service)
Flexible working options
Private health care
Competitive pension scheme - Anglian Water double-matches contributions up to 7%
Life assurance at eight times your salary
Annual bonus
Potential funded car allowance depending on evidenced business mileage
Personal medical assessments
Virtual GP service
Cancer screening
Financial wellbeing support and salary finance benefits
Lifestyle savings including discounts on retail, travel and utilities
Employee Assistance Programme
Volunteer days
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We are proud signatories of the Social Mobility Pledge, Race at Work Charter and Armed Forces Covenant, and we are a Disability Confident employer.
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Skills Required
- Degree level qualification or equivalent experience in engineering, quantity surveying, mathematics or a related technical discipline
- Proven experience estimating large programmes of work using structured cost models
- Strong experience in cost modelling, cost collection, benchmarking or investment planning
- Experience working in a regulated environment, including exposure to price review or regulatory evidence
- Strong understanding of infrastructure assets and the impact of investment and operational decisions
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with confidence challenging and influencing across multiple teams
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills with excellent attention to detail
- Ability to lead others, manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outputs under pressure
- Chartered or working towards chartership with a relevant professional body such as RICS
- Experience in water, wastewater, utilities, embodied carbon modelling, system governance or regulatory cost assurance
What We Do
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