Cost Manager

JLL · Lisbon

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JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way.  

Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong.  Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.

The Cost Manager will play a key role in delivering high-quality cost management services across a wide range of building and infrastructure projects. This position combines technical expertise, commercial awareness, and client-facing responsibilities to ensure projects are delivered within budget while maximizing value for clients.

The successful candidate will be responsible for cost planning, budget management, procurement support, financial reporting, cost benchmarking, value engineering, and project cost control throughout the project lifecycle. Working closely with Project Managers, Design Teams, Contractors, and Clients, the Cost Manager will contribute to informed decision-making and successful project delivery.

The role requires a strong understanding of construction methodologies, project planning, budgeting principles, and real estate development processes.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Management & Project Delivery

• Prepare and manage cost plans, budgets, estimates, and financial forecasts throughout all project stages.
• Develop conceptual, preliminary, and detailed cost estimates based on project requirements and design development.
• Monitor project costs and provide regular financial reporting to clients and project teams.
• Identify cost risks and opportunities and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Ensure effective budget control and cost tracking during project execution.
• Support procurement processes, including tender preparation, bid analysis, negotiation support, and contractor selection.
• Review contractor valuations, change orders, variations, and final accounts.
• Maintain accurate project cost records and reporting documentation.

Cost Planning & Advisory

• Undertake cost benchmarking exercises and market analysis to support informed investment decisions.
• Provide strategic cost advice to clients during project planning and development phases.
• Apply value engineering principles to optimize project costs without compromising quality, functionality, or project objectives.
• Support Target Value Design processes and identify opportunities for enhanced project efficiency.
• Develop lifecycle cost assessments and advise clients on long-term asset performance and investment strategies.
• Contribute to feasibility studies and business case evaluations from a cost perspective.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor throughout project delivery.
• Participate in client meetings, workshops, and project reviews.
• Collaborate closely with Project Managers, Design Teams, Contractors, and other consultants.
• Present cost reports, recommendations, and financial analyses to clients and stakeholders.
• Ensure high levels of client satisfaction and identify opportunities for additional services.

Technical Excellence & Quality Assurance

• Ensure all cost management deliverables meet JLL quality standards and industry best practices.
• Maintain awareness of market trends, construction costs, procurement strategies, and industry developments.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives, knowledge sharing, and the development of best practices within the team.
• Provide technical guidance and support to junior cost managers and project team members where required.

Skills & Attributes

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong knowledge of cost management principles within construction and real estate projects.
• Excellent analytical and financial skills.
• Strong understanding of construction methodologies and project delivery processes.
• Proven experience in cost estimating, budgeting, and financial control.
• Experience with cost benchmarking, value engineering, and cost optimization strategies.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary project teams.
• High attention to detail and strong problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong commercial awareness and client-oriented mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

Required Experience

• Previous experience in Cost Management, Project Management, Building Consultancy or similar disciplines.
• Proven experience preparing cost estimates, budgets, and cost reports for construction and real estate projects.
• Experience in procurement support, tender evaluation, and contract administration.
• Demonstrated ability to manage project costs throughout the full project lifecycle.
• Experience working alongside project management and design teams.
• Exposure to value engineering, cost benchmarking, and financial analysis methodologies.
• Experience supporting large-scale commercial, hospitality, residential, office, or mixed-use developments would be advantageous.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Civil or Mechanical Engineering, Architecture or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in Cost Management or related fields.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and cost estimation software.
• Experience working with project planning and reporting tools is considered an advantage.
• Fluent Portuguese and English, both written and spoken.

Preferred Experience

Experience in projects such as:

• Hospitality developments and luxury hotel refurbishments.
• Residential and mixed-use developments.
• Urban regeneration and urbanization projects.
• Commercial office fit-out projects.
• Large-scale construction or infrastructure developments.

This experience should include responsibility for cost planning, budget estimating, procurement support, value engineering, and cost control, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in line with required quality standards.

Location:

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.

Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading global provider of real estate and investment management services. We take our responsibility to protect the personal information provided to us seriously. Generally the personal information we collect from you are for the purposes of processing in connection with JLL’s recruitment process. We endeavour to keep your personal information secure with appropriate level of security and keep for as long as we need it for legitimate business or legal reasons. We will then delete it safely and securely.

For more information about how JLL processes your personal data, please view our Candidate Privacy Statement.

For additional details please see our career site pages for each country.

Jones Lang LaSalle (“JLL”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.  If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process – including the online application and/or overall selection process –  you may email us at HRSCLeaves@jll.com. This email is only to request an accommodation. Please direct any other general recruiting inquiries to our Contact Us page > I want to work for JLL.

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