Cost Engineer

Job Description

SP Energy Networks (SPEN) is at the heart of the UK's journey to Net Zero. Over the next five years, we will invest £5.4 billion in modernising and expanding the electricity grid, enabling the rapid growth of renewable energy and securing a clean, reliable future for our communities.

Within this our Transmission business is delivering a £3 billion programme of major strategic infrastructure projects - from new overhead lines to upgraded substations - to strengthen, reinforce and future-proof the transmission network across Scotland.

To support this unprecedented programme of work, we're looking for 2x Cost Engineers to join our Strategic Projects Portfolio team and play a key role in managing and controlling costs across some of the most significant energy infrastructure projects in the UK.

What you'll be doing

As a Cost Engineer (Strategic Portfolio), you'll be a vital part of our multi‑disciplinary PMO team, providing robust cost control, analysis and reporting across a portfolio of major transmission projects.

You will:

• Support the development and continuous improvement of cost management standards, systems and reporting tools
• Lead month-end cost reporting, including variance analysis and lifecycle budget performance reviews
• Maintain the Integrated Cost Management Tool with accurate, validated project data
• Monitor contractor cost performance against budgets and agreed KPIs
• Support lifecycle budget allocation and reporting across assigned projects and disciplines
• Perform cost forecasting and routine analysis to support decision-making
• Ensure alignment between cost and schedule baselines, working closely with Planning, Scheduling and Risk teams
• Support Actual Cost of Work Performed (ACWP) calculations and Earned Value (EV) integration
• Prepare cost studies, benchmarking reviews and cost comparison reports
• Collaborate with Procurement, Project Managers and Budget Holders to validate assumptions and track committed expenditure
• Maintain and update the Strategic Portfolio Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS)
• Identify cost risks, resolve variances and contribute to lessons learned and continuous improvement activities

Your work will directly enable the successful delivery of critical national infrastructure, supporting a cleaner, greener energy system for the future.

What you'll bring

This role is ideal for someone with proven cost engineering experience in large, complex engineering or infrastructure environments.

You'll bring:

• 3+ years' cost engineering experience, ideally within EPC, utilities, infrastructure or energy sectors
• Strong knowledge of cost management methodologies, including ACWP, CPI, SPI and forecasting techniques
• Experience developing and managing cost structures for multi‑million‑pound projects
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret and communicate complex cost data
• Experience with cost management tools and Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Understanding of NEC3/NEC4 contract frameworks
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a distributed team

What's in it for you

As well as a competitive salary which is reviewed annually, you can also enjoy a number of other benefits. With our pension scheme, we'll double match your contribution up to a company contribution of 10%.

At ScottishPower, we believe it's the little things we do in life that make a big difference. From helping you look after your family's wellbeing, save for your future and take personal steps for climate action - our benefits are designed to help you do just that - so that you have everything you need to take care of your world - today and tomorrow.

That's why our benefits include:

• 36 days annual leave
• Holiday purchase - perfect your work/life balance with extra annual leave
• Share Incentive Plan and Sharesave Scheme
• Payroll giving and charity matched funding
• Technology Vouchers - save more and spread the cost of your technology purposes
• Count us in - pledge to reduce carbon emissions and help fight climate change
• Electric Vehicle Schemes - to help you transition to green/clean driving
• Cycle to Work scheme and public transport season ticket loans
• Options to purchase dental insurance, private medical insurance, health cash plan and annual health assessments
• Life Assurance (4x salary)
• Access to 'nudge' financial wellbeing support
• Plus shopping, leisure, restaurant and gym discounts, and unique employee deals on travel insurance and more

Why SP Energy Networks

SP Energy Networks is part of the Iberdrola Group, one of the world's largest integrated utility companies and a world leader in wind energy. We keep electricity flowing to homes and businesses through Central and Southern Scotland, North Wales and in the North West of England. We operate over 4000km of cables and lines that make-up the transmission network - connecting infrastructure like wind farms into the electricity system. It's a role that puts us right at the heart of Scotland's ambition to be Net Zero by 2044. And we're taking it very seriously.

With diverse opportunities across our businesses and a commitment to invest in our own internal talent, ScottishPower can offer people real career opportunities that meet personal and professional goals, in a global organisation.

Inclusion, diversity, and a social purpose are at the heart of everything we do. Together with our values, they bring us together into a stronger, more sustainable business with direct links to the communities we serve. It takes all kinds of people to build a large-scale business like ours, so whatever your background, you'll fit right in.

We are committed to providing reasonable support or adjustments in our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long term conditions, mental health conditions, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support. If you need support, please reach out to [email protected].

Mobility

Please note that any applicant who is not a citizen of the country of the vacancy will be subject to compliance with the applicable immigration requirements to legally work in that country. If/when required, the Company will support the employee with the necessary Immigration requirements.