Assistant Cost Manager; Graduate

Overview

Department: Cost Management

Location: Reading

Description:

Title: Assistant Cost Manager (Graduate)

Discipline: Cost Management

Location: Reading (With Hybrid Working)

RLB is a great place to start your career in the built environment. We’re proud of how we guide, mentor and support people from the earliest stages of their careers, laying the foundations for their future success. Our Future Professionals programme is designed to cultivate the next generation of industry leaders. This two‑year development scheme provides structured training, hands‑on project experience, and mentorship from chartered professionals to help you build the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to progress in your career.

Participants receive mentoring and training focused on both soft and technical skills to achieve their career and chartership goals. We foster an inclusive culture with hybrid and flexible working arrangements and family‑friendly policies to support employee wellbeing. Join us and thrive personally as well as professionally.

Why RLB?

At RLB, we live by four simple ideas:
Truth, Trust, Together, Tomorrow. These values are at the heart of RLB and a place where People Make Progress.

Key Responsibilities

Role Overview

As a Graduate Cost Manager, you will join our structured Graduate Development Programme, designed to support your journey towards achieving chartership with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The programme combines hands‑on project experience, technical training, and mentorship from experienced professionals to help you build the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to progress in your career. You will gain exposure to all aspects of cost management within a consultancy environment, working across a variety of projects and sectors.

Role Responsibilities

• Preparing cost estimates, budgets, and cost plans.
• Assisting with feasibility studies and benchmarking.
• Supporting the preparation of tender and contract documents.
• Conducting cost analysis and value engineering exercises.
• Monitoring and reporting on project costs throughout the project lifecycle.
• Supporting the assessment and valuation of variations and change control.
• Assisting with the preparation of final accounts.
• Engaging with clients, contractors, and design teams under the guidance of senior colleagues.
• Maintaining accurate project records and data.
• Participating in internal and external project meetings.
• Supporting the team with research, reporting, and best practice development.

Qualifications

• A RICS-accredited degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or a related discipline (essential).

Behaviours

• Strong numerical and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage workload, priorities, and deadlines effectively.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Eagerness to learn and develop within a consultancy environment.
• Proactive approach to problem‑solving.
• Team player with the confidence to contribute ideas.
• No prior technical experience required – full training and support provided.

RLB Employee Benefits

Our culture is built around enabling you to fulfil your potential, with benefits that include:

• Hybrid Working with patterns to support work‑life balance, plus competitive maternity and paternity packages.
• A competitive salary and generous holiday entitlement, with the option to purchase up to five extra days.
• Focus on wellbeing with health and wellness options, including gym membership and cycle to work schemes.
• Private healthcare insurance and medical support, including dental insurance and eye care vouchers.
• Continuous learning and development programmes, including APC and in‑house mentoring schemes.
• A wide range of benefits including a season ticket loan and professional membership subscriptions.
• Diverse project exposure across sectors and regions.
• Social responsibility through team events, charity fundraising and volunteering activities.

Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commitment

We believe in building a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can be themselves, feel valued, and be supported to reach their full potential. Our talent strategy aims to overcome bias in the construction industry by recruiting, retaining, developing and promoting a diverse workforce. For reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application or interview process, please contact our recruitment team at: