Cost Manager

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 deliver high-quality cost management services across building and infrastructure projects, combining technical expertise, commercial awareness, and client-facing responsibility to keep projects within budget while maximizing value.

The role covers cost planning, budgeting, procurement support, financial reporting, benchmarking, value engineering, and cost control across the project lifecycle — working closely with Project Managers, Design Teams, Contractors, and Clients to support informed decision-making.

A strong understanding of construction methodologies, project planning, and real estate development processes is essential.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Management & Delivery

• Prepare and manage cost plans, budgets, estimates, and forecasts from concept through detailed design.
• Monitor and track project costs, providing regular financial reporting to clients and project teams.
• Identify cost risks and opportunities, recommending mitigation strategies.
• Support procurement: tender preparation, bid analysis, negotiation, and contractor selection.
• Review contractor valuations, change orders, variations, and final accounts, maintaining accurate cost records.

Cost Planning & Advisory

• Conduct benchmarking and market analysis to inform investment decisions and provide strategic cost advice.
• Apply value engineering and Target Value Design to optimize costs without compromising quality.
• Develop lifecycle cost assessments and contribute to feasibility studies and business cases.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as a trusted advisor, building strong client relationships through meetings, workshops, and project reviews.
• Collaborate with Project Managers, Design Teams, Contractors, and consultants.
• Present cost reports and analyses, identifying opportunities for additional services.

Technical Excellence

• Ensure deliverables meet JLL quality standards and industry best practices.
• Stay current on market trends and procurement strategies; support knowledge sharing and mentor junior cost managers as needed.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong grounding in cost management, construction, and real estate principles.
• Excellent analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in benchmarking, value engineering, and cost optimization.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in multidisciplinary teams.

Required Experience

• Background in Cost Management, Project Management, Building Consultancy, or similar.
• Proven experience preparing cost estimates, budgets, and reports for construction/real estate projects.
• Experience in procurement support, tender evaluation, and contract administration across the full project lifecycle.
• Exposure to value engineering, benchmarking, and financial analysis.
• Experience with large-scale commercial, hospitality, residential, office, or mixed-use developments is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Civil/Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in Cost Management.
• Strong Excel and cost estimation software skills; project planning/reporting tools a plus.
• Fluent in Portuguese and English.

Preferred Experience

Experience with hospitality, residential/mixed-use, urban regeneration, office fit-out, or large-scale infrastructure projects — covering cost planning, estimating, procurement, value engineering, and cost control, delivered on time, on budget, and to quality standards.

Location:

On-site –Lisbon, PRT

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.

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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 [email protected]. 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.