Commercial & Cost Manager Urban Real Estate

Advert close date: 16th June 2026

Commercial & Cost Manager – Urban Real Estate (Capital Projects) role at The Crown Estate

About The Crown Estate

At The Crown Estate, we manage land and property on behalf of the nation, creating lasting value for communities, businesses and the environment. Our urban portfolio includes some of London’s most iconic destinations, and our Capital Projects team plays a vital role in delivering sustainable, high-quality developments and refurbishments across our estate.

The Role

We are seeking a Commercial & Cost Manager to support the delivery and performance of capital projects across our Urban Real Estate portfolio.

Working closely with the Senior Hard Services Director and wider Capital Projects team, you will play a key role in leading cost management, commercial strategy and financial performance across a diverse programme of projects, including refurbishments, engineering and public realm initiatives.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced commercial professional to take a portfolio-wide view of capital delivery within a high-profile, purpose-led organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the management and delivery of capital expenditure programmes, tracking cost, programme and commercial performance across multiple projects

• Lead the development and management of cost plans, budgets and forecasts, ensuring alignment with business plans and approvals

• Own and maintain the capital pipeline and master programme, benchmarking performance against historical data and market trends

• Provide commercial insight and challenge, ensuring risks are identified, quantified and appropriately incorporated into projections

• Lead cost reporting, including monthly reporting, dashboards and presentations to senior leadership and joint venture partners

• Support the development of the three-year business plan, working closely with Portfolio and Project Managers to define requirements and assumptions [Commercial...l Projects | Word]

• Manage cost control processes across the full project lifecycle, from planning and design through to construction and handover [Commercial...l Projects | Word]

• Track and report variances against business plans, identifying key drivers and recommending corrective actions

• Collaborate with finance, risk and delivery teams to ensure robust governance, controls and compliance with company policies [Commercial...l Projects | Word]

• Support the development and continuous improvement of project controls, reporting systems and commercial dashboards

• Build strong relationships with contractors, consultants and supply chain partners to ensure value delivery and performance

• Contribute to health & safety governance and participate in project control forums

About You

• Experience in a commercial, cost or programme management role within the construction or property sector

• Strong understanding of cost management, budgeting, forecasting and commercial risk

• Experience managing multiple projects or programmes simultaneously, with a portfolio-wide perspective

• Commercially astute with strong analytical and quantitative skills

• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and challenge effectively

• Confident communicator, with the ability to present complex information clearly to senior stakeholders

• Proactive, detail-oriented and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment

Qualifications (or working towards)

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Construction Cost Management or a related discipline

• Relevant professional experience within the construction or real estate industry

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills; experience with Power BI (desirable)

• Knowledge of construction contracts and procurement processes (preferred)

What We Offer

• The opportunity to work on prestigious, large-scale capital projects across a nationally significant estate

• A collaborative and forward-thinking environment focused on innovation and continuous improvement

• Competitive salary and benefits package

• A role where your work directly contributes to the long-term performance and sustainability of The Crown Estate’s portfolio

Our Offering / benefits:

As well as a competitive salary, pension and performance related bonus offering, we have a wealth of benefits available ranging from flexible working; market leading family policies and shopping discounts in the West End, to private healthcare; life and critical illness cover and 28 days holiday with the option to buy more. We value work life balance and your wellbeing highly, enabling you to be your best self to work.

Disability Disclaimer:

We are a proud disability confident employer and operate the offer of interview scheme Disability Confident employer scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

We are happy to offer alternative application methods or formats and can be flexible on our process to enable you to have the best opportunity.

Please note that if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close this advert early. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.