Director, Cost and Commercial Management - UK Project

JOB SUMMARY Generate initial project budget estimates for a wide range of developments, including new retail venues, restaurants, attractions, resort hotels, and entirely new theme parks. Develop and update cost estimates and cost plans as projects progress through design phases, enabling ongoing comparison to approved budgets. Oversee and coordinate the work of in-house estimating staff as well as contracted estimating firms, both U.S. and internationally based across multiple scopes of work. Supports commercial and procurement strategy, leading the evaluation of commercial proposals, negotiation support, and contract award recommendations to achieve best value and risk-balanced outcomes. Lead the vendor settlement process, ensuring fair and equitable value for Universal while fostering strong, collaborative partnerships with vendors. MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES (% of time) Provide strategic leadership and governance for project cost planning and estimating by reviewing and validating initial budget estimates for new projects, including estimates prepared by the in-house estimators and external estimating consultants, ensuring alignment with scope, market conditions, and business objectives. - 25% Oversee progressive estimating and cost control throughout the design lifecycle, reviewing continually evolving design documents and cost estimates at each stage of the design to ensure projects remain aligned with approved budgets. Collaborate with project teams located across multiple cities and international regions to proactively identify risks, variances, and mitigation strategies. - 15% Serve as lead estimator and commercial authority for large, complex scopes of work, directing and coordinating in-house and contracted estimating resources, as required by project scale and complexity. - 15% Support procurement and commercial strategy by collaborating with project teams on bid packaging, scope definition, contractor prequalification, evaluation of commercial proposals, negotiation strategy, and contract award recommendations to achieve best value outcomes. - 15% Lead and support contractor and vendor commercial negotiations, including change order review, validation, and settlement on large scopes of work, ensuring equitable outcomes that protect Universal’s financial interests while maintaining strong vendor relationships. - 15% Lead value management and value engineering initiatives, partnering with project teams to identify cost-saving opportunities, scope optimisation strategies, and alternative solutions that mitigate budget risk while preserving creative intent and operational quality. - 10% Develop and maintain market intelligence and cost data by researching market conditions, cost trends, escalation factors, and local means and methods. Analyse Universal Creative historical cost data, normalise it by year and location, and maintain a centralised cost database. Develop benchmarking and comparative analyses for attractions, hotels, retail, and non-attraction facilities. - 5% Understand and actively participate in Environmental, Health & Safety responsibilities by following established UDX policy, procedures, training and team member involvement activities. Perform other duties as assigned.