Assistant Target Cost Engineer

Circa £35k, salary depending on skills and experience

Full time, with the flexibility for part-time

Permanent

Hybrid working: Peterborough with the expectation of 3 days in the office

Are you looking to build a career at the heart of major infrastructure investment and commercial excellence?

As an Assistant Target Cost Engineer, you'll play a key role within our Commercial Services & Assurance team, helping to ensure Anglian Water delivers maximum value from its investment programmes while operating within our commercial and contractual frameworks.

Working alongside experienced commercial professionals and delivery partners, you'll support the development, review and assurance of target costs across a diverse portfolio of regulated projects. You'll gain exposure to a variety of delivery models, including alliance contracts, design and build arrangements, and NEC-based frameworks, developing a strong understanding of commercial principles, investment decision-making and target costing methodologies.

This is an excellent opportunity for an analytical and commercially minded individual who enjoys building relationships, challenging assumptions and working collaboratively to drive the best outcomes. You'll work closely with internal teams and external partners, developing the skills and experience needed to influence commercial performance across the business.

With structured development and hands-on experience, this role offers a clear pathway to progress into a Target Cost Engineer position as your knowledge and expertise grow.

What you’ll be doing

• Supporting the calculation and assurance of target costs across a diverse portfolio of regulated projects, ensuring costs align with approved investment decisions and commercial frameworks.

• Working with internal teams, alliance partners and contractors to ensure commercial principles are understood, applied consistently and accurately reflected in project targets.

• Reviewing and validating commercial and contractual data, helping to maintain accurate governance records and reporting across the business.

• Acting as a key link between planning and delivery teams, providing commercial insight and helping stakeholders make informed decisions.

• Supporting target cost reviews and assurance activities, helping to identify risks, opportunities and areas for improvement.

• Contributing to the development of commercial policies, principles and processes that support successful delivery across Anglian Water's investment programmes.

• Identifying opportunities to improve ways of working, including supporting process automation and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Helping to create and maintain guidance documents, training materials and business processes that enable consistent application of commercial practices.

• Supporting the delivery of awareness and training sessions to colleagues and partners across the business.

• Assisting with assurance audits, benchmarking exercises and performance reviews to help drive efficiencies and share best practice.

• Promoting a culture of good governance and commercial awareness, helping teams make the right decisions while delivering value for customers and the business.

We're looking for someone who can combine strategic thinking with exceptional communication skills, bringing together complex information to support major investment decisions.

Skills & Experience we’re looking for:

• Degree qualified (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.

• Strong analytical skills with excellent attention to detail and the ability to interpret and validate complex information.

• A proactive, resilient and forward-thinking approach, with the confidence to challenge constructively and drive continuous improvement.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and build effective working relationships across a range of stakeholders.

• Comfortable working independently while also collaborating as part of a wider team.

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and make informed decisions.

• Good IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

• An interest in commercial management, target costing, estimating or cost assurance within an engineering, utilities or construction environment.

Desirable

• Knowledge of target costing, estimating or commercial performance management.

• Experience within a construction, infrastructure or utilities environment, ideally within the water sector.

• Familiarity with Anglian Water cost models, Copperleaf, or similar investment and cost management systems.

• Professional qualification or membership of a relevant professional body.

• Experience assessing risks and making decisions in dynamic or uncertain situations.

We invest in our people - as a valued employee, you’ll be entitled to:

• Personal private health care

• Generous double match pension – contribute 7% and Anglian Water will contribute 14%, giving a total contribution of 21%

• 24-hour Virtual GP service for you and your household

• 25 days annual leave – rising with length of service and the ability to buy more

• Life assurance (up to 8 x salary)

• Personal accident cover (up to 5 x salary)

• Excellent family friendly policies, such as 26 weeks full pay for maternity / adoption leave, as well as 4 weeks paid paternity / partner leave. Opportunity for shared parental pay

• Bonus scheme

• Flexible benefits and working culture to support your wellbeing and lifestyle.

Why apply
This is a fantastic opportunity to build a career in commercial assurance and target costing within one of the UK's largest infrastructure and environmental programmes. You'll gain exposure to a wide range of delivery models, work alongside industry experts and play a key role in helping Anglian Water deliver value for customers and the environment.

As an Assistant Target Cost Engineer, you'll develop specialist skills in commercial management, cost assurance and investment governance, while working on projects that make a real difference to the region's water and wastewater services. You'll also benefit from structured development, hands-on experience and a clear pathway to progress into a Target Cost Engineer role.

Closing date: 21st July 2026

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