Cost Reduction & Cost Control Manager

Are you interested in working with a leading education technology player, the global leader in the assessment and certification of professional skills industry with presence in more than 200 countries worldwide? If so, this is the chance to apply now! 📥

Peoplecert is looking for a Cost Reduction & Cost Control Manager to lead a company-wide cost reduction initiative and strengthen cost discipline across the organization. This is a high-impact, cross-functional role focused on identifying inefficiencies, challenging spend, and delivering measurable and sustainable cost improvements. The role requires a hands-on, execution-driven professional with the ability to understand how the business operates end-to-end and translate insights into concrete cost actions.

As a Cost Reduction & Cost Control Manager, your tasks will include the following:  

• Own the day-to-day cost control cycle, focusing on material spend, contract renewals, price increases, utilisation, volumes and cost deviations.
• Maintain a forward-looking cost and renewal pipeline so significant costs are challenged before commitments are made.
• Lead deep-dive analysis of contracts, suppliers, licences, services and operational spend to identify waste, duplication, under-utilisation and structural inefficiencies.
• Work directly with internal stakeholders, together with Procurement where appropriate, to validate requirements and challenge scope, volumes and specifications.
• Define cost-reduction opportunities and targets: stop, reduce, consolidate, redesign, renegotiate or source alternatives.
• Own the cost-reduction pipeline from opportunity identification through implementation and realised savings.
• Partner with Procurement on sourcing and negotiations while retaining clear ownership of the cost challenge and optimisation recommendations.
• Work with Finance to establish baselines and validate realised savings; provide concise reporting to the SVP Procurement & Facilities.
• Lead and develop the Cost Reduction Analyst and ensure sufficient capacity is protected for proactive analysis.
• Use data, technology, automation and AI tools to improve cost visibility and identify opportunities.

What we look for:  

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Supply Chain Management, or a related field preferred.

• 5–8 years in cost optimisation, cost control, commercial finance, procurement transformation, performance improvement or consulting.
• Proven delivery of measurable, realised savings in a complex organisation.
• Strong experience with spend, contract, pricing, utilisation and cost-driver analysis.
• Deep understanding of both business operations and the technical cost drivers that support them.
• Excellent knowledge of English (C2 level certification desired, LanguageCert C2 LTE or C2 IESOL certificate would be a plus) Extra languages desired.
• Advanced computer literacy is required. ECDL Advance level certification is desirable.
• Hands-on experience or familiarity with data analysis, Power BI, automation and AI will be considered an asset.
• Strong analytical thinking with commercial and operational judgment.
• Execution-driven mindset with a focus on outcomes over theory.
• Experience working across multiple functions in a cross-functional environment.
• Confident stakeholder management and ability to challenge requirements and influence decisions.

What we offer:

• Competitive remuneration package 💲
• Work in an international, dynamic and fun atmosphere among young and smart people 💯
• Two free vouchers for all certifications from PeopleCert's Portfolio per year for all employees 🎓
• Huge learning experience in using best practices and global environment 📈
• Constant personal and professional development 🥇

If you want to become a member of our international, dynamic and agile team that creates world leading software products, then we should certainly like to hear from you!

About PeopleCert

PeopleCert is a global leader in assessment and certification of professional skills, partnering with multi-national organizations and government bodies for the development & delivery of standardized exams. Delivering exams across 200 countries and in 25 languages over its state-of-the-art assessment technology, PeopleCert enables professionals to boost their careers and realize their life ambitions.

Quality, Innovation, Passion, Integrity, Clarity, Velocity are the core values which guide everything we do.

Our offices in UK, Greece, Cyprus and India boast a culture of diversity, where everyone is different, yet everyone fits in. All of us at PeopleCert are committed to the reflection of the diversity and inclusion of our customers and the communities in which we do business.

Working on Home Office (HO) Secure English Language Tests (SELTs)

Any person who is engaged by PeopleCert to work on the SELT service must undergo a Background Check (the results of which must be acceptable to PeopleCert and the HO) prior to commencing their SELT duties. All SELT personnel will be required to complete a declaration (provided by PeopleCert) where the existence of any criminal record and/or bankruptcy must be declared.

If working on the SELT service in the UK, background checks will include:

• A basic or enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check

• Right to Work in the UK check (including nationality, identity and place of residence)

• HO security check (Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) or Counter Terrorist Check (CTC)

• Financial background check

• Employment reference check.

• If working on the SELT service anywhere in the world (outside of the UK) personnel will undergo background checks that are equivalent to those stated for the UK.

In addition, if personnel are required to speak to SELT candidates they must be appropriately skilled in English language and, where SELT services are provided anywhere in the world (outside of the UK), the official language of the relevant country.

All applications will be treated with strict confidentiality.