Senior Associate, Cost Management, Global

Job Summary

The Senior Associate, Cost Management (Global) will own the cost dimension of project controls for North America projects and provide global coordination. The role includes business case inputs, underwriting model CAPEX updates, estimating, budgeting, forecasting, contingency management, and cost‑focused change governance. Day‑to‑day responsibility for cost management execution in North America and partnership with regional development and delivery teams to align projects with budget, underwriting and cost standards.

• Support development, publication, and maintenance of top‑down cost targets and benchmarking assumptions by market and archetype.
• Provide estimating support to optimize global design standards and kit of parts; challenge assumptions and quantify variance drivers.
• Drive consistent cost management practices across assigned projects: estimating, budgeting, forecasting, contingency tracking, and cost reporting.
• Maintain discipline around cost evolution from underwriting through delivery; produce clear budget bridges and variance narratives.
• Partner with Business Intelligence to ensure definition, data quality expectations, and reporting cadence are met.
• Develop cost‑focused KPI views and executive‑ready summaries that surface early warning signals and recommended actions.
• Support North America Delivery and Development teams with project‑level budget governance including commitments, actuals, forecasts, and cash flow inputs across all WBS items.
• Validate escalation/inflation and regional market assumptions impacting CAPEX; document impacts and communicate to stakeholders.
• Support Investment, PMG, and Delivery teams with underwriting cost inputs, sensitivities, and updates through development phases.
• Help review and validate scope change costs, track contingency drawdown, and ensure auditability.
• Collaborate with regional teams to visualize variance analysis and budget bridge data presentations.
• Oversee day‑to‑day outputs from third‑party cost consultants in North America; ensure deliverables meet internal and external reporting standards.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and developing standard templates, playbooks, and training materials for cost management.

• 7–10+ years of progressive experience in cost management, quantity surveying, or commercial management (mission‑critical or complex infrastructure preferred).
• Proven experience executing estimating, budgeting, forecasting and cost controls across multiple concurrent projects.
• Strong understanding of CAPEX cost planning, contingency management, and cost‑focused change control.
• Expert‑level proficiency in Procore cost modules and exposure to ERP systems such as Yardi and Yardi Construction Manager.
• Experience partnering with investment/underwriting teams and maintaining cost inputs, assumptions, and sensitivities in business‑case models.
• Advanced financial and cost modelling capability (Excel‑based models; comfort with CAPEX, cash flow and return sensitivities).
• Strong communication skills; ability to translate cost data into clear executive‑ready insights and actionable recommendations.

Base salary range: $ – $. Total compensation may include a discretionary performance‑based bonus.

Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match;
Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA);
Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution;
Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance;
Long‑Term Disability (LTD) and Short‑Term Disability (STD) insurance;
Employee Assistance Program (EAP); and Commuter Benefits. Additional benefits: mental health app, mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and more.

Ares Management is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, creed, sex, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity and expression, transgender status, genetic information, status as unemployed, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Ares Management will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.