Senior Cost Manager

Senior Cost Manager – Data Center Construction

This role focuses on providing comprehensive cost management, estimating, and quantity surveying support for a large-scale data center construction program in the greater Chicago area. As a Senior Cost Manager, you oversee project budgets, develop accurate estimates and forecasts, and manage commercial aspects throughout the full project lifecycle. You play a key role in maintaining cost control, supporting clients through all phases of construction, and ensuring financial objectives are achieved on complex capital projects.

This is a long-term, salaried opportunity with a strong emphasis on work-life balance and the chance to work across multiple data center sites.

Responsibilities

• Review project documents and develop accurate cost estimates for assigned scopes of work.
• Prepare conceptual estimates, project budgets, cost plans, and forecasting reports for data center and commercial construction projects.
• Analyze subcontractor and vendor pricing, prepare bid evaluations, and support bidding processes.
• Evaluate change orders and provide clear assessments of cost and financial impact.
• Manage project cost tracking, forecasting, and reporting processes throughout design and construction phases.
• Support contract administration and commercial management activities for assigned projects.
• Review contracts and participate in commercial negotiations to protect project financial objectives.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients, contractors, and key project stakeholders.
• Lead cost management efforts on assigned projects and client accounts, acting as a trusted cost consultant.
• Monitor project financial performance, identify potential risks or opportunities, and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Prepare project plans, detailed cost reports, and executive-level financial updates.
• Support business development activities and contribute to client growth initiatives within the data center program.
• Mentor junior cost management professionals and provide technical guidance in estimating, forecasting, and cost control.
• Apply construction management and project management principles to support overall project delivery.
• Contribute to value engineering and lifecycle costing discussions to optimize project value and long-term performance.

Essential Skills

• At least 5 years of experience in cost management, estimating, quantity surveying, or construction commercial management.
• Strong understanding of construction estimating methodologies, budgeting, forecasting, and cost control practices.
• Experience supporting projects through multiple phases of design and construction.
• Proven ability to evaluate change orders, contracts, and project financial impacts.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills applied to complex capital projects.
• Clear and effective communication skills, both written and verbal, for client and stakeholder interactions.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining relationships with clients, contractors, and project teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced project environment.
• Hands-on experience with project budgets, bidding, and commercial construction management.
• Proficiency with Excel for cost modeling, reporting, and data analysis.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience supporting mission-critical or data center construction projects.
• Professional certifications such as MRICS, AssocRICS, CCP, CEP, CPE, or similar are highly valued.
• Knowledge of construction contracts, procurement processes, and project delivery methods.
• Experience with value engineering, lifecycle costing, and project cost modeling.
• Background in client-facing consulting or owner's representative environments.
• Intermediate knowledge of Windows, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook.
• Advanced skill level with Excel for complex cost analysis and reporting.
• Familiarity with On Screen Takeoff or similar estimating software is a plus.
• Experience in project management, construction management, and commercial construction environments.
• Ability to operate effectively as a cost consultant within a project controls and construction consulting setting.

Work Environment

This is a…