Cost Manager

Project: Battery Manufacturing Project

Role Type: Cost Management / Commercial Management (Owner-side or CM consultant)

Location: Lansing, MI (on-site)

Provide senior-level commercial and cost governance for a defense / controlled-access project in MI, ensuring robust cost control, contract compliance, change management discipline, and audit-ready records consistent with security and compliance requirements.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Cost Reporting

• Establish and maintain WBS-aligned cost management structure, cost plan, and reporting standards.
• Manage forecasts, commitments, contingency usage, and cash flow projections; provide variance analysis and forward risks.
• Issue monthly cost reports and executive dashboards, including narrative analysis for leadership decision-making.

Procurement & Commercial Support

• Support procurement strategy and commercial evaluations (bid leveling, scope alignment, inclusions/exclusions, allowances).
• Review commercial terms in trade/award documentation to ensure alignment with project risk posture and compliance obligations.

Pay Application / Progress Valuation

• Review contractor pay applications for accuracy and contract compliance, including:
  • labor hours and classifications (as applicable),
  • materials/equipment invoices and backup,
  • stored materials verification,
  • fee, general conditions, retainage, and agreed markups.
• Prepare reconciliation logs and clear written comments to support approvals and resolve disputes.

Change Management & Claims Avoidance

• Lead change control processes (trend log, PCO/CO management, pricing review, documentation standards).
• Validate entitlement support and ensure record completeness (correspondence, daily reports, RFIs/submittals, meeting minutes).
• Support negotiation posture and, if required, assist with dispute/claim quantum analysis and documentation packages.

Contract Compliance, Audit Readiness & Security-Driven Controls

• Ensure commercial records are complete, traceable, and audit-ready, consistent with controlled information handling.
• Coordinate with document control to ensure secure filing, version control, and restricted distribution requirements are followed.
• Support compliance-driven requirements (e.g., certified payroll / labor compliance if applicable to the contract).

Closeout Commercial Management

• Support final account settlement, reconciliation of allowances/contingency, final lien waivers, and final cost report.

• 8–12+ years of QS/cost management experience on large, complex construction programs.
• Strong capability in pay app review, change management, commercial reporting, and record defensibility.
• Advanced Excel skills; working familiarity with common project platforms (Procore/ACC/Aconex/SharePoint).
• Ability to operate effectively under security constraints and high-compliance project environments.