Head of Cost Management, Americas

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Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.

Position Overview:

The Managing Director of Cost Management is a senior enterprise leader accountable for the strategy, business growth, commercial success, and operational excellence of the cost management business unit. The Managing Director oversees large, complex teams, drives organizational performance, ensures exceptional client outcomes, and fosters a high-performance, inclusive culture. This executive is responsible for significant business development and revenue delivery while mentoring future leaders and representing the organization’s highest industry standards.

What This Job Involves:

• Set and execute strategic vision and business plans for the cost management unit — spanning sector-specific, geolocation, and sub-service strategies — ensuring alignment with company goals and market demands.

• Grow the team from its current base of approximately 100 professionals to 250+ over the next three years, and scale annual revenue from approximately $20M, targeting 20%+ year-over-year growth.

• Drive business development initiatives, pursue major opportunities, and ensure generation and delivery of a minimum of $5+ in annual revenue.
• Take a visible, hands-on leadership role in major pursuits, helping define win strategies and leading client engagement on large-scale projects.

• Serve as executive sponsor to key clients, building long-term strategic relationships and ensuring superior service delivery.

• Oversee commercial performance, resource strategy, and financial results across diverse projects and accounts.

• Guide strategic pursuits, pricing, and risk management for complex portfolios within the business unit.

• Foster and model JLL’s values, six Leadership Capabilities, and a culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

• Represent the cost management function both internally and externally through industry leadership, high-profile forums, and a visible presence in the market with clients, consultants, and contractors — including speaking engagements, industry roundtables, and published articles to reinforce the firm's thought leadership.

• Review team and project performance, address operational risks, and implement continuous improvement initiatives to maintain market leadership.

• Mentor, develop, and prepare future leaders to ensure a robust succession pipeline and organizational resilience.
• Champion enterprise-wide AI adoption within the cost management business, and provide input into the design and development of AI tools at a global level.
• Champion data health and data harvesting practices across the business to enable effective AI tool development and adoption.
• Contribute to the overall strategy and performance of the global cost management business and support colleagues across regions, operating as part of one global cost management leadership group alongside continued responsibility as Leader, Americas.
• Identify and pursue merger and acquisition targets, as well as other strategic partnership models, to accelerate growth of the cost management business.
• Contribute to global cost management marketing and brand awareness, ensuring market collateral reflects consistent global messaging while being adapted to local market needs and requirements, and represent both the JLL and Cost Management brands externally.
• Build strong, embedded relationships with Capital Markets, Leasing Advisory, and other neighboring service lines to drive integrated client solutions and cross-service line growth.

What Your Day-to-Day Will Look Like:

• Set clear performance targets for the cost management organization and monitor progress against all major business and financial goals.

• Actively engage in business development activities, including partnering with clients, presenting solutions, and winning new enterprise-level work.

• Oversee the strategic direction and execution of large-scale, high-value projects.

• Guide and support project teams in developing cost estimates, budgets, schedules, and comprehensive cost control processes.

• Interface with the executive and management committees, providing strategic input and reporting on business health and client satisfaction.

• Implement best practices across account delivery, business controls, talent management, and operational standards.

• Promote and lead change management, innovation, and transformation initiatives.
• Maintain a regular cadence of in-person visits across offices throughout the Americas, ensuring teams, internal business partners, and leadership have consistent opportunities to engage face-to-face.

• Maintain compliance with company policies, industry regulations, and best-in-class standards, ensuring all deliverables meet or exceed expectations.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or masters degree from an accredited institution.

• 14–16 years of progressive Quantity surveying, cost management, construction management, or related experience with increasing leadership responsibility.

• Minimum 2 years in a senior leadership role, overseeing large teams and significant business portfolios.

• Demonstrated ability to generate and deliver a minimum of $10M (M4) or $5M (P6) in annual revenue.

• Outstanding business development, client relationship management, and team leadership skills.

• Deep expertise in cost management methodologies, project controls, and financial performance strategies for multi-sector portfolios.

• Ready now for executive responsibility, with no more than one area of development noted.

• Professional certifications (e.g., AACE, RICS) strongly preferred.

• Experience leading major cost management portfolios in highly complex, multi-client, and multi-sector environments.

• Strong track record in talent development and the success of high-performing, diverse teams.

• Recognized industry leader, advisor, or contributor to thought leadership initiatives.

This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Expected compensation for this position:

250,000.00 – 300,000.00 USD per year

Final compensation packages are determined by various considerations including but not limited to candidate qualifications, location, market conditions, and internal considerations.

Location:

On-site –New York, NY

If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet all the requirements. We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!

Personalized benefits that support personal well-being and growth:

JLL recognizes the impact that the workplace can have on your wellness, so we offer a supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes mental, physical and emotional health. Some of these benefits include:

• 401(k) plan with matching company contributions
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Care
• Paid parental leave at 100% of salary
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay

At JLL, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you're pursuing.

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