Cost Manager - Data Centers

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Cost Manager (Data Center Construction)

Job Description

This role serves as a Data Center Cost Consultant, Quantity Surveyor, and Estimator supporting a large-scale data center construction program in the greater Chicago area. You will provide continuous cost and commercial management support throughout the full project lifecycle, partnering closely with clients, design teams, contractors, and key stakeholders. The position focuses on cost planning, benchmarking, estimate validation, CAPEX forecasting, design-stage cost management, and commercial oversight for mission-critical facilities. This is a salaried role that promotes work-life balance and offers a long-term opportunity to support multiple data center sites while ensuring financial objectives are achieved on complex capital projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop conceptual, feasibility, and order-of-magnitude cost estimates for large-scale data center and commercial construction projects.
• Prepare detailed project budgets, cost plans, and benchmarking analyses to support investment decisions and project approvals.
• Evaluate key cost drivers such as power capacity, redundancy requirements, cooling systems, and overall infrastructure scope.
• Support early-stage project planning by providing cost insights that inform design options and funding strategies.
• Establish and maintain project budgets, forecasts, and cost baselines across multiple phases of design and construction.
• Monitor cost performance throughout the project lifecycle and identify variances against budgets and forecasts.
• Review contractor pricing, bids, change orders, and payment applications to ensure accuracy, fairness, and compliance with contracts.
• Lead value engineering and cost optimization efforts to identify savings opportunities without compromising project quality or performance.
• Identify and assess cost risks, opportunities, and potential budget impacts, and communicate these clearly to stakeholders.
• Support procurement strategy by contributing to bid packages, evaluating bids, and assisting with contractor selection.
• Review subcontractor and vendor proposals to confirm scope coverage, pricing accuracy, and alignment with project requirements.
• Assist with contract administration and commercial negotiations, ensuring that commercial terms support project objectives.
• Prepare regular cost reports, financial forecasts, and executive-level updates that clearly summarize project financial status.
• Support funding approvals, cash flow forecasting, and contingency planning to maintain financial control throughout the project.
• Analyze project risks, escalation impacts, and budget variances, and recommend corrective actions where needed.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients and project stakeholders on all cost and commercial matters.
• Lead cost management activities across assigned projects, coordinating closely with project management and design teams.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with contractors, consultants, and project team members to support collaborative project delivery.
• Mentor and support junior cost managers, estimators, and quantity surveyors, sharing best practices and technical knowledge.
• Contribute to project management, bidding, construction management, and commercial construction activities as they relate to cost control and financial performance.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 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 processes.
• Experience supporting projects through multiple phases of design and construction, from early planning through delivery.
• Proven ability to evaluate change orders, contracts, and project financial impacts in a construction environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex cost data and provide clear recommendations.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present cost information and financial updates to clients and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining relationships with clients, contractors, and project teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Hands-on experience with project budgets, estimating, forecasting, and commercial management throughout the project lifecycle.
• Advanced skill level with Microsoft Excel for cost analysis, reporting, and financial modeling.
• Intermediate knowledge of Windows, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook.
• Experience as an estimator or cost consultant in construction, including involvement in bidding and commercial construction projects.
• Background in project management, construction management, and quantity surveying related to capital construction programs.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience supporting mission-critical or data center construction projects is preferred.
• Professional certifications such as MRICS, AssocRICS, CCP, CEP, CPE, or similar are highly regarded.
• Knowledge of construction contracts, procurement processes, and various project delivery methods.
• Experience with value engineering, lifecycle costing, and project cost modeling for complex facilities.
• Background in client-facing consulting or owners representative environments, acting as a trusted advisor.
• Knowledge of On Screen Takeoff or similar estimating software is a plus.
• Interest in ongoing professional development, including participation in structured review and feedback programs.
• Ability to leverage online learning platforms and continuing education resources to stay current with industry best practices.

Work Environment

You will work on site at the end clients data center locations in the greater Chicago area as part of an owners representative consulting environment. The position is a salaried role based on a standard 40-hour workweek and promotes a healthy work-life balance. You will operate within a professional project controls and construction consulting setting, collaborating closely with client teams, design professionals, and contractors. The role involves frequent use of Microsoft Excel, Windows-based applications, and other project control tools, with potential use of On Screen Takeoff for estimating. The opportunity is long term, with the potential to support multiple data center sites over time. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off (80 hours of PTO accrued) and 8 paid holidays during the contract duration, along with access to medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan, an ongoing education platform, a discount program, and a structured 360-degree review program. Dress expectations align with a professional consulting environment appropriate for on-site client work.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chicago, IL.

The pay range for this position is $48.07 - $86.54/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 20, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.