Senior Cost Manager - Facility Management

MalaceHR is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager to provide construction estimating, cost management, and project controls support across a diverse portfolio of projects. This position will support projects within industries including corporate office, cultural, hospitality, healthcare, life sciences, education, and mixed-use environments, with work ranging from renovations to new construction.

This role requires more than traditional cost tracking or budget management. The Senior Cost Manager will be directly responsible for developing detailed project estimates and quantity takeoffs , reviewing construction documents, evaluating project costs, and presenting findings and recommendations to clients and project stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in construction estimating, architecture, civil engineering, construction management, or quantity surveying, along with excellent communication and client-facing skills.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed construction cost estimates from early conceptual design through final construction documents.
• Perform quantity takeoffs and cost quantification based on architectural, civil, structural, and building system drawings.
• Develop conceptual estimates, detailed milestone estimates, feasibility studies, and project budget evaluations.
• Establish and maintain project budgets in collaboration with clients and project stakeholders.
• Track actual and forecasted project costs against established budgets.
• Prepare and maintain project cost control reports, forecasts, and financial tracking documentation.
• Review scopes of work to ensure appropriate detail, identify gaps, and confirm all anticipated project costs are accounted for.
• Research and evaluate local market pricing for labor, materials, equipment, and subcontractor services.
• Utilize historical project data, published cost information, benchmarking, and market studies to develop accurate estimates.
• Perform value engineering evaluations and provide cost analysis for design alternatives.
• Review contractor and subcontractor bids and participate in bid leveling and reconciliation activities.
• Review and evaluate change orders to determine cost reasonableness and alignment with the original project scope.
• Support overall project change management and maintain accurate documentation of cost impacts.
• Identify potential project risks that could affect cost, schedule, or project delivery.
• Develop cost-related risk mitigation strategies and monitor their implementation.
• Review architectural drawings, specifications, and other project documentation to identify cost implications and potential issues.
• Communicate estimate assumptions, exclusions, risks, and findings clearly to clients and project teams.
• Prepare and present cost information to project leadership and client stakeholders.
• Lead assigned projects and provide guidance to other cost management team members.
• Support the development and implementation of cost management best practices and lessons learned.
• Maintain current knowledge of construction techniques, market conditions, materials, labor trends, and industry best practices.

Required Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience as a Construction Estimator, Cost Manager, Quantity Surveyor, or similar construction cost management professional.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, preferably in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field .
• Demonstrated experience creating construction estimates and performing quantity takeoffs , rather than solely managing existing project budgets.
• Strong working knowledge of architectural drawings, construction documents, specifications, and planning concepts.
• Experience developing estimates from conceptual design through final construction documentation.
• Ability to generate AACE Level 1–5 cost estimates and develop estimates when project information is incomplete or conceptual.
• Strong knowledge of construction methods, materials, sequencing, and associated costs.
• Experience researching and applying local market pricing for labor, materials, and equipment.
• Experience with construction estimating software and benchmarking tools.
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex cost information to clients and project stakeholders.
• Strong client-facing and presentation skills.
• Ability to interact effectively with architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, client representatives, and executive-level stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with evolving project information and priorities.
• Ability to lead projects and provide direction to project team members.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using CostX, On-Screen Takeoff, or comparable construction estimating software .
• Professional certification such as AACE, RICS, or another relevant cost/project management credential .
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and experience with Microsoft Project, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Smartsheet.
• Strong understanding of architectural and building systems, including MEPFS systems .
• Experience with procurement, bid solicitation, tendering, and contractor selection processes.
• Experience performing value engineering and design option cost studies.
• Strong knowledge of the New York City construction market and regional labor and material costs.
• Architectural, civil engineering, or construction management background.