Senior Cost Manager

MalaceHR is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager to support construction estimating, project controls, and cost management activities across a diverse portfolio of projects. Projects may include office, cultural, hospitality, healthcare, life sciences, education, mixed-use, renovation, and new construction environments.

This position requires a professional with strong hands-on estimating and quantity takeoff experience. The Senior Cost Manager will be responsible for developing construction estimates, evaluating project costs, reviewing design documents, performing cost reconciliations, and communicating findings directly with clients and project stakeholders.

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

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed construction cost estimates from conceptual design through final construction documents.
• Perform quantity takeoffs and project cost quantification based on architectural, civil, structural, and building system drawings.
• Develop conceptual estimates, milestone estimates, feasibility studies, and project budget evaluations.
• Collaborate with clients and project stakeholders to establish, manage, and track project budgets.
• Maintain project cost control reports and track actual and forecasted costs against established budgets.
• Review scopes of work to ensure all project requirements are clearly defined and appropriately accounted for.
• Identify scope gaps, potential cost exposures, and areas requiring additional clarification.
• Research local market pricing for materials, labor, equipment, and subcontractor services.
• Utilize published cost information, historical project data, benchmarking tools, and market research to develop accurate estimates.
• Perform value engineering studies and cost evaluations for design alternatives.
• Provide bid analysis and participate in reconciliations with contractors and subcontractors.
• Review contractor proposals and change orders for accuracy, scope alignment, and cost reasonableness.
• Support project change management and evaluate whether proposed changes fall within the original project scope.
• Identify potential risks that could impact project costs, schedules, or overall project delivery.
• Develop and support implementation of appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
• Review architectural drawings, specifications, construction documents, and project documentation for cost and scope implications.
• Provide accurate and timely project status and cost updates to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Communicate estimate assumptions, exclusions, risks, and recommendations clearly to project teams and clients.
• Lead assigned projects and provide guidance to team members throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support implementation of lessons learned, estimating standards, and cost management best practices.
• Stay current on construction pricing, market trends, building technologies, and project controls practices.

Required Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience as a Construction Estimator, Cost Manager, Quantity Surveyor, or similar construction cost professional.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, preferably in Quantity Surveying, Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field .
• Demonstrated experience creating original construction estimates and performing quantity takeoffs .
• Ability to develop construction estimates from early conceptual design through final construction documents.
• Strong working knowledge of architectural drawings, construction documents, specifications, and planning concepts.
• Ability to generate AACE Level 1–5 cost estimates .
• Ability to develop estimates when project information is conceptual, incomplete, or evolving.
• Experience using construction estimating software and benchmarking tools.
• Strong understanding of construction methods, materials, labor requirements, sequencing, and associated costs.
• Experience researching and applying local market pricing for labor, materials, and equipment.
• Strong analytical, mathematical, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational ability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong client-facing skills with the ability to explain complex cost information clearly and professionally.
• Ability to interact effectively with executive-level clients, architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, and client representatives.
• Ability to lead project teams and coordinate effectively with multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in situations where project information may be incomplete or ambiguous.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with CostX, On-Screen Takeoff, or comparable estimating software .
• Professional certification such as AACE, RICS, or another relevant cost/project management credential .
• Intermediate to expert proficiency with Microsoft Excel, 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 understanding of the Chicago construction market and regional labor and material pricing.
• Architectural, civil engineering, quantity surveying, or construction management background.