Cost Manager

Job Title: Cost Manager Job Description
The Cost Manager leads full-cycle cost management and estimating for large, complex construction projects, with a strong focus on hyperscale and colocation data centers. This role oversees project financials from concept through completion, including budget development, cost planning, financial reporting, and commercial support. The Cost Manager partners closely with project teams and stakeholders to ensure budgets align with scope, contracts, and schedule, while providing clear, data-driven insights that support strategic decision-making and long-term project success.
Responsibilities
- Lead the full-cycle cost management of complex construction projects from initial concept through project completion, ensuring robust cost controls are in place at every stage.
- Conduct scope definition workshops with stakeholders to develop accurate, comprehensive project budgets that reflect design intent and project requirements.
- Create, maintain, and update detailed cost plans and estimates aligned with each design phase, revising forecasts at key project milestones to reflect current information.
- Review design alternatives, emerging technologies, and construction means-and-methods to assess cost implications and ensure all estimates meet required accuracy standards.
- Develop and deliver lifecycle cost models and integrate benchmarking data to support informed, data-driven decision-making for project teams and stakeholders.
- Perform detailed evaluations of subcontractor change order requests to confirm alignment with contractual requirements and project scope, and recommend appropriate actions.
- Prepare and present monthly cost reports and risk assessments to senior internal and external stakeholders, clearly highlighting key variances, risks, and recommended mitigation strategies.
- Support monthly stakeholder meetings by providing clear financial content, data-driven insights, and expert commentary on project cost performance and trends.
- Produce and maintain detailed cash flow forecasts across the project lifecycle to support client financial planning and internal reporting requirements.
- Prepare comprehensive tender documentation for all trade packages, ensuring clarity, completeness, and alignment with project scope and commercial requirements.
- Manage the tender query process by responding to bidder questions, clarifying scope, and maintaining transparent communication throughout the procurement cycle.
- Perform detailed bid leveling and compliance reviews to compare proposals objectively and ensure all bids meet technical and commercial requirements.
- Produce formal Tender Recommendation Reports and lead trade package review meetings to support transparent, well-documented procurement decisions.
- Manage the monthly pencil requisition process, diligently review all variations, and support the project team in agreeing rolling and final accounts with subcontractors.
- Review and interpret contractual terms to recommend entitlements related to change orders, claims, and other commercial matters, protecting project and client interests.
- Coordinate directly with finance and accounting teams to ensure accurate financial reporting and full compliance with established financial controls and procedures.
- Analyze and report on local labor markets, union considerations, commodity price fluctuations, and tax impacts to inform project cost strategy and budget updates.
- Lead and mentor a team, providing direction and oversight to direct reports involved in cost management, financial tracking, and commercial administration.
- Take ownership of the financial and budgeting elements of the role, including projections, budget setup, pay applications, and milestone tracking, to ensure strong financial performance.
- Utilize project financial management tools and collaborative platforms to manage project financials, track changes, and maintain accurate, up-to-date cost information.
Essential Skills
- 710+ years of experience in complex project execution and financial oversight, preferably within large-scale construction projects.
- Proven experience in hyperscale or colocation data center construction, or similarly complex, large-scale projects.
- Demonstrated expertise in cost management, cost analysis, and cost estimating across all project phases.
- Strong financial reporting skills, including preparation of monthly cost reports, risk assessments, and cash flow forecasts.
- Experience with budget and contract alignment, ensuring project budgets accurately reflect contractual commitments and scope.
- Proficiency in managing change orders, including evaluation of subcontractor change requests and understanding of contractual entitlements.
- Solid background in construction project management and commercial support for trade procurement and subcontractor administration.
- Experience leading teams and overseeing direct reports, with the ability to provide guidance, coaching, and performance oversight.
- Genuine interest in and enjoyment of overseeing the financial aspects of projects, including projections, budgeting, and financial controls.
- Bachelors degree in Finance, Construction Management, or a related field.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret labor market conditions, union considerations, commodity trends, and tax impacts on project costs.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex financial information clearly to senior stakeholders.
- Proficiency with project financial management tools and spreadsheets, including experience with Procore and Smartsheet or similar platforms.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience working on multi-building, long-duration construction programs, such as large campuses or industrial facilities.
- Familiarity with lifecycle cost modeling and benchmarking to support strategic decision-making.
- Experience preparing comprehensive tender documentation and conducting detailed bid leveling and compliance reviews.
- Ability to develop and present formal Tender Recommendation Reports and lead trade package review meetings.
- Comfort working in dynamic environments with multiple concurrent projects and evolving pipelines of future builds.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in managing multiple budgets, forecasts, and cost reports simultaneously.
- Ability to build strong relationships with project teams, finance partners, and external stakeholders across multiple locations.
- Adaptability to support projects both onsite and virtually, depending on project needs and location.
Work Environment
This role supports large, complex data center construction projects across multiple locations, including sites in the Phoenix/Mesa, Atlanta, and Chicago/Indiana regions. For projects in the Phoenix/Mesa area, the Cost Manager typically works onsite in the local market. For projects in Atlanta and Chicago/Indiana, the role may be based onsite at the job site, at a nearby corporate office, or at another regional office while supporting the project virtually. On active job sites, there may be anywhere from 4 to 14 buildings under construction, and each building may require a dedicated cost management resource. Individual projects can range from approximately 18 months to several years in duration, with a strong pipeline of future builds providing continued opportunities for ongoing work. Onsite office space is provided in high-quality mobile office facilities designed as corporate offices on wheels, typically accommodating 30 to 100 office and corporate employees. Each person has their own workspace, with monitors, hardware, and the technology needed to perform their role. These facilities include restrooms and lunch provisions to support a comfortable workday. Typical working hours are approximately 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., reflecting the pace and schedule of major construction projects. The Cost Manager spends most of their time working within Procore as the primary project financial management tool, supplemented by limited use of Excel and more extensive use of Smartsheet, where many financial and project processes are established. The environment offers significant exposure to the rapidly growing data center sector, providing critical experience in a high-demand industry and strong opportunities for professional growth and long-term career development.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Atlanta, GA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $67.00 - $86.53/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)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Atlanta,GA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 20, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

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

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall 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 applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.