Cost Manager | Owners Rep

Cost Manager – Data Center Construction Consultancy

📍 South Bend, Indiana (onsite)

💰 Salary: DOE Bonus Comprehensive Benefits

**Relocation eligible for the right candidate**

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Cost Manager to join our growing Project & Cost Management team, supporting the delivery of a large-scale hyperscale data center campus in South Bend, Indiana.

This is an exciting opportunity to work on one of the region's most significant mission-critical developments, partnering with leading developers, contractors, and engineering teams throughout the full project lifecycle—from preconstruction and procurement through construction, commissioning, and closeout.

The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring cost certainty, financial transparency, and commercial success across a complex, fast-paced data center program.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all project cost management activities throughout the design and construction lifecycle.
• Prepare, review, and manage project budgets, cost plans, and financial forecasts.
• Develop detailed estimates throughout design development and construction.
• Review contractor bids, evaluate value engineering opportunities, and provide commercial recommendations.
• Manage change orders, variations, contingency budgets, and cost reporting.
• Monitor project expenditures and forecast final project costs.
• Review contractor applications for payment and validate completed work.
• Produce monthly cost reports, cash flow forecasts, earned value analysis, and executive-level financial summaries.
• Support procurement activities, contract administration, and commercial negotiations.
• Track project risks and identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and project management teams.
• Support commissioning and project closeout activities from a commercial perspective.
• Ensure all commercial documentation is maintained accurately throughout the project lifecycle.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Architecture, or a related discipline.
• 3 years of experience in construction cost management, quantity surveying, or estimating within a consultancy, owner's representative, or general contractor environment.
• Previous experience delivering mission-critical, data center, industrial, advanced manufacturing, semiconductor, life sciences, or large commercial construction projects is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of construction contracts, procurement strategies, change management, and commercial reporting.
• Experience preparing detailed cost plans, estimates, and financial forecasts.
• Knowledge of CSI divisions, elemental estimating, and industry cost benchmarking.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and construction cost management software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience on hyperscale or colocation data center projects.
• Professional certifications such as CCP, CPE, PQS, MRICS, or AACE are advantageous.
• Familiarity with BIM-based estimating and digital cost management platforms.

Why Join Us

• Be part of a landmark hyperscale data center development in the Midwest.
• Work with an industry-leading construction consultancy on complex, high-value mission-critical projects.
• Collaborate with world-class developers, contractors, and engineering teams.
• Clear career progression into Senior Cost Manager, Commercial Manager, or Project Controls leadership roles.
• Competitive salary, bonus, comprehensive benefits, and long-term project pipeline.
• Opportunity to help shape one of the fastest-growing sectors in the construction industry.