Senior Cost Manager

Job Title: CSA Estimator / Senior Cost Manager – Data Center Construction

Job Description

This role focuses on providing comprehensive cost management, estimating, and quantity surveying support for a large-scale data center construction program in the greater Chicago area. As a Senior Cost Manager, you oversee project budgets, develop accurate estimates and forecasts, and manage commercial aspects throughout the full project lifecycle. You play a key role in maintaining cost control, supporting clients through all phases of construction, and ensuring financial objectives are achieved on complex capital projects. This is a long-term, salaried opportunity with a strong emphasis on work-life balance and the chance to work across multiple data center sites.

Responsibilities

• Review project documents and develop accurate cost estimates for assigned scopes of work.
• Prepare conceptual estimates, project budgets, cost plans, and forecasting reports for data center and commercial construction projects.
• Analyze subcontractor and vendor pricing, prepare bid evaluations, and support bidding processes.
• Evaluate change orders and provide clear assessments of cost and financial impact.
• Manage project cost tracking, forecasting, and reporting processes throughout design and construction phases.
• Support contract administration and commercial management activities for assigned projects.
• Review contracts and participate in commercial negotiations to protect project financial objectives.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients, contractors, and key project stakeholders.
• Lead cost management efforts on assigned projects and client accounts, acting as a trusted cost consultant.
• Monitor project financial performance, identify potential risks or opportunities, and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Prepare project plans, detailed cost reports, and executive-level financial updates.
• Support business development activities and contribute to client growth initiatives within the data center program.
• Mentor junior cost management professionals and provide technical guidance in estimating, forecasting, and cost control.
• Apply construction management and project management principles to support overall project delivery.
• Contribute to value engineering and lifecycle costing discussions to optimize project value and long-term performance.

Essential Skills

• At least 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 practices.
• Experience supporting projects through multiple phases of design and construction.
• Proven ability to evaluate change orders, contracts, and project financial impacts.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills applied to complex capital projects.
• Clear and effective communication skills, both written and verbal, for client and stakeholder interactions.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining relationships with clients, contractors, and project teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced project environment.
• Hands-on experience with project budgets, bidding, and commercial construction management.
• Proficiency with Excel for cost modeling, reporting, and data analysis.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience supporting mission-critical or data center construction projects.
• Professional certifications such as MRICS, AssocRICS, CCP, CEP, CPE, or similar are highly valued.
• Knowledge of construction contracts, procurement processes, and project delivery methods.
• Experience with value engineering, lifecycle costing, and project cost modeling.
• Background in client-facing consulting or owner’s representative environments.
• Intermediate knowledge of Windows, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook.
• Advanced skill level with Excel for complex cost analysis and reporting.
• Familiarity with On Screen Takeoff or similar estimating software is a plus.
• Experience in project management, construction management, and commercial construction environments.
• Ability to operate effectively as a cost consultant within a project controls and construction consulting setting.

Work Environment

This is a salaried position based on a 40-hour work week with a strong focus on promoting work-life balance. You work on site at the end client’s facilities, supporting a long-term data center construction program with opportunities to contribute across multiple sites in the greater Chicago area. The role is within an owner’s representative consulting environment, where you collaborate closely with clients, contractors, and project teams in a professional setting. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package including paid time off (80 hours PTO accrued) and 8 paid holidays, 401(k), and medical, dental, and vision coverage.

Job Type & Location

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

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $48.07 - $72.11/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 Chicago,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 14, 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 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 actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com 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.