Senior Cost Manager

Title:Senior Cost Manager

Reporting to:Office Director

Salary Range: $105,500 - $140,500

Overview of Role

The Senior Cost Manager is responsible for managing project costs across all stages of construction, ensuring effective cost control, accurate reporting, and strong client collaboration. The successful candidate will bring solid experience in construction cost management and the ability to lead cost planning and commercial activities on a range of project types. The Senior Cost Manager should be able to identify opportunities to add value and help achieve the client’s desired project outcomes.

Truth. Trust. Together. Tomorrow.

At RLB, we speak the truth, build for the long term, look out for each other, and work to do good. We are driven by outcomes, creating tailored solutions that deliver successful projects. We believe that bringing together the right people and doing things the right way helps us make progress for our clients and our communities.

RLB is an award-winning international firm known for providing property and construction consultancy advice at all stages of the construction cycle. With many years of experience and professionally trained employees, RLB continues to establish itself as a major player in the construction industry across the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania. Our employees work on a variety of projects across sectors ranging from sports arenas and healthcare to higher education and convention centers.

As a privately held company, we hire the best people, provide exceptional training, and offer extensive opportunities for professional growth. Our employees work on exciting projects and receive an excellent compensation and benefits package.

Essential Functions

• Prepare and manage detailed quantity take-offs and cost estimates based on drawings and specifications.
• Review construction plans and specifications during preconstruction; complete quantity take-offs and prepare estimates for architectural, structural, and civil scopes, from schematic through final design, for new construction and renovation projects.
• Prepare value engineering, cost option, and cost strategy estimates.
• Prepare independent post-contract estimates, including reports on differences in scope, quantities, and pricing from the contractor’s estimate.
• Work as an integral part of the Estimating Team to analyze plans and specifications, perform take-offs, and price various types of construction projects.
• Act as the lead individual for specific projects.
• Review estimates prepared by the Estimating Team before supervisor final review.
• Compile and analyze data on factors that influence costs, including materials, labor, equipment, and profit margins.
• Evaluate cost estimating deliverables prepared by architects and engineers for cost containment.
• Acquire and evaluate historical and vendor cost data to develop cost estimates and price recommendations.
• Accurately forecast costs for future projects and changes to existing projects.
• Prepare technical evaluations, draft cost estimating reports, memos, and letters; present recommendations to management and clients.
• Attend client meetings.
• Participate in design charrettes and workshops, including presenting estimates to the client and architect-engineer (AE) team.
• Participate in value engineering studies, reconciliations, and negotiations with contractors.
• Prepare valuations of work-in-progress based on contractor draw requests.
• Undertake other cost-related tasks as directed by a supervisor, including reviewing estimates prepared by others.
• Assist with training and mentoring others.
• Contribute to team performance through collaboration and effective communication.
• Understand client project outcomes and identify opportunities to add value and help achieve those outcomes.
• Contribute to the team by completing other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a positive, proactive approach to the role and a commitment to delivering excellent customer service.

Minimum Education

• A four-year college degree in Construction Management, Structural Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Cost Estimating, or an equivalent recognized technical qualification—or equivalent experience.

Minimum Experience

• Five to 10+ years of relevant experience in construction cost estimating for a variety of building types.
• Experience estimating at program, conceptual, schematic, design development, and construction document stages.
• Experience preparing estimates in elemental and CSI formats for all architectural, structural, and civil components of new construction and renovation projects.
• Some MEP estimating experience is preferred.
• AACE International certification and/or Certified Cost Professional designation is preferred.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge and understanding of cost management services.
• Strong planning, organization, and communication skills.
• Understanding of technical and non-technical documents related to cost management services.
• Knowledge of and experience using industry estimating software and Microsoft Office programs.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Indoor office environment; may require work at a project site when necessary.
• Equipment used includes computers and standard office machines.
• Essential physical tasks include working on a computer and answering and speaking on the telephone.

RLB is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company does not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices based on race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Hiring, transferring and promotion practices are performed without regard to the above listed items.

NOTICE TO EXTERNAL RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

RLB North America’s Talent Acquisition Team exclusively manages all external agency engagements. Candidate submissions will only be accepted from agencies with a current, fully executed fee agreement. Submissions without an active agreement will be considered unsolicited. RLB North America assumes no obligation to pay fees and reserves the right to contact, interview, or hire candidates without obligation to the submitting agency. All unsolicited resumes or candidate information, including materials sent directly to RLB employees, will be considered the property of RLB North America.