Associate Cost Manager

GreenSquareDC marks Partners Group; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

GreenSquare, a leading data centre developer in Australia, seeks an Associate Cost Manager to bolster its cost planning, commercial control and risk management across project portfolios.

You will lead cost plans, budgets and forecasts, manage variations and final accounts, and provide decision-ready insights to delivery teams. This role offers ownership across multiple projects and a clear pathway to senior commercial leadership.

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or related discipline.
• 5+ years’ experience in large-scale construction, infrastructure, or data centre developments.
• Strong experience managing commercial and cost functions across multiple projects or programmes.

Responsibilities

• Develop cost plans, budget tracking, forecasting, and cash flow across all project phases.
• Lead project controls (cost and reporting) and deliver cost reports, cashflow forecasts, and dashboards.
• Lead quantified risk management across projects, supporting contingency development and commercial decision-making.

Skills

Quantity surveying

Construction management

Cost management

Project controls

Contract administration

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying or Construction Management

Job description

About the role

The Associate Cost Manager is a key role supporting the project cost and control function across GreenSquare’s portfolio. The role ensures robust cost planning, commercial control, contract administration, and risk management from feasibility through to delivery and final account.

Key accountabilities / Responsibilities

Cost management

• Develop cost plans, budget tracking, forecasting, and cash flow across all project phases
• Drive consistency in cost planning methodologies and outputs
• Manage variations, change orders, claims, and commercial negotiations
• Enforce commercial terms and oversee final account close-out
• Manage PQS, consultant, and contractor commercial interfaces
• Develop commercial systems, tools, and processes; drive best practice across all projects
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and commercial outcomes

Project controls & performance reporting

• Lead project controls (cost and reporting) across responsible projects
• Deliver cost reports, cashflow forecasts, and performance dashboards
• Provide clear, decision-ready insights on project and portfolio performance

Risk management & commercial insight

• Lead quantified risk management across projects, covering cost, programme, and probability
• Support data-driven contingency development (e.g. P50/P80)
• Drive proactive risk mitigation and commercial decision-making

Procurement support

• Support procurement processes, including pre-tender estimates, tender evaluation, and commercial comparison
• Ensure alignment between tender outcomes and approved budgets

Market intelligence & benchmarking

• Maintain current knowledge of cost escalation, labour, supply chain, and market pricing
• Develop and maintain cost benchmarks

Who you’ll work with

• Internal: Development & Delivery Managers, Design, Finance, Procurement
• External: Quantity Surveyors, Project Managers, Designers, Main Contractors, Sub-Contractors

Essential criteria

• Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, or related discipline
• 5+ years’ experience in large-scale construction, infrastructure, or data centre developments
• Strong experience managing commercial and cost functions across multiple projects or programmes
• Experience working with project controls and cost reporting systems
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to challenge contractors and consultants effectively
• Confident communicator with ability to influence across multidisciplinary teams

Why join GreenSquare

• Help shape the next generation of data centre infrastructure in Australia
• Work with an experienced team delivering complex, large-scale projects
• Take real ownership and have a direct impact as GreenSquare grows
• Be part of a business committed to high performance and responsible development
• Backed for the long term by Partners Group, one of the world’s leading private markets firms

Note for Recruiters: GreenSquare manages recruitment directly; recruitment referrals will not be considered.