Cost Manager - Narvik / Norway

Nscale; Greater London; On-site; GBP 96,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

NScale is seeking a Senior Cost Manager to lead construction cost management for its hyperscale data centre projects across Europe. You will drive cost planning, forecasting, benchmarking, and cost assurance from early development through project close-out, collaborating with Development, Design, Construction, Procurement, Finance, and Commercial teams.

The role requires a strong Quantity Surveying or Construction Cost Management background, with experience managing large CAPEX budgets and a

Qualifications

• Extensive cost management experience in hyperscale construction.
• 2+ years of data centre cost management experience.
• Ability to engage across regions and disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost management for hyperscale data centre projects, aligned to approved budgets.
• Develop and maintain detailed budgets, CAPEX models, cost plans, and forecasts.
• Prepare detailed cost reports, forecasts, and cash flow analyses for senior stakeholders.
• Benchmark costs through market testing and cost modelling with senior management input.
• Monitor budget movements, risks, contingencies, and cost change control throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support procurement with cost estimates, tender reviews, and value-for-money assessments.

Skills

Cost management

Data centre experience

Stakeholder engagement

English fluency

Education

Quantity Surveying degree

MRICS accreditation (preferred)

Job description

Please note that this position is based full-time in Norway. You will work on-site at our Kvandal campus in Narvik, for the duration of the project. Future projects may be located in other parts of Norway, the Nordics or Europe

About Nscale

At Nscale, we are building the infrastructure for Europe’s AI revolution. As the GPU cloud engineered for AI, we provide cost-effective, high-performance infrastructure designed specifically for next-generation AI workloads. Powered by a new generation of sustainable, high-performance data centers and advanced GPU clusters, Nscale delivers sovereign generative AI solutions that enable the next decade of innovation.

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented global demand for compute and GPU capacity. Positioned at the heart of this transformation, Nscale integrates next-gen hardware across both partner and self-delivered facilities, reducing the complexity of AI development and empowering AI-focused companies to achieve superior technical and strategic outcomes. Our platform supports cost management, accelerates innovation, and advances environmental responsibility — all while delivering the performance AI businesses depend on.

We thrive on a culture of relentless innovation, ownership, and accountability, where every team member takes pride in delivering excellence with urgency. As an Nscaler, you’ll build trust through openness and transparency, contributing to transformative AI infrastructure and helping shape a company designed to scale rapidly across Europe and beyond. Together, we’re building the technology that powers the future.

About the Role

The Senior Cost Manager will be responsible for leading construction cost management across Nscale’s hyperscale data centre projects in Europe. Reporting to the Director, Commercial Operations, you will provide robust cost planning, cost control, forecasting, benchmarking, reporting, and cost assurance from early-stage development through to project close-out.

This role requires a strong Quantity Surveying or Construction Cost Management background, with the ability to manage complex CAPEX budgets, provide accurate cost insight, and support informed decision-making across major construction programmes. You will work collaboratively with Development, Design, Construction, Procurement, Finance, and Commercial teams to ensure each project is delivered with clear cost visibility, strong financial discipline, and alignment to approved budgets and governance requirements.

The successful candidate will be analytical, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where high-quality cost information is critical to successful project delivery.

What You’ll be Doing (Responsibilities)

• Lead cost management for major hyperscale data centre construction projects, ensuring costs are planned, tracked, controlled, and reported in line with approved budgets, timelines, and Nscale standards.
• Develop, manage, and maintain detailed project budgets, CAPEX models, cost plans, cost breakdown structures, and cost-to-complete forecasts.
• Prepare and deliver detailed cost reports, forecasts, cash flow analyses, and financial updates, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and timely insight into project cost performance.
• Undertake budget preparation and benchmarking exercises, including cost modelling, market testing, comparative analysis, and review of outcomes with senior stakeholders.
• Analyse and present cost information to senior management, providing commentary, trend analysis, and recommendations to support project and executive decision-making.
• Monitor project commitments, actual costs, forecast costs, risk allowances, contingency, and budget movements throughout the full project lifecycle.
• Support procurement activity through cost estimates, tender cost reviews, bid comparisons, package analysis, and value-for-money assessments.
• Review contractor and consultant payment applications, valuations, invoices, and supporting documentation to ensure accuracy and alignment with agreed scope and contract terms.
• Manage cost change control, including assessment of variations, scope changes, cost impacts, trends, and potential budget movements.
• Support value engineering exercises and cost-saving initiatives, identifying opportunities to optimise expenditure while maintaining safety, quality, resilience, programme, and operational requirements.
• Maintain visibility of project cost risks and opportunities, supporting risk reviews through cost analysis, financial modelling, and quantified recommendations.
• Oversee cost close-out processes, including budget reconciliation, final cost reporting, account settlement support, lessons learned, and handover of cost data for future benchmarking.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Development, Construction, Design, Procurement, Finance, Commercial, and Operations teams to ensure cost objectives are aligned with design, schedule, procurement, and operational goals.
• Stay informed on regional market trends, construction inflation, labour and material indices, supplier pricing, and regulatory developments, applying insights to continuously refine cost plans and maintain best-in-class delivery standards.

About You (Skills / Qualifications)

Required

• Extensive experience in Cost Management within hyperscale Construction with 2+ of those years within Data Centres
• Degree-qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or a related discipline; MRICS or equivalent professional accreditation preferred.
• Proven track record of delivering profitable projects and optimizing commercial performance
• Able to engage effectively across regions, and disciplines.
• Adaptable, proactive, and energised by working in a high-growth, fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Fluency in English required; other European languages a plus.

At NScale, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace. We believe that a variety of perspectives enriches our work environment, and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.If there’s anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.

The responsibilities outlined in this job description are not exhaustive and are intended to provide a general overview of the position. The employee may be required to perform additional duties, tasks, and responsibilities as assigned by management, consistent with the skills and qualifications required for the role.

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