Cost Manager, Fornebu / Narvik

Nscale; Bærum; On-site; NOK 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Nscale is seeking a Cost Manager to lead construction cost management for its hyperscale data centre projects across Norway and the Nordics. You will deliver robust cost planning, forecasting, benchmarking, and governance from early development through to close-out.

You will collaborate with Development, Design, Construction, Procurement, Finance, and Commercial teams to ensure clear cost visibility and alignment to approved budgets and governance.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Cost Management within hyperscale construction.
• 2+ years’ experience in data centres.
• Degree-qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or related field; MRICS preferred.
• Fluency in Norwegian and English.
• Willingness to travel frequently to data centers.
• MRICS or equivalent professional accreditation preferred (if available).

Responsibilities

• Lead cost management for hyperscale data centre projects, ensuring costs are planned, tracked, controlled, and reported in line with approved budgets.
• Develop, manage, and maintain detailed 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 with accuracy and transparency.
• Undertake budget preparation and benchmarking exercises, including cost modelling and market testing.
• Analyse and present cost information to senior management with commentary and recommendations.
• Monitor project commitments, actual costs, forecast costs, risk allowances, and budget movements.
• Support procurement activity through cost estimates, tender reviews, bid comparisons, and value-for-money assessments.
• Review contractor and consultant payments, valuations, invoices, and documentation for contract alignment.
• Manage cost change control, including assessment of variations and budget movements.
• Support value engineering and cost-saving initiatives while maintaining safety, quality, and program goals.
• Maintain visibility of cost risks and opportunities for risk reviews and benchmarking.
• Oversee cost close-out processes and handover of cost data for future benchmarking.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure cost objectives align with design and procurement.

Skills

Cost Management

Hyperscale Data Centres

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial Analysis

Stakeholder Engagement

Willingness to Travel

Norwegian & English Fluency

Education

Quantity Surveying

Commercial Management

MRICS (preferred)

Job description

• Sektor Privat

Lead construction cost management, budgeting, and cost control for hyperscale data centre projects in Norway and the Nordics.

• Extensive experience in construction cost management, with 2+ years in data centres
• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or a related discipline
• Fluency in Norwegian and English
• Willingness to travel frequently to datacenters
• MRICS or equivalent professional accreditation is preferred

About the Role

The Cost Manager will be responsible for leading construction cost management across Nscale’s hyperscale data centre projects in Norway and Nordics. 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 programs. 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 optimize expenditure while maintaining safety, quality, resilience, program, 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 energized by working in a high-growth, fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Willingness to frequently travel to our Datacenters.

Fluency in Norwegian and English required.

• Budgetprognosen
• Cash Flow Analyse
• Kostnadskontroll (Financial controlling)

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.