Commercial Cost & Contract Manager (Construction)

NewCold Melbourne; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 105,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Life insurance

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

NewCold is seeking a Commercial Cost & Contract Manager (Construction) in Chicago, IL. You will manage contracts and costs for large-scale cold-store development projects across the US and Canada, lead change order negotiations, and ensure contract compliance.

The role requires 3–5 years of cost management experience with Design-Build contracts, travel up to 10%, and a CCP or PMP is a strong asset. Base salary range is $105,000–$115,000 with bonus eligibility.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of cost management experience with contract administration and change orders.
• Experience in industrial construction or large-scale logistics real estate.
• CCP or PMP certification is a strong asset.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% to project sites.

Responsibilities

• Change Order Analysis & Variations Management: review, verify, and negotiate change orders.
• Post-Contract Contract Management: administer Design-Build contracts through project lifecycle.
• Reporting & Pre-Contract Planning: provide financial updates, risk assessments, and pre-contract budgeting.

Skills

Contract administration

Change order management

Cost management

Industrial construction

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Construction Management/Quantity Surveying/Civil Engineering

Job description

Build thefuture of food

At NewCold, we’re shaping the futureof the food supply chain. Our warehouses and transportnetwork connect the world’s major food manufacturers with retailers and food service providers.

Join a collaborative team of doers,innovators, and engineers who are dedicated to making a real impact. Togetherwith advanced robotics and cutting-edge technology, we’re not just keeping upwith the times —we’re pioneering smarter, more sustainable operations to keep theworld’s food fresh and safe.

To support our rapid growth, we’re constantly looking for talented people to join our team. Want to be a part of a dynamic, forward-thinking environment? Join us!

Your role as a Commercial Cost & Contract Manager (Construction)

Key responsibilities:

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is:

$105,000 - $115,000

This position is eligible for a bonus in addition to the base pay range listed above.
This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the salary band within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors.

Benefits
NewCold also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a full range of competitive benefit programs, generally including health insurance, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition, we offer employees 4 weeks of accrued Paid Time Off as well as paid holidays throughout the calendar year.
The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, and date of hire.

Position Overview
We are seeking an analytically sharp and contractually strong Commercial Cost & Contract Manager to
join our team in Chicago, IL. In this role, your primary focus will be on contract and cost management for
large-scale coldstore development projects across the United States and Canada.
Your main responsibility is to administer the contracts and critically analyze and negotiate Change Orders
with GC and direct contractors in collaboration with the Project Director and wider team. You will
provide the Project Director with accurate financial insights, ensuring that all variations are contractually
justified, accurately priced, and fully compliant with the agreed project frameworks.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Change Order Analysis & Variations Management
  • Critically reviewing, analyzing, and auditing all change orders, claims, and directives submitted by the General Contractor and specific specialist contractors.
  • Verifying labor rates, material quantities, and equipment costs against the original contract, industry benchmarks, and market conditions.
  • Leading commercially tough negotiations with General Contractors regarding disputed Change Orders and variations to protect the project budget.
• Post-Contract Contract Management
  • Managing and administering the standard NewCold construction contracts (Design-Build frameworks) throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Ensuring the contractors strictly adhere to all contractual obligations, specifications, and timelines to prevent disputes and mitigate risks.
  • Support in dispute avoidance, claims management, and final account settlement.
• Reporting & Pre-Contract Planning
  • Providing regular financial updates, risk assessments, and Change Order reports to the Commercial Cost & Contract Manager.
  • Advising the construction leadership team on project delivery methods and contract drafting to minimize potential change orders during construction.
  • Identifying and budgeting for specific greenfield risks (site development, zoning, infrastructure, soil conditions) before contracts are finalized.

Requirements

• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience in construction cost management or quantity surveying, with a proven track record heavily focused on contract administration and change order management.
• Proven experience with (or a strong affinity for) industrial construction or large-scale logistics real estate (warehouses/DCs).
• Deep working knowledge of construction contracts (specifically Design-Build frameworks).
• Certification from AACE International (e.g., Certified Cost Professional - CCP) or PMP certification is a strong asset.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% of the time to project sites across the US.

Education/Certification

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering or related field.

Who we are looking for:

We are seeking motivated and forward-thinking individuals who thrive incollaborative and fast-moving environments. Our ideal candidate has:

Ready to make an impact?

Ourgoal is to keep the world’s food fresh and safe with our proprietarytechnologies and innovative solutions. Join our team andhelp build a more efficient, innovative, and sustainable food supply chain.Your next career chapter starts at NewCold.

Whether you’re a seasoned expert or just starting your career, NewColdprovides the opportunities and challenges that allow you to grow and excel.Ready to turn your curiosity into impact?

NewCold provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), or service in the military. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.

NewCold expressly prohibit any form of unlawful employee harassment or discrimination based on any of the characteristics mentioned above. Improper interference with the ability of other employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.