Cost Controls Project Manager - Real Estate Development

WGU; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses

Health benefits

Tuition discount

Paid time off

Parental leave

Retirement plan

Wellbeing program

Job summary

WGU is seeking a seasoned Cost Planner/Manager to lead the cost planning and budget management for large-scale development projects in Salt Lake City. The role focuses on building detailed budgets, validating estimates, and ensuring financial alignment with scope, schedule, and risk.

You will coordinate with architects, contractors, and internal teams to drive cost-effective decisions. The ideal candidate brings 8+ years of quantity surveying or cost management experience, strong negotiation and

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in quantity surveying, cost management, or commercial management
• Experience supporting large-scale or complex development projects (e.g., commercial, institutional, higher education, mixed-use)
• Experience working with cross-functional teams including architects, engineers, contractors, and owners

Responsibilities

• Lead development and management of project budgets from early planning through completion.
• Establish and maintain detailed cost plans aligned to scope, schedule, and risk.
• Validate and challenge estimates from architects, consultants, contractors, and third parties.
• Monitor budget performance, identifying risks, variances, and savings opportunities.
• Prepare budget forecasts and cash flow projections.

Skills

Cost estimating

Budgeting

Forecasting

Commercial management

Contract evaluation

Negotiation

Change management

Stakeholder communication

Risk identification

Education

Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Finance, or related field

Job description

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

Pay Range: $109,900.00 - $170,400.00

Primary Responsibilities

Cost Planning & Budget Management

• Lead development and management of project budgets from early planning through completion.
• Establish and maintain detailed cost plans aligned to scope, schedule, and risk.
• Validate and challenge estimates from architects, consultants, contractors, and third parties.
• Monitor budget performance, identifying risks, variances, and savings opportunities.
• Prepare budget forecasts and cash flow projections.

Design Phase Cost Management

• Provide cost modeling and estimating support throughout design development.
• Evaluate design alternatives and recommend cost-effective solutions.
• Lead value engineering efforts while preserving design intent and project objectives.
• Conduct commercial and comparative analyses of design and procurement options.
• Assess cost impacts of scope changes, design revisions, and market conditions.
• Provide independent cost analysis to inform key project decisions.

Procurement & Contract Support

• Support procurement strategy development and package planning.
• Participate in consultant, contractor, and vendor selection.
• Review bid submissions and provide commercial analysis and recommendations.
• Evaluate contract pricing structures, contingencies, and key commercial terms.
• Support negotiations and contract award decisions.

Construction Phase Commercial Management

• Evaluate change orders, claims, and contingency usage.
• Validate contractor cost proposals and supporting documentation.
• Monitor committed costs, forecast final costs, and track budget performance.
• Contribute to monthly and executive cost reporting.
• Provide independent commercial oversight throughout construction.
• Assess contractor claims and support negotiation and resolution of disputes.

Risk Management

• Identify cost, market, procurement, and commercial risks.
• Develop mitigation strategies and recommend contingency approaches.
• Monitor escalation trends, labor availability, material pricing, and market conditions.
• Support broader project risk management efforts.

Reporting & Governance

• Prepare executive-level cost reports and financial analyses.
• Present recommendations to project leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Maintain cost management standards, controls, and documentation.
• Support audits, governance reviews, and reporting requirements.
• Provide recommendations on budget approvals, contingency usage, and major financial decisions.

This job description includes a general representation of job requirements rather than a comprehensive inventory of all required responsibilities or work activities. The contents of this document or related job requirements may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong expertise in cost estimating, budgeting, forecasting, and commercial management
• Ability to analyze complex financial and project data to support decision-making
• Skilled in contract evaluation, negotiation, and change management
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present to senior stakeholders
• Ability to identify risks and translate insights into actionable recommendations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Finance, or a related field

Experience

• 8+ years of experience in quantity surveying, cost management, or commercial management
• Experience supporting large-scale or complex development projects (e.g., commercial, institutional, higher education, mixed-use)
• Experience working with cross-functional teams including architects, engineers, contractors, and owners

Additional Requirements

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities
• Ability to operate independently as a trusted advisor while collaborating across teams

Experience in lieu of education

Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is at the discretion of the hiring manager.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in owner-side cost management or advisory roles
• Experience working on higher education or large campus development projects
• Familiarity with integrated project delivery or complex procurement models

Travel

This position requires occasional travel of up to 20%, including required attendance at designated company summits (typically one to two per year). Additional travel may include conferences, visits to company locations, and other business-related events as needed. Additional travel may be assigned as needed to support business requirements

Additional Information

Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

• Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.
• Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail].
• Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.