Cost Lead

Integra; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 190,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Comprehensive healthcare

Life and disability insurance

Flexible benefits

Generous paid time off

Tuition assistance

Retirement and savings plans

Job summary

Integra is seeking a Program Cost Lead in Houston to drive end-to-end cost management for a multi-billion-dollar data center construction program. You will establish cost baselines, forecast, report KPIs, and lead change control with integration across engineering, procurement, and finance teams.

The role requires 12+ years in project controls, with a track record on large capital programs ($1B+), preferably data centers or EPC projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field
• 12+ years of progressive experience in project controls or cost management
• Proven experience leading cost for large-scale capital programs ($1B+), preferably data centers, mission-critical, or complex EPC projects
• Demonstrated success managing multi-project or program-level cost functions

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of program-level cost management, including budget development, control, forecasting, and reporting across multiple projects/sites
• Establish and maintain the program cost baseline, ensuring alignment with contract requirements, funding approvals, and execution strategy
• Serve as the single point of accountability for cost performance across the program
• Develop and maintain integrated cost forecasts, incorporating input from construction, procurement, engineering, and commercial teams
• Implement and drive Earned Value Management (EVM) processes to measure performance and identify trends early
• Deliver executive-level reporting, including KPIs, dashboards, and variance analysis for internal leadership and external stakeholders
• Provide forward-looking insights on cost exposure, trends, and risks
• Lead change management processes, ensuring all changes are properly captured, evaluated, approved, and reflected in forecasts
• Manage cost impacts of scope changes, claims, and commercial events
• Drive consistency and rigor in cost control procedures across all projects
• Partner with program leadership to identify and quantify cost risks and opportunities
• Manage and monitor program contingency, including drawdown strategy and reporting
• Support scenario planning and sensitivity analysis for major program decisions
• Oversee cost systems and ERP integration (e.g., Costpoint, Procore, SAP, or similar)
• Enhance and standardize cost control processes, tools, and data governance
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to improve forecast accuracy and reporting efficiency
• Interface directly with executive stakeholders, clients, JV partners, and functional leads
• Drive alignment across engineering, procurement, construction, and finance teams
• Mentor and develop project controls team members, promoting consistency and best practices

Skills

Cost management

Forecasting

EVM (Earned Value)

ERP systems

Excel

Power BI

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Data visualization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Engineering/Construction Mgmt

Tools

Costpoint

SAP

Oracle

Procore

Job description

The Opportunity

The Program Cost Lead is a senior leadership role responsible for driving end-to-end cost management across a multi-billion-dollar, mission-critical data center construction program. This individual will establish and lead best-in-class cost control practices, ensuring accurate forecasting, disciplined change management, and proactive identification of cost risks.

Location: Houston, TX

Department: DEPADM

Program Cost Leadership & Governance

• Lead all aspects of program-level cost management, including budget development, control, forecasting, and reporting across multiple projects/sites
• Establish and maintain the program cost baseline, ensuring alignment with contract requirements, funding approvals, and execution strategy
• Serve as the single point of accountability for cost performance across the program

Forecasting, Reporting & Analytics

• Develop and maintain integrated cost forecasts, incorporating input from construction, procurement, engineering, and commercial teams
• Implement and drive Earned Value Management (EVM) processes to measure performance and identify trends early
• Deliver executive-level reporting, including KPIs, dashboards, and variance analysis for internal leadership and external stakeholders
• Provide forward-looking insights on cost exposure, trends, and risks

Change Management & Controls

• Lead change management processes, ensuring all changes are properly captured, evaluated, approved, and reflected in forecasts
• Manage cost impacts of scope changes, claims, and commercial events
• Drive consistency and rigor in cost control procedures across all projects

Risk & Contingency Management

• Partner with program leadership to identify and quantify cost risks and opportunities
• Manage and monitor program contingency, including drawdown strategy and reporting
• Support scenario planning and sensitivity analysis for major program decisions

Systems, Tools & Process Optimization

• Oversee cost systems and ERP integration (e.g., Costpoint, Procore, SAP, or similar)
• Enhance and standardize cost control processes, tools, and data governance
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to improve forecast accuracy and reporting efficiency

Stakeholder Leadership & Collaboration

• Interface directly with executive stakeholders, clients, JV partners, and functional leads
• Drive alignment across engineering, procurement, construction, and finance teams
• Mentor and develop project controls team members, promoting consistency and best practices

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field
• 12+ years of progressive experience in project controls or cost management
• Proven experience leading cost for large-scale capital programs ($1B+), preferably data centers, mission-critical, or complex EPC projects
• Demonstrated success managing multi-project or program-level cost functions

Technical Skills

• Deep expertise in cost management, forecasting, and earned value management (EVM)
• Strong experience with ERP and project controls systems (e.g., Costpoint, SAP, Oracle, Procore)
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and data visualization tools (Power BI or similar)
• Strong understanding of contract structures, procurement strategies, and commercial terms

Leadership & Competencies

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management capabilities
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-growth, and highly complex environment
• High attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and accountability

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in hyperscale data center programs or mission-critical infrastructure
• Background spanning both construction and manufacturing/supply chain environments
• Experience in program-level reporting and governance frameworks
• Professional certifications (e.g., PMP, EVP, CCP, or similar)

Benefits

• Performance-driven rewards – Competitive pay with incentive opportunities that recognize your results and contributions.
• Comprehensive healthcare – Medical, dental, and vision coverage that supports you and your family’s total well-being.
• Security and peace of mind – Life and disability insurance programs that provide protection when it matters most.
• Flexible benefits options – A variety of voluntary benefits so you can personalize coverage to fit your needs.
• Time to recharge – Generous paid time off to relax, travel, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Investing in your growth – Education assistance and tuition support to help you build skills and advance your career.
• Planning for the future – Retirement and savings programs that help you achieve long-term financial confidence.

Company Overview

Integra specializes in delivering optimized turnkey solutions that bring together speed, quality, and reliability – helping our clients build and operate the mission‑critical infrastructure that powers today’s digital world. We are a vertically integrated company owning and managing every phase of the process from site selection and design to manufacturing, procurement, commissioning, and warranty, allowing us to move faster, solve challenges more efficiently, and deliver exceptional outcomes for our partners.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Integra provides equal employment opportunities for all people. No employee or applicant for employment will be discriminated against because of race, creed, origin, marital status, sexual orientation, age, otherwise qualified disabled or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. If you are a qualified applicant who requires reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact [e-mail]