Cost Lead - Data Center Construction

Henderson Scott US; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 160,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement or pension plan

Generous PTO policy

Job summary

Henderson Scott US is seeking a Cost Lead in Austin, Texas, responsible for managing cost across global data center projects. Your role involves budgeting, forecasting, and ensuring projects stay on budget. Candidates should have a strong background in cost management and data center construction, with a degree in a relevant field. The position offers a competitive salary range of $160,000 - $250,000 per year, along with equity options and comprehensive benefits including health insurance and generous PTO.

Qualifications

• Experience in cost management, quantity surveying, or construction estimating.
• Hands-on experience with data center or mission-critical construction projects.
• Deep understanding of data center cost structures.

Responsibilities

• Own cost planning across all project phases.
• Develop detailed estimates for various construction types.
• Maintain real-time cost forecasts across all active projects.

Skills

Cost management

Construction estimating

Data center construction

Change order management

Contract review

Education

Degree in construction management, quantity surveying, engineering, or related field

Tools

Procore

Sage

Job description

As Cost Lead, you will own cost management across a global data center portfolio - from early-stage budgeting and estimating through construction and final account. You'll establish processes where they do not currently exist, build benchmarks from the ground up, and serve as the Cost Lead across the delivery program. You will work closely with project managers, A/E design teams, general contractors, and other stakeholders to ensure projects remain on budget and decisions are grounded in accurate cost data.

Key Responsibilities

• Own cost planning across all project phases - from concept and pre-design through construction documents and GMP negotiation
• Develop detailed estimates for civil, structural, MEP, HV/LV power, cooling, fuel systems, and shell construction
• Maintain real-time cost forecasts across all active projects; track actuals vs. budget and identify variances early
• Own change order review, assessing scope validity, commercial accuracy, and contract entitlement before recommending approval
• Prepare executive-level cost reports across the portfolio, highlighting key risks and opportunities
• Manage contingency tracking and cost risk registers across project phases
• Lead value engineering exercises with design and construction teams to optimize cost without compromising scope or schedule
• Support general contractor and subcontractor procurement including bid leveling, scope gap analysis, and contract negotiation
• Advise on contract structure and commercial risk allocation across delivery models
• Build the cost management function from the ground up including tools, templates, workflows, and reporting cadence
• Establish and maintain a unit cost benchmark database covering key data center cost categories
• Contribute to preconstruction planning on new sites including order-of-magnitude estimates to support site selection and investment decisions

Qualifications

• Experience in cost management, quantity surveying, or construction estimating
• Hands‑on experience with data center or mission‑critical construction projects
• Owner‑side experience preferred; general contractor or quantity surveying consulting experience considered
• Deep understanding of data center cost structures including civil, structural, MEP, power, cooling, emergency systems, and IT fit‑out
• Strong understanding of how design decisions impact capital cost
• Experience benchmarking at $/MW, $/SF, and $/kW
• Strong change order management and contract review experience
• Familiarity with GMP, lump sum, and cost‑plus contract structures
• Proficiency with cost management tools such as Procore, Sage, or similar platforms
• Degree in construction management, quantity surveying, engineering, or related field
• Ability to build processes in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment

Salary & Benefits

• Competitive total compensation package (salary + equity)
• Retirement or pension plan, in line with local norms
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous PTO policy

Salary Range: $160,000 - $250,000 per year depending on experience, skills, qualifications, and location. Total compensation may also include equity in the form of stock options.