Cost Manager | Owners Rep

E‑Frontiers; South Bend (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

E‑Frontiers is seeking an experienced Cost Manager to support its growing Project & Cost Management team on a large-scale hyperscale data center campus in South Bend, Indiana. This role partners with developers, contractors, and engineering teams through the full lifecycle from preconstruction to closeout.

The successful candidate will drive cost certainty, financial transparency, and commercial success across a complex program, with opportunities for career progression into senior leadership

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Architecture, or a related discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in construction cost management, quantity surveying, or estimating within a consultancy, owner's representative, or general contractor environment.
• Experience delivering mission-critical, data center, industrial, or large commercial construction projects is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead all project cost management activities throughout the design and construction lifecycle.
• Prepare, review, and manage project budgets, cost plans, and financial forecasts.
• Develop detailed estimates throughout design development and construction.
• Review contractor bids, evaluate value engineering opportunities, and provide commercial recommendations.
• Manage change orders, variations, contingency budgets, and cost reporting.
• Monitor project expenditures and forecast final project costs.
• Review contractor applications for payment and validate completed work.
• Produce monthly cost reports, cash flow forecasts, earned value analyses, and executive-level summaries.
• Support procurement activities, contract administration, and commercial negotiations.
• Track project risks and identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency.
• Collaborate with owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and project management teams.
• Support commissioning and project closeout activities from a commercial perspective.
• Maintain accurate commercial documentation throughout the project lifecycle.

Skills

Cost management

Budgeting

Forecasting

MS Excel

Cost reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management

Tools

Cost management software

Job description

**Relocation eligible for the right candidate**

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Cost Manager to join our growing Project & Cost Management team, supporting the delivery of a large-scale hyperscale data center campus in South Bend, Indiana.

This is an exciting opportunity to work on one of the region's most significant mission-critical developments, partnering with leading developers, contractors, and engineering teams throughout the full project lifecycle—from preconstruction and procurement through construction, commissioning, and closeout.

The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring cost certainty, financial transparency, and commercial success across a complex, fast-paced data center program.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all project cost management activities throughout the design and construction lifecycle.
• Prepare, review, and manage project budgets, cost plans, and financial forecasts.
• Develop detailed estimates throughout design development and construction.
• Review contractor bids, evaluate value engineering opportunities, and provide commercial recommendations.
• Manage change orders, variations, contingency budgets, and cost reporting.
• Monitor project expenditures and forecast final project costs.
• Review contractor applications for payment and validate completed work.
• Produce monthly cost reports, cash flow forecasts, earned value analysis, and executive-level financial summaries.
• Support procurement activities, contract administration, and commercial negotiations.
• Track project risks and identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and project management teams.
• Support commissioning and project closeout activities from a commercial perspective.
• Ensure all commercial documentation is maintained accurately throughout the project lifecycle.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Architecture, or a related discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in construction cost management, quantity surveying, or estimating within a consultancy, owner's representative, or general contractor environment.
• Previous experience delivering mission-critical, data center, industrial, advanced manufacturing, semiconductor, life sciences, or large commercial construction projects is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of construction contracts, procurement strategies, change management, and commercial reporting.
• Experience preparing detailed cost plans, estimates, and financial forecasts.
• Knowledge of CSI divisions, elemental estimating, and industry cost benchmarking.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and construction cost management software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience on hyperscale or colocation data center projects.
• Professional certifications such as CCP, CPE, PQS, MRICS, or AACE are advantageous.
• Familiarity with BIM-based estimating and digital cost management platforms.

Why Join Us

• Be part of a landmark hyperscale data center development in the Midwest.
• Work with an industry-leading construction consultancy on complex, high-value mission-critical projects.
• Collaborate with world-class developers, contractors, and engineering teams.
• Clear career progression into Senior Cost Manager, Commercial Manager, or Project Controls leadership roles.
• Competitive salary, bonus, comprehensive benefits, and long-term project pipeline.
• Opportunity to help shape one of the fastest-growing sectors in the construction industry.