Cost Manager | Owners Rep

E-Frontiers; South Bend (IN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus

Comprehensive benefits

Long-term project pipeline

Job summary

E-Frontiers is seeking an experienced Cost Manager to join the Project & Cost Management team, supporting a large-scale hyperscale data centre campus in La Porte, Indiana. The role spans from preconstruction through closeout, ensuring cost certainty and financial transparency across a complex program.

You will lead cost management activities, develop detailed estimates, review bids, manage change orders, and produce monthly financial summaries in collaboration with owners, architects, engineers,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Architecture, or related discipline.
• 2+ years of experience in construction cost management, quantity surveying, or estimating.
• Experience with mission-critical or large commercial construction projects is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of contracts, procurement, change management, and reporting.
• Knowledge of CSI divisions, estimating, and cost benchmarking.
• Proficient in cost plans, estimates, and financial forecasts.

Responsibilities

• Lead all project cost management activities throughout the design and construction lifecycle.
• Prepare, review, and manage project budgets, cost plans, and forecasts.
• Develop detailed estimates during design development and construction.
• Review bids, evaluate value engineering, and provide commercial recommendations.
• Manage change orders, contingencies, and cost reporting.
• Produce monthly cost reports, cash flow forecasts, and EV analysis.
• Support procurement activities, contract administration, and negotiations.

Skills

Cost management

Budgeting

Excel

Analytical

Communication

Data centre knowledge

Cost reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management/Engineering/Quantity Surveying

Tools

Microsoft Excel

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 centre campus in La Porte, 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 centre 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.
• 2+ 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 centre, 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 centre 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 centre 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.