Cost Managers Various Levels

Gardiner & Theobald LLC; New York (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Gardiner & Theobald is a leading independent global consultancy offering cost management and related services for the construction and property industry. This role spans the Cost Manager to Director levels, with hands-on delivery, team leadership, and front-line client engagement across diverse projects.

Ideal candidates bring 5–10+ years in cost management, strong leadership, and a track record of managing complex projects, budgets, and client relations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in construction, engineering, finance, or related field.
• 5–10+ years of industry experience.
• 2–5+ years of team leadership experience.
• Experience managing multiple projects.
• Strong commercial awareness and financial management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; MS Project preferred.
• RICS certification preferred for senior-level candidates.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of multiple projects of varying size and complexity.
• Own project budgets, cost plans, forecasting, and reporting.
• Oversee day-to-day project delivery and ensure high-quality outputs.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously with autonomy and accountability.
• Prepare and present reports, cost plans, and recommendations to clients.
• Support lease reviews, contracts, and consultant coordination.
• Lead, mentor, and develop junior and mid-level team members.
• Delegate effectively while maintaining oversight of project outcomes.
• Participate in recruitment, onboarding, and staff development.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients and project stakeholders.
• Lead client meetings and presentations.
• Support or lead business development efforts, including proposals and interviews.
• Identify opportunities for repeat business and expanded services.
• Manage commercial aspects of projects, including fee tracking, forecasting, and additional services.
• Support or lead business planning, process improvements, and internal initiatives.
• Contribute to leadership development and firm-wide best practices.
• Represent G&T professionally in the market and industry.

Skills

Cost management

Team leadership

Client relationship management

Communication

Financial awareness

Business development

Education

Bachelor's degree in construction/engineering/finance

Tools

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Project

Job description

Gardiner & Theobald is an independent global consultancy offering a range of services to the construction and property industry, including project, cost, and construction management. We work with clients worldwide, finding solutions that exceed expectations and add value to projects.

Our beginnings can be traced back to London in 1835, when the practice was founded. With 180 years of history and heritage, we are proud to remain an independent consultancy. Gardiner and Theobald LLC. Headquartered in New York City, operates across the U.S with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Austin, Dallas, Tampa, Miami, Massachusetts, and Chicago. With a commitment to independence, we have retained our consultancy status while delivering innovative solutions that add substantial value to high-profile projects. In North America, Gardiner & Theobald Inc. has a proven track record spanning over 25 years and has overseen projects exceeding a combined value of $35 billion.

About the Role:

Gardiner & Theobald is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Cost Management professional to join our growing team. This role may be filled at the Cost Manager, Senior Cost Manager, Associate Director, Senior Associate Director, or Director level, depending on experience and qualifications.

The successful candidate will play a key leadership role in managing cost management services across a diverse portfolio of projects, including office interiors, hospitality, and residential developments. This position combines hands-on project delivery with team leadership, client relationship management, and business development responsibilities.

About The Candidate:

The ideal candidate is a driven, strategic, and collaborative professional with a strong background in cost management and project delivery within the built environment. They bring a proven ability to manage complex projects, build trusted client relationships, and lead teams with confidence and integrity.

They are comfortable balancing big-picture strategy with hands-on execution and thrive in a fast-paced, client-focused environment. This individual demonstrates sound judgment, strong communication skills, and the ability to adapt to evolving projects and business needs.

At every level, the successful candidate:

• Takes ownership of their work and delivers consistently high-quality results
• Builds strong, long-term relationships with clients and colleagues
• Communicates clearly and effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills and commercial awareness
• Contributes positively to team culture and collaboration
• Shows a commitment to professional growth and continuous improvement
• Independently manages day-to-day project deliverables with minimal supervision.
• Prepares estimates, cost plans, cost reports, cash flows, value engineering reports, and other cost management documentation.
• Builds strong client relationships through consistent communication.
• Demonstrates a solid understanding of market rates, construction technology, MEP systems, and construction scheduling.
• Contributes to project success through proactive problem-solving and financial risk management.
• Continues developing technical expertise and takes increasing ownership of projects.
• Mentors junior team members when appropriate.

At the Senior Cost Manager level, the candidate independently manages projects across multiple stages, delivering high-quality cost documentation, including estimates, cost plans, and reports, with minimal oversight. They demonstrate strong knowledge of market rates and cost economics, build and maintain client relationships through consistent delivery and communication, and mentor junior staff while supporting team development.

At the Associate Director level, the candidate is developing leadership capabilities, managing projects independently, and supporting team and business development efforts.

At the Senior Associate Director level, the candidate demonstrates advanced leadership, oversees complex projects and teams, and plays an active role in growing client relationships and business opportunities.

At the Director level, the candidate is a strategic leader and trusted advisor who drives business growth, mentors senior staff, shapes operational excellence, and contributes to the long-term vision and success of the firm.

Key Responsibilities:

Project & Cost Management

• Lead the execution of multiple projects of varying size and complexity
• Own project budgets, cost plans, forecasting, and reporting
• Oversee day-to-day project delivery and ensure high-quality outputs
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously with autonomy and accountability
• Prepare and present reports, cost plans, and recommendations to clients
• Support lease reviews, contracts, and consultant coordination

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop junior and mid-level team members
• Delegate effectively while maintaining oversight of project outcomes
• Participate in recruitment, onboarding, and staff development
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture

Client & Business Development

• Build and maintain strong client relationships
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients and project stakeholders
• Lead client meetings and presentations
• Support or lead business development efforts, including proposals and interviews
• Identify opportunities for repeat business and expanded services

Operational & Strategic Contributions

• Manage commercial aspects of projects, including fee tracking, forecasting, and additional services
• Support or lead business planning, process improvements, and internal initiatives
• Contribute to leadership development and firm-wide best practices
• Represent G&T professionally in the market and industry

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in construction, engineering, finance, or related field
• 5-10+ years of relevant industry experience (level dependent)
• 2-5+ years of team leadership experience (level dependent)
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong commercial awareness and financial management skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; Microsoft Project experience preferred
• RICS certification preferred for senior-level candidates
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills

Physical Requirements:

• Attend weekly project meetings on active construction sites
• In office 4-days a week

Core Competencies:

• Customer Focus- Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions
• Manages Complexity- Making sense of complex, high-quantity, and sometimes contradictory information
• Cultivates Innovation- Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful
• Develops Talent- Developing people to meet both their career goals and the organization's goals
• Organizational Savvy- Manoeuvring comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics