Data Center Senior Cost Manager

AtkinsRealis USA Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Flexible work options

Employee assistance program

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis is hiring a Data Center Senior Cost Manager to lead budgeting, cost control, and client-facing activities on North America data center projects. You will oversee GMP, subcontractor selection, and change orders while guiding a team of junior staff and coordinating with site teams and client leads.

The role requires a strong background in budgeting, financial reporting, and cost management within data center construction, with travel to client sites as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 7 years relevant experience.
• RICS designation preferred but not necessary.
• 4+ years data center construction experience required.
• Construction consultancy experience preferred.
• Strong budgeting, financial reporting, cost control systems and software.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and client management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with high attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and manage project/campus budgets through the project life cycle.
• Manage the GMP phase and subcontractor selection process.
• Review change orders and payment applications for contract alignment.
• Monitor and report budget performance vs targets for executive team.
• Collaborate with site teams and client leads.
• Support efforts to reduce costs and increase cost certainty.
• Act as primary contact for data center clients; lead junior staff and their development.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial reporting

Cost control

Client management

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Job Description Overview

We are seeking a Data Center Senior Cost Manager to join our Mission-Critical Data Center team. This team is growing rapidly and is working on some of the most exciting projects in North America. This role is ideally suited to a Senior Cost Manager or Quantity Surveyor who is ready for a client-facing role.

Your role

• Preparing and managing project / campus budgets through the project life cycle.
• Managing the GMP phase and subcontractor selection process.
• Review all change orders and payment applications to ensure contract alignment.
• Monitor and report project budget performance vs targets for executive team.
• Collaboration with site teams and client leads.
• Support program wide efforts to reduce costs and increase cost certainty.
• Act as a primary contact for data center clients, ensuring all objectives are achieved.
• Lead junior staff members and assist with their development.
• Travel to client site / office as required.

About you

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field plus 7 years relevant experience.
• RICS designation is preferred but not necessary.
• 4 years or more data center construction experience is required.
• Construction consultancy experience preferred.
• Strong foundation in budgeting, financial reporting, cost control systems and software.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and client management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities with high attention to detail.

Rewards & benefits

At AtkinsRéalis, our values—Safety, Integrity, Collaboration, Innovation, and Excellence—are more than just words. They are the foundation of who we are and how we work. These principles shape our culture, guide our decisions, and inspire us to create an environment where every team member feels empowered to grow, succeed, and make a meaningful impact.

• medical, dental, vision, company-paid life and short- and long-term disability benefits, employer-matched 401(k) with 100% vesting, employee stock purchase plan, Paid Time Off, leaves of absences options, flexible work options, recognition and employee satisfaction programs, employee assistance program, and voluntary benefits.

About AtkinsRéalis

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world‑class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Additional information

• Expected compensation range is between $120,000 - $165,000+ annually hourly depending on skills, experience, and geographical location.
• Sponsorship for U.S. employment authorization is available for this position.
• Eligibility will depend on role requirements and applicable immigration criteria.

Equal opportunity

• AtkinsRéalis is an equal opportunity, Drug-Free employer EOE/Veteran/Disability.
• Please review AtkinsRéalis’ Equal Opportunity Statement here.

Worker Type & Job Type

Employee Job Type Regular.

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world‑class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through the differences.

Capabilities

Created by the integration of long‑standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world‑class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and the technology to transform the world’s environment. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end‑to‑end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital.