Manager, Cost - Delivery, AMERS

Nscale

New York (NY)

Hybrid

USD 110,000 - 180,000

Full time

9 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Commission programs

Medical

Dental

Vision

Flexible paid time off

Parental leave

Retirement plan participation

Job summary

Nscale is seeking a Cost Manager within our North American Data Center Infrastructure project controls team to own budgets, commitments, actuals, and forecasts across assigned DCI projects.

You will build and maintain budgets, track cost data, evaluate change orders, support procurement and close-out, and provide leadership with an honest view of cost risk, in a hybrid North American role with travel.

Qualifications

7+ years in cost management, surveying, or project controls on commercial/industrial projects
Strong understanding of lump sum, GMP, cost-plus, and unit rate contracts and change orders
Experience preparing cost reports, forecasts, and cash flow for $100M+ projects
Advanced Excel skills and analytical attention to detail
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a related field

Responsibilities

Build and maintain project budgets and cost breakdown structures aligned with estimates and WBS
Track commitments, actuals, accruals, and forecasts; reconcile with Finance and ERP monthly
Prepare monthly cost reports, forecasts, variance analysis, cash flow projections
Evaluate change orders for merit, quantum, and entitlement; negotiate outcomes
Review and validate contractor and vendor payment applications against progress and contracts
Support bid leveling, cost comparisons, and commercial evaluation for major packages and long-lead equipment
Track contingency drawdown and flag cost risks/opportunities to Project Controls Manager
Provide feedback from actual costs to improve future estimates and benchmarks
Support commercial close-out, final accounts, claims resolution, capitalization

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Advanced Excel

Cost reporting

Education

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

Tools

EcoSys

Procore

Kahua

Excel (pivot tables, lookups, modeling)

SAP/Oracle/NetSuite

Power BI

Primavera P6

Job description

Position Overview

Nscale's North American Data Center Infrastructure (DCI) group is delivering large-scale, high-density data center campuses at pace. Within the Project Controls group, cost management makes sure every dollar is planned, tracked, and forecast accurately.

The Cost Manager owns the cost picture for assigned DCI projects, from budget development and procurement through construction, commissioning, and close-out. This role keeps budgets, commitments, actuals, and forecasts accurate and current, manages change, and gives project leadership an early, honest view of cost risk and opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

Budget development: Build and maintain project budgets and cost breakdown structures, aligned with estimates, the WBS, and the DCI project controls framework.
Cost tracking: Track commitments, actuals, accruals, and forecasts at completion; reconcile project cost data with Finance and the ERP each month.
Forecasting: Prepare monthly cost reports and forecasts, including variance analysis, cash flow projections, and trend identification.
Change management: Maintain trend and change logs; evaluate contractor change order requests for merit, quantum, and contractual entitlement; and negotiate fair outcomes.
Payment applications: Review and validate contractor and vendor payment applications against progress, contract terms, retainage, and lien waiver requirements.
Procurement support: Support bid leveling, cost comparisons, and commercial evaluation for major trade packages and long-lead equipment (e.g., generators, switchgear, UPS, cooling).
Contingency management: Track contingency and allowance drawdown and flag emerging cost risks and opportunities to the Project Controls Manager.
Estimating input: Provide feedback from actual costs to improve future estimates and benchmarks across the DCI portfolio.
Close-out: Support commercial close-out, including final accounts, claims resolution, and capitalization documentation.

Qualifications

Required

7+ years of cost management, quantity surveying, or project controls experience on commercial, industrial, or mission-critical construction projects.
Strong understanding of construction contracts (lump sum, GMP, cost-plus, unit rate) and change order evaluation.
Experience preparing cost reports, forecasts, and cash flow projections for projects of $100M+.
Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with advanced Excel ability.
Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Preferred

Data center, power, or MEP-intensive project experience.
AACE CCP / CCT, RICS (MRICS), or equivalent professional credential.
Owner-side cost management experience.
Familiarity with earned value management principles.

Character & Conduct

What We Value Most: Character & Conduct

Skills

Technical skills can be taught. Character cannot. At Nscale, we're looking for people who show up with integrity, treat others with respect, and take genuine ownership of their work. Project controls is only as valuable as the trust people place in its numbers, so this individual's honesty and reliability are central to the role. The following traits matter as much to us as any credential or years of experience:

Integrity — does the right thing even when no one is watching; never misrepresents status, costs, or progress to protect themselves or their team
Ownership mentality — treats the program as their own and holds themselves accountable for the quality and accuracy of their work without being told
Respectful under pressure — stays composed and professional with contractors, trades, and internal Nscale teams regardless of the circumstances
Transparent communicator — surfaces problems early and honestly and never buries bad news
Team-first attitude — ego stays at the gate; the program and the people on it come first
Reliable and consistent — shows up prepared, follows through on commitments, and does what they say they will do

We actively seek references that speak to a candidate's character, not just their technical output.

Tools & Software

Cost management platforms (e.g., EcoSys, Procore, Kahua, or similar)
Advanced Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, lookups, financial modeling)
ERP / finance systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite)
Power BI or similar reporting tools
Working familiarity with Primavera P6 for cost-schedule integration

Work Environment & Schedule

Hybrid role based in North America, with regular travel (approximately 20–40%) to active DCI project sites and contractor offices.
Deadline-driven environment aligned to monthly reporting and financial close cycles.
Site visits require adherence to all Nscale and contractor safety programs and use of appropriate PPE.

Benefits

The range below reflects the base salary for the position. Actual compensation may vary based on job-related factors such as skill set, experience, education, and location. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for bonus, equity, and/or commission programs. Nscale may offer a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, flexible paid time off, parental leave, and retirement plan participation.