Senior Cost Manager

Rider Levett Bucknall RLB; Nashville (TN); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) Nashville seeks a Senior Cost Manager to lead cost planning, control, and commercial activities across diverse project types. You will drive cost estimates, budgets, and reporting while collaborating with clients, designers, and contractors to deliver value and align with project goals.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in construction cost management, strong communication, and the ability to mentor junior team members.

Qualifications

• 4-year college degree in Construction Management or related field.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in construction cost estimating.
• Knowledge of cost management, budgeting, and reporting.
• Experience with estimating software and Microsoft Office.
• AACE International or Certified Cost Professional preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost management and quantity surveying across all project phases.
• Develop and maintain cost estimates, budgets, and bid documentation.
• Prepare regular cost reports and financial updates for clients.
• Review and process pay applications; manage change orders and cost implications.
• Mentor junior staff and support project teams.

Skills

Cost management

Quantity surveying

Cost estimation

Value engineering

Client collaboration

Leadership

Education

Construction Management degree

AACE Certification (preferred)

Tools

Estimating software

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Senior Cost Manager is responsible for managing project costs across all stages of construction, ensuring effective cost control, accurate reporting, and strong client collaboration. The successful candidate will bring solid experience in construction cost management and the ability to lead cost planning and commercial activities on a range of project types. The Senior Cost Manager should have the ability to identify opportunities within a project that will add value and help successfully accomplish the client ’ s desired project outcome.

Essential Functions

Quantity Surveying – if your experience falls under this specialty, your duties will include:

Lead and provide cost management and quantity surveying services across all project phases, from pre-construction through project closeout.

Develop and maintain cost estimates, project budgets, cost plans, and bid documentation throughout the design and construction phases.

Perform value engineering and cost analysis to support efficient project delivery and alignment with project budgets.

Provide cost advice during design development and ensure design decisions remain aligned with approved project budgets.

Manage procurement and bidding processes, including preparation of bid packages, bid evaluations, and recommendations for contractor award.

Participate in pre-bid meetings, contractor negotiations, and contract award processes.

Track and manage project costs, including change orders, cost reporting, project cash flow, and financial forecasting throughout the project lifecycle.

Prepare regular cost reports and financial updates for clients and project stakeholders.

Review and evaluate contractors, change order requests and negotiate cost impacts where required.

Review and process contractor and consultant pay applications and ensure compliance with contract terms.

Assist in the preparation, negotiation, and agreement of final accounts and project closeout documentation.

Provide commercial and financial guidance to clients and project teams to support informed decision-making.

Identify and manage commercial risks and opportunities throughout the project lifecycle.

Communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including clients, contractors, designers, and internal teams.

Ensure cost management processes align with company standards, project controls procedures, and client requirements.

Support, guide, and mentor junior staff while contributing to team development, training, and knowledge sharing.

Cost Estimating – if your experience falls under this specialty, your duties will include:

• Prepare and manage detailed quantity take-offs and cost estimates based on drawings and specifications.
• Review construction plans and specifications during preconstruction to complete quantity take-offs and prepare estimates for all architectural, structural, and civil scopes from schematic through final design for new construction and renovation projects
• Prepare value engineering, cost option and cost strategy estimates
• Prepare independent post contract estimates, including reporting differences in scope, quantities, and pricing from contractor’s estimate
• Work as integral part of our Estimating Team to perform plan and specification analysis, takeoff, and pricing of various types of construction projects
• Acts as lead individual for specific projects
• Review estimates prepared by Estimating Team, prior to supervisor final review
• Compiles and analyzes data on all factors that influence costs, such as material, labor, equipment, and profit margins
• Evaluates cost estimating deliverables prepared by architects and engineers, for cost containment
• Acquires and evaluates historical and vendor cost data for the development of cost estimates and price recommendations
• Accurately forecasts costs of future projects and changes to existing projects
• Prepares technical evaluations, cost estimating draft reports, memos, and letters and presents recommendations to management and client
• Attend client meetings
• Participate in design charrettes and design workshops, including presenting estimates to the client and AE team
• Participate in Value Engineering studies, reconciliations, and negotiations with contractors
• Prepare valuations of work in progress reports from contractor draw requests
• Undertake other cost-related tasks as directed by supervisor, including review of estimates prepared by others
• Assist with training and mentoring others
• Contributes to team performance by collaboration and effective communication.
• Contributes to and understands the clients desired project outcomes, identifies opportunities to add value to accomplish the desired outcomes.
• Adds to team effort by accomplishing other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a positive proactive approach to the role and will be committed to delivering customer service excellence.

• Minimum Education (or substitute experience) required: 4-year college degree in Construction Management, Structural Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Cost Estimating or equivalent recognized technical qualification.
• Minimum Experience required: 5+ years ’ relevant experience in construction cost estimating of a variety of building types from program, conceptual, schematic, design development and construction document stages of design in elemental and CSI format for all architectural, structural, and civil components of new construction and renovation projects. Some MEP estimating experience preferred. AACE International and/or Certified Cost Professional preferred.
• Knowledge and understanding of execution of cost management services; good planning, organization, and communication skills essential. Understanding of technical and non-technical documents related to cost management services required. Knowledge and use of industry-estimating software and Microsoft Office software programs.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Indoor office environment. May require work on site location when necessary.
• Equipment used includes computers and standard office machines.
• Essential physical tasks include: the ability to work on a computer and the ability to answer and speak on a telephone.

RLB is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company does not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices based on race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Hiring, transferring and promotion practices are performed without regard to the above listed items.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.