Senior Data Center Cost Manager – Construction

Actalent; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 80 hours

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) plan

Onsite work

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Senior Cost Manager to support a major data center construction program in the Chicago area. The role combines cost consultancy, quantity surveying, and estimator responsibilities to ensure financial objectives are met across lifecycles.

You will lead cost planning, benchmarking, CAPEX forecasting, and commercial oversight, while collaborating with design teams, contractors, and clients in a fast-paced owner’s representative environment.

Qualifications

• Experience with cost management, estimating, quantity surveying, or construction commercial management.
• Understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and cost control for large-scale projects.
• Ability to evaluate change orders, contracts and project financial impacts.

Responsibilities

• Develop conceptual, feasibility, and order‑of‑magnitude cost estimates for data center and commercial projects.
• Prepare budgets, cost plans, and benchmarking analyses to support approvals.
• Monitor cost performance and variances across design and construction phases.

Skills

Cost estimation

Data center construction

Budgeting & forecasting

Excel advanced

Stakeholder communication

Contract administration

Cost risk analysis

Multitasking in fast-paced environment

Financial modeling

Client relationship management

Education

MRICS / AssocRICS

Tools

On Screen Takeoff

Excel

Windows

PowerPoint

Job description

Actalent is seeking a Senior Cost Manager to support a major data center construction program in the Chicago area. The role combines cost consultancy, quantity surveying, and estimator responsibilities to ensure financial objectives are met across lifecycles.

You will lead cost planning, benchmarking, CAPEX forecasting, and commercial oversight, while collaborating with design teams, contractors, and clients in a fast-paced owner’s representative environment.