Construction Cost Specialist

Overwatch Mission Critical • Dallas, TX

7h • Onsite

About The Position

The Construction Cost Specialist helps the team reach its goals for low total ownership cost and durable projects, handling budgeting, bidding, buyout, and change order management for the project team. The Cost Specialist supplies off-site teams (Finance, Delivery, and Executive Management) with reliable data for problem-solving and process improvement and escalates risks and provides clear updates to the VP of Preconstruction.

Requirements

• 5–7 years of experience in construction cost management, estimating, or project controls (flexible for strong technical candidates with high growth potential).
• Strong background in MEP systems (electrical, mechanical, or both), preferably on complex or infrastructure-heavy projects.
• Cost trending and forecasting
• Budget development and cost control
• Change order management and financial analysis
• Bid analysis or subcontractor/GC proposal review
• Experience supporting commercial, industrial, mission-critical, energy, or infrastructure projects.
• Working knowledge of construction financial processes (forecasting cycles, pay applications, cost reporting).
• Experience with construction/project management platforms (e.g., Procore or similar).
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally and understand how cost impacts overall project delivery.
• Evidence of a learning-oriented, proactive approach, including taking initiative to understand new project types, systems, or delivery environments.

Nice To Haves

• Experience on data center or other mission-critical projects.
• Exposure to power infrastructure, generators, switchgear, UPS systems, or advanced cooling systems.
• Background in a formal project controls environment (forecast cycles, earned value concepts, cost performance tracking).
• Experience with progressive design-build, fast-track delivery, or campus-style developments.
• Familiarity with cost benchmarking, parametric estimating, or historical cost modeling.
• Experience supporting multiple concurrent projects or program-level reporting.
• Exposure to value engineering, procurement strategy, or TCO analysis.
• Demonstrated interest in building a long-term career in the data center or mission-critical industry (coursework, certifications, self-learning, or related project exposure).

Responsibilities

• Support development and management of project budgets, including scope alignment, assumptions, and cost narratives.
• Perform cost trending, forecasting, and variance analysis to identify risks and provide early financial visibility.
• Conduct bid leveling and detailed analysis of General Contractor and subcontractor proposals, identifying gaps, overlaps, and cost exposures.
• Review and validate change orders for scope accuracy, labor/material justification, and cost reasonableness.
• Maintain and manage cost reports, change order logs, and risk exposure tracking.
• Review contractor pay applications to ensure alignment with project progress and contract terms.
• Partner cross-functionally with Preconstruction, Engineering, Finance, and Delivery teams to support accurate and timely cost management.
• Prepare clear, data-driven reports and executive summaries to support decision-making.
• Maintain and contribute to historical cost databases to support continuous improvement and future estimating accuracy.
• Proactively identify, communicate, and escalate cost trends, risks, and forecast impacts.
• Support procurement and progressive buyout activities across project phases.
• Participate in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and value optimization discussions.
• Continuously expand knowledge of data center cost drivers, delivery models, and MEP systems to support increasing responsibility over time.

Benefits

• We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) plan, and paid time off.
• There will be a daily per diem (7 days a week) to help with food and lodging.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed