Cost Controls Lead

JLL•Atlanta, GA

2d•Remote

About The Position

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way. Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward. OVERVIEW The Cost Controls Lead is a senior, program-level leadership role within the Center of Excellence (COE), responsible for cost governance, estimating rigor, forecasting accuracy, and financial risk visibility across the portfolio. This role leads the Program Estimators team and owns the standards, methodologies, and outputs that ensure cost certainty and predictable outcomes across all authorized service lines. Reporting directly to the COE Lead, the Cost Controls Lead establishes and enforces estimating standards, maintains program benchmarks and market intelligence, and provides leadership focus on cost performance, recovery, and continuous improvement. The role operates as an enterprise enablement function—supporting early-phase decision-making while maintaining strong discipline through pricing milestones—without assuming day-to-day project cost management or negotiation authority. JOB SUMMARY/GOALS This role provides program-wide leadership for cost controls and estimating functions within the COE. Key goals include: Own and enforce cost governance, estimating standards, and financial discipline across the program Lead and develop the Program Estimators team to deliver consistent, phase-appropriate cost outputs Improve cost predictability through benchmarking, analytics, and risk visibility Support early-phase decision-making through high-quality estimates and value opportunity insights Provide leadership focus to address historical cost challenges and improve portfolio outcomes Partner closely with Project Delivery Team, Scheduling, Design Enablement, PMO, and Innovation to align cost, schedule, and constructability decisions

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Accounting, or related field
7–10+ years of experience in construction cost management or estimating
Demonstrated experience leading estimating or cost controls teams
Strong understanding of CSI trade costs and multi-phase estimating
Experience supporting retail, restaurant, or prototype-driven programs preferred
Deep expertise in construction estimating, cost modeling, and financial risk management
Strong leadership and team development capabilities
Ability to influence early-phase decisions through clear, credible cost insight
High analytical rigor with the ability to translate data into executive-level narratives
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage client and JLL leadership
Working knowledge of architectural and engineering drawings
Proficiency with estimating and cost tools (e.g., RSMeans, CostX, Bluebeam, PlanSwift)
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office and data analysis tools
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Experience operating within a Center of Excellence or program controls environment
Prior exposure to portfolio-level analytics and benchmarking
Familiarity with JLL PDS standards, controls, and governance frameworks
Experience supporting innovation or industrialized construction initiatives

Responsibilities

Own program-wide cost controls standards, estimating methodologies, and governance frameworks
Establish and maintain disciplined estimating practices across scoping, engineered drawing, and final pricing phases
Ensure consistent application of cost assumptions, exclusions, and risk documentation
Provide leadership oversight to ensure estimates are complete, defensible, and aligned with approved scope
Serve as the senior escalation point for cost-related risks, variances, or confidence concerns
Lead, mentor, and develop the Program Estimators team
Set performance expectations, prioritize workload, and ensure consistent quality of deliverables
Create clear development pathways and growth opportunities for estimating team members
Promote collaboration between Estimators, Design, Scheduling, and Industrialized Construction teams
Oversee development and validation of: Scoping budgets, Engineered Drawing budgets, Final Pricing budgets
Validate alignment between scope, quantities, and pricing at defined milestones
Support bid reviews focused on scope completeness and pricing reasonableness
Ensure “apples-to-apples” bid comparisons through compliance and completeness checks
Establish and maintain historical cost benchmarks by project type, prototype, and market
Lead annual program-level benchmarking updates
Monitor market conditions, cost drivers, and pricing volatility
Provide standardized variance narratives and market context to leadership and clients
Lead portfolio-level analysis of budget movement across pricing stages
Identify recurring scope gaps, cost growth drivers, and estimating accuracy trends
Maintain program-level cost assumption and risk registers
Provide early warning insights to support recovery planning and decision-making
Identify repeatable scope, specification, or constructability alternatives with cost implications
Support value engineering discussions through data-driven analysis and recommendations
Provide advisory input only; no negotiation, approval, or implementation authority
Partner with Scheduling to align cost and schedule assumptions
Collaborate with Design Enablement to influence early-phase decisions
Coordinate with Industrialized Construction to embed standardization and innovation
Support PMO and Program Support functions with cost insight, data, and reporting alignment