Project Controls Cost Lead, Project & Development Services

Cushman & Wakefield•Fargo, ND

5d•$110,500 - $130,000

About The Position

This Lead-level role acts as the project controls lead for large, complex, or high-risk capital projects and programs. The individual is responsible for coordinating all cost management activities, serving as the primary point of contact for project-level controls delivery, and partnering directly with clients, project leadership, and key stakeholders. The role provides leadership across cost management workstreams, ensuring consistent application of project controls standards while delivering strategic insights related to cost performance, forecasting, risk, and project outcomes. The Lead Cost Manager will drive the development and implementation of integrated cost management strategies from project initiation through closeout, coordinate inputs across project controls teams, and support delivery excellence across complex client engagements. This role represents a key transition point toward management responsibilities, providing oversight, mentoring, and leadership to project controls team members.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or related field.
Eight (8) or more years of related experience working as a cost management expert on capital projects, including design, construction, and testing/commissioning phases.
Demonstrated experience leading cost management or project controls workstreams on large, complex, or high-risk projects.
Direct experience working within complex, matrixed project environments and multidisciplinary project teams.
Expertise using cost management, project controls, and reporting software, including advanced Excel capabilities.
Experience within one or more of the following industries required: construction, life sciences, data centers, industrial, manufacturing, or other related technical sectors.
Demonstrated experience interacting directly with clients and senior project stakeholders.
Proven ability to identify, communicate, and mitigate project cost and schedule risks.
Must possess exemplary written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

Act as the project controls lead for large-scale, complex, or high-risk capital projects, serving as the primary point of contact for project-level cost management delivery.
Establish and lead cost management programs, tools, technologies, processes, and procedures to support large capital projects and portfolios.
Coordinate and integrate contractor, consultant, engineering, and third-party cost inputs into a comprehensive and integrated project cost plan.
Lead cost management workstreams across multiple project phases, ensuring consistency with project controls standards and client requirements.
Interface directly with client stakeholders, project managers, construction managers, and project teams to provide strategic cost guidance and recommendations.
Identify, analyze, and communicate project cost risks, opportunities, and mitigation strategies to senior project leadership and clients.
Lead detailed cost trend, variance, and performance analysis, providing actionable insights to support project decision-making.
Drive project accrual, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow processes including monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly reporting requirements.
Support and facilitate project risk management processes, including quantitative risk assessments and cost contingency analysis where required.
Develop, implement, and lead earned value management practices on complex capital programs.
Support development and continuous improvement of project controls plans, project execution plans, and governance frameworks.
Coordinate inputs from project controls analysts, schedulers, and other project team members to ensure timely and accurate reporting deliverables.
Review and approve invoices from subcontractors, vendors, consultants, and third-party service providers.
Support procurement activities including development of RFPs, RFQs, bid evaluations, contractor selection, and commercial negotiations.
Lead the development, validation, and maintenance of project estimates throughout the project lifecycle.
Drive value engineering initiatives and cost optimization efforts to maximize project outcomes while maintaining project objectives.
Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of cost management procedures, standards, and best practices for both Cushman & Wakefield and clients.
Provide guidance, mentoring, and technical leadership to junior project controls professionals and support delivery oversight in partnership with Project Controls Managers and senior leadership.
Ensure all cost reporting, forecasting, and project controls deliverables are completed accurately, consistently, and in accordance with established standards.