Senior Cost Manager

RLB Careers•St Paul, MN

About The Position

The Senior Cost Manager manages project costs throughout all stages of construction, supporting effective cost control, accurate reporting, and strong client collaboration. The role leads cost planning and commercial activities across a range of project types and identifies opportunities to add value and achieve clients’ desired project outcomes. The position is part of the Estimating Team and serves as the lead individual for specific projects. It includes preparing and reviewing cost estimates, evaluating cost-related deliverables, forecasting and reporting costs, presenting recommendations to management and clients, and contributing to team performance through collaboration, communication, training, and mentoring. The role calls for a positive, proactive approach and a commitment to customer service excellence.

Requirements

A four-year college degree in Construction Management, Structural Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Cost Estimating, or an equivalent recognized technical qualification; equivalent substitute experience is also referenced.
5–10+ years of relevant construction cost-estimating experience across a variety of building types.
Experience estimating at program, conceptual, schematic, design development, and construction document stages.
Experience estimating in elemental and CSI formats for architectural, structural, and civil components of new construction and renovation projects.
Knowledge and understanding of the execution of cost management services.
Good planning, organization, and communication skills.
Understanding of technical and non-technical documents related to cost management services.
Knowledge and use of industry estimating software and Microsoft Office software programs.
Ability to work on a computer and answer and speak on a telephone.

Nice To Haves

Some MEP estimating experience.
AACE International certification and/or Certified Cost Professional certification.

Responsibilities

Prepare and manage detailed quantity take-offs and cost estimates based on drawings and specifications.
Review construction plans and specifications during preconstruction and prepare estimates for 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 and report differences in scope, quantities, and pricing from contractors’ estimates.
Perform plan and specification analysis, take-off, and pricing for various construction projects as part of the Estimating Team.
Act as the lead individual for specific projects.
Review estimates prepared by the Estimating Team before supervisor final review.
Compile and analyze factors that influence costs, including materials, labor, equipment, and profit margins.
Evaluate cost-estimating deliverables prepared by architects and engineers for cost containment.
Acquire and evaluate historical and vendor cost data to develop cost estimates and price recommendations.
Forecast costs of future projects and changes to existing projects.
Prepare technical evaluations, draft cost-estimating reports, memos, and letters, and present recommendations to management and clients.
Attend client meetings.
Participate in design charrettes and design workshops, including presenting estimates to the client and architect/engineer 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 the supervisor, including reviewing estimates prepared by others.
Assist with training and mentoring others.
Contribute to team performance through collaboration and effective communication.
Understand clients’ desired project outcomes and identify opportunities to add value toward achieving them.
Perform other duties as assigned.