Cost Manager, Construction

What this job involves

As a Cost Manager at JLL, you will be responsible for delivering estimating and cost management services to various assigned clients across diverse industries including office, cultural, hospitality, healthcare, life sciences, education, and mixed-use projects involving both new build and renovation projects. Your services will include conceptual and detailed milestone cost estimates, feasibility studies, master planning, VE & design option reviews, budget reconciliations, Change Order evaluations, project accounting, and forecasting. This role requires collaborating with stakeholders to establish and track project budgets while maintaining project cost control reports and tracking actual costs against estimated budgets. You'll assist in reviewing and assessing all scope of works for stakeholders to ensure appropriate descriptions and detail are given with no gaps in work and all costs accounted for.

What your day-to-day will look like

Partner with team members to execute complex projects through all stages while preparing detailed and accurate construction cost and project cost estimates from conceptual design through final construction documents. Understand and relay local market pricing for material, labor, and equipment using published documents, historical data, and performing market studies. Provide value engineering services and design option reviews while preparing bid analysis and participating in reconciliations with contractors and subcontractors. Review change orders and support change management assessing whether changes are within scope of base work. Identify and analyze potential risks that may impact project deliverables, timelines, or budgets while developing risk mitigation strategies. Coordinate with project stakeholders to gather data and provide accurate and timely project status updates. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices related to project controls while collaborating with project teams to implement lessons learned.

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years as an Estimator, Cost Manager, or similar role
• Bachelor's degree from accredited institution (preference towards Quantity Surveying, Architecture, Engineering, or Construction Management)
• Strong working knowledge of architectural drawings and planning concepts
• Highly organized with strong analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to interact with executive level external and internal clients as well as external team members
• Expertise in estimating software and benchmarking tools
• Expertise in generating AACE level 1-5 cost evaluations with capability of working conceptually and qualifying unknowns
• Ability to work collaboratively, independently, and through ambiguity to create structure and consensus

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Cost-X, On-Screen Takeoff, or other estimating software
• Professional certification in project management (AACE, RICS)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Intermediate to Expert level in Excel, Project, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Smartsheet
• Expert understanding of building systems (MEPFS and architectural)
• Familiarity with procurement and tendering processes
• Understanding of value engineering principles and design optimization