Cost Project Manager
Position Summary
The Cost Project Manager (CPM) owns cost control across Hays Electrical Services' data center and mission-critical build program. This role brings rigor, transparency, and foresight to the financial side of capital construction, partnering directly with the EVP of the Data Center Team to protect margin, de-risk spend, and keep every project accountable to its numbers.
Key Responsibilities
Develop, manage, and continuously update cost budgets, forecasts, and cash flow projections for data center construction projects, from pre-construction through closeout
Produce and publish the Cost Management Report (CMR) on a weekly cadence, covering Overall Budget, Contracts & Subcontracts, Procurement, and Expenses
Track and report project cost performance against budget, identifying variances early and driving corrective action with project teams
Maintain the project Cost Tracking Plan (CTP): cost breakdown structure, account-level separation, baseline budget, control thresholds, and labor-vs.-schedule burn-rate analytics
Review, validate, and process contractor and vendor pay applications, change orders, and cost proposals for accuracy and contract compliance
Manage procurement cost visibility through KOJO (material requisitions, quotes, and purchase orders), reconciling weekly material cost reports and capturing costs that originate outside the platform
Reconcile monthly and job-to-date (JTD) expenses across Miter, KOJO, and Vista — including cash and accrued expenses — on a recurring cadence with Accounting, Procurement, and Project Controls
Partner with the EVP and project leadership to build executive-level cost reports, dashboards, and risk registers used in capital allocation decisions
Lead cost risk analysis across the project lifecycle, flagging exposure from scope changes, schedule slippage, escalation, and market conditions
Support contract negotiations and buyout by providing cost benchmarking, estimate validation, and value-engineering recommendations
Maintain audit-ready cost documentation and ensure consistent cost coding and reporting standards (phase codes / budget groups) across all active projects
Author and refine cost-control standard operating procedures (e.g., salary time-tracking SOP, CMR SOP) and route them through peer review and department-head markup
Required Qualifications & Skills
Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Finance, or a related field; experience may be considered in lieu of degree
5–7 years of experience in cost management, project controls, or cost engineering on large-scale construction or capital projects
Strong command of cost forecasting, earned value management, and change order/pay application review
Proficiency with cost management and scheduling tools (e.g., Procore, e-Builder, Primavera, or comparable platforms) and advanced Excel skills
Ability to learn and operate Hays' project systems: Vista (ERP), Miter (job cost reporting), KOJO (procurement), and Trimble (estimating/field data)
Excellent written and verbal communication skills — able to distill complex cost data into a clear narrative for executive stakeholders
A track record of working cross-functionally with construction, finance, and procurement teams under tight timelines
Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for regular travel to active construction sites
Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills; able to work independently and as part of a team
Preferred Experience
In data centers, mission-critical facilities, or other complex technical/industrial construction
Experience with electrical construction cost structures (labor, material, subcontracts, prefab, per diem for traveling workforces)
CCP, PSP, or similar cost engineering / project controls certification