Senior Associate, Cost Management, Global

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Associate, Cost Management (Global) who owns the cost dimension of project controls for NA based projects and global level coordination.

Responsibilities

• Support the development, publication, and maintenance of top-down cost targets and benchmarking assumptions by market and archetype
• Provide estimating support to optimize global design standards and associated kit of parts; challenge assumptions and quantify variance drivers
• Drive consistent cost management practices across assigned projects; estimating, budgeting, forecasting, contingency tracking, and cost reporting
• Maintain discipline around cost evolution from underwriting through delivery; produce clear budget bridges and variance narratives
• Partner with Business Intelligence to ensure definitions, data quality expectations, and reporting cadence are met
• Develop cost-focused KPI views and executive-ready summaries that surface early warning signals and recommended actions
• Support North America Delivery and Development teams with project-level budget governance including commitments, actuals, forecasts, and cash flow inputs across all WBS items including AOR/EOR, GCs, subs and LLE vendors
• Validate escalation/inflation and regional market assumptions impacting CAPEX; document impacts and communicate to stakeholders
• Help with review and validation of scope change costs, track contingency drawdown, and ensure auditability
• Coordinate with regional teams to visualize variance analysis and budget bridge data presentations
• Oversee and manage day-to-day outputs from third-party cost consultants in North America (e.g., Turner & Townsend, Soben, Linesight); ensure deliverables meet internal and external reporting standards
• Contribute to continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and helping develop standard templates, playbooks, and training materials for cost management

Requirements

• 7–10+ years of progressive experience in cost management, quantity surveying, or commercial management (mission-critical / complex infrastructure preferred)
• Demonstrated experience executing estimating, budgeting, forecasting, and cost controls across multiple concurrent projects
• Strong understanding of CAPEX cost planning, contingency management, and cost-focused change control (scope vs estimate evolution)
• Expert-level proficiency in Procore cost modules and exposure to ERP systems such as Yardi and Yardi Construction Manager
• Experience partnering with investment/underwriting and maintaining cost inputs, assumptions, and sensitivities in business case models
• Proven ability to manage and challenge tier-one cost consultants and professional services firms; set expectations and drive quality
• Advanced financial and cost modeling capability (Excel-based models; comfort with CAPEX, cash flow, and return sensitivities)
• Strong communication skills: ability to translate cost data into clear executive-ready insights and actionable recommendations

Qualifications

Reporting Relationships: Managing Director, Head of North America & CTO, Ada
Compensation: The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.
$180,000.00 - $210,000.00
The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit. Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more.