The posting
Position Overview
Nscale's North American Data Center Infrastructure (DCI) group is delivering large-scale, high-density data center campuses at pace. Within the Project Controls group, cost management makes sure every dollar is planned, tracked, and forecast accurately.
The Cost Manager owns the cost picture for assigned DCI projects, from budget development and procurement through construction, commissioning, and close-out. This role keeps budgets, commitments, actuals, and forecasts accurate and current, manages change, and gives project leadership an early, honest view of cost risk and opportunity.
Key Responsibilities
- Budget development: Build and maintain project budgets and cost breakdown structures, aligned with estimates, the WBS, and the DCI project controls framework.
- Cost tracking: Track commitments, actuals, accruals, and forecasts at completion; reconcile project cost data with Finance and the ERP each month.
- Forecasting: Prepare monthly cost reports and forecasts, including variance analysis, cash flow projections, and trend identification.
- Change management: Maintain trend and change logs; evaluate contractor change order requests for merit, quantum, and contractual entitlement; and negotiate fair outcomes.
- Payment applications: Review and validate contractor and vendor payment applications against progress, contract terms, retainage, and lien waiver requirements.
- Procurement support: Support bid leveling, cost comparisons, and commercial evaluation for major trade packages and long-lead equipment (e.g., generators, switchgear, UPS, cooling).
- Contingency management: Track contingency and allowance drawdown and flag emerging cost risks and opportunities to the Project Controls Manager.
- Estimating input: Provide feedback from actual costs to improve future estimates and benchmarks across the DCI portfolio.
- Close-out: Support commercial close-out, including final accounts, claims resolution, and capitalization documentation.
Qualifications
Required
- 7+ years of cost management, quantity surveying, or project controls experience on commercial, industrial, or mission-critical construction projects.
- Strong understanding of construction contracts (lump sum, GMP, cost-plus, unit rate) and change order evaluation.
- Experience preparing cost reports, forecasts, and cash flow projections for projects of $100M+.
- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with advanced Excel ability.
- Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Preferred
- Data center, power, or MEP-intensive project experience.
- AACE CCP / CCT, RICS (MRICS), or equivalent professional credential.
- Owner-side cost management experience.
- Familiarity with earned value management principles.
Character & Conduct
What We Value Most: Character & Conduct
Technical skills can be taught. Character cannot. At Nscale, we're looking for people who show up with integrity, treat others with respect, and take genuine ownership of their work. Project controls is only as valuable as the trust people place in its numbers, so this individual's honesty and reliability are central to the role. The following traits matter as much to us as any credential or years of experience:
- Integrity — does the right thing even when no one is watching; never misrepresents status, costs, or progress to protect themselves or their team
- Ownership mentality — treats the program as their own and holds themselves accountable for the quality and accuracy of their work without being told
- Respectful under pressure — stays composed and professional with contractors, trades, and internal Nscale teams regardless of the circumstances
- Transparent communicator — surfaces problems early and honestly and never buries bad news
- Team-first attitude — ego stays at the gate; the program and the people on it come first
- Reliable and consistent — shows up prepared, follows through on commitments, and does what they say they will do
We actively seek references that speak to a candidate's character, not just their technical output.
Tools & Software
- Cost management platforms (e.g., EcoSys, Procore, Kahua, or similar)
- Advanced Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, lookups, financial modeling)
- ERP / finance systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite)
- Power BI or similar reporting tools
- Working familiarity with Primavera P6 for cost-schedule integration
Work Environment & Schedule
- Hybrid role based in North America, with regular travel (approximately 20–40%) to active DCI project sites and contractor offices.
- Deadline-driven environment aligned to monthly reporting and financial close cycles.
- Site visits require adherence to all Nscale and contractor safety programs and use of appropriate PPE.
The range below reflects the base salary for the position. Actual compensation may vary based on job-related factors such as skill set, experience, education, and location. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for bonus, equity, and/or commission programs. Nscale may offer a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, flexible paid time off, parental leave, and retirement plan participation.
Salary Range
$110,000—$180,000 USD
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