
Cost Manager - Real Estate Construction
- West Palm Beach, FL
- $105,000-130,000 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Advise clients on procurement strategies and vendor selection.
- Manage prequalification, bid leveling, and final recommendations.
- Lead bid interviews and oversee the appointment process.
- Develop and present project estimates covering construction, fees, direct work, and other costs.
- Review and challenge vendor estimates using benchmark data and market intelligence.
- Present value engineering options and risk assessments to clients.
- Administer live construction contracts and manage change order procedures, including client sign-off.
- Review contractor measured quantities and validate cost accuracy.
- Oversee cost reporting and forecasting, including budget tracking, variance analysis, and spend projections.
- Establish and maintain reporting schedules and commercial risk registers.
- Review and process contractor pay applications, manage invoicing workflows, and monitor cash flow.
- Evaluate and negotiate change orders, liaising with project managers to assess contractor entitlements.
- Support dispute prevention and resolution related to payment requisitions and contractual issues.
- Benchmark performance against other successful commissions.
- Manage final account close-out, including audits, vendor settlements, and post-contract reviews.
- Document lessons learned and contribute to internal training materials.
- Develop procedures for project handover and close-out.
- Utilize tools such as Bid Analysis Sheets, Change Control Forms, cost estimating software, and take-off platforms.
- SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
- 3–5 years of experience in cost management, ideally within commercial real estate or corporate interiors.
- Experience supporting cost management on medium to large-scale construction projects.
- Strong understanding of construction contracts, procurement routes, and cost control processes.
- Proficiency in cost estimating and take-off software.
- Excellent communication and client-facing skills.
- RICS accreditation or progress toward certification is valuable.
- Experience in a consultancy environment is strongly preferred.
- Solid knowledge of industry practices including value management and engineering.