Assistant cost manager - MEP

The Asst Cost Manager is responsible for delivering controls and cost management services to various assigned clients and industries (i.e. office, cultural, hospitality, healthcare, life sciences, educations, and mixed-use). Projects may involve both new build and renovation projects. The services include conceptual and detailed milestone cost estimates, feasibility studies, master planning, VE & design option reviews, budget reconciliations, Change Order evaluations, project accounting and forecasting. Attention to detail, strong communication skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment is a must and it is essential that this person has good knowledge of construction techniques/technology and real estate markets.

What This Job Involves:

• Collaborate with project managers and team members to establish and track project budgets.
• Lead project teams in delivering comprehensive cost management services.
• Work with team members to maintain project cost control reports, including tracking actual costs against estimated budgets.
• Assist in the reviewing and assessment of all scope of works for all stakeholders to ensure that appropriate descriptions and detail is given, ensuring no gaps in work and that all costs are accounted for.
• Identify and analyse potential risks that may impact project deliverables, timelines, or budgets.
• Prepare detailed and accurate construction cost and project cost estimates from conceptual design through final construction documents.
• Research local market pricing for material, labor, and equipment using published documents, historical data, and performing market studies.
• Assist in developing risk mitigation strategies and monitor their implementation.
• Coordinate with project stakeholders to gather data and provide accurate and timely project status updates.
• Assist in reviewing and analysing project documentation to ensure compliance with organizational and regulatory standards.
• Collaborate with project teams to implement lessons learned and best practices on future projects.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices related to project controls.

What Your Day-to-Day Will Look Like:

• Partner with team members to execute complex projects through all stages.
• Lead teams and manage client relationships on multiple projects
• Prepare detailed and accurate construction cost and project cost estimates from conceptual design through final construction documents.
• Understand and be able to 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.
• Prepare bid analysis and participate in reconciliations with contractors and subcontractors.
• Review change order reviews and support change management, assessing whether changes are within the scope of the base work.

• Effectively communicates to and engage with team leads and stakeholders
• Stays informed on changes to the PDS processes, systems and reporting and contributes to strategic client initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

• 3-5 years as an Estimator, Cost Manager or similar role.
• Bachelors degree from an accredited institution. Preference towards Quantity Surveying, Architecture, Engineering, or Construction Management.
• Ability to regularly communicate analyzed data to client and team to achieve project goals
• Strong working knowledge of architectural drawings and planning concepts.
• Highly organized with strong analytical skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to interact with executive level external and internal clients as well as external team members (architects, contractors, clients representatives, etc.).
• Aggregates and translates outputs into marketable deliverables (e.g. Case Studies, White Papers and quarterly metrics.)
• Ability to generate AACE level 1-5 cost evaluations; capable of working conceptually and qualifying unknowns; expertise in estimating software and benchmarking tools
• 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 (e.g., AACE, RICS).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Intermediate to Expert level in Excel, Project, PowerPoint and SharePoint and Smartsheet
• Expert understanding of building system (MEPFS and architectural)
• Familiarity with procurement and tendering processes.