Senior Cost Manager/Commercial Manager - Data Centre

Overview

• Commercial Leadership & Cost Strategy

• Lead the development and management of project budgets, cost plans, and forecasting for data centre developments.
• Provide strategic cost advice on value engineering, procurement strategies, and cost optimisation.
• Establish cost control frameworks aligned with programme, risk, and delivery strategies.

• Cost Planning & Pre Contract Services

• Oversee preparation of detailed cost estimates, benchmarking, and feasibility studies.
• Lead cost planning through concept, design, and pre construction stages.
• Challenge design solutions and propose alternatives to optimise cost, performance, and constructability in mission critical environments.

• Procurement & Tender Management

• Develop and implement procurement strategies for CSA, MEP, and specialist systems (e.g. power, cooling, containment).
• Lead tender processes including tender documentation, evaluations, negotiations, and recommendations.
• Ensure commercial alignment across multiple contract packages and vendors.

• Post Contract Cost Control

• Manage post contract activities including variations, change control, claims assessment, and cost reporting.
• Oversee contractor valuations and certify payments in line with contractual terms.
• Lead final account negotiations and project close out.

• Stakeholder & Client Management

• Act as the primary commercial interface with clients, project teams, and key stakeholders.
• Present cost reports, forecasts, and commercial insights to senior stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, ensuring a high level of service delivery.

• Data Centre / Technical Coordination

• Work closely with engineering teams to understand power, cooling, redundancy (Tier standards), and infrastructure requirements.
• Provide commercial oversight on critical systems including UPS, generators, chillers, CRAH/CRAC units, and structured cabling.
• Support alignment between design intent and cost efficiency in highly technical environments.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Lead and mentor Cost Managers and Assistant Cost Managers within the team.
• Review deliverables to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with project standards.
• Support team development and capability building.

• Governance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with internal governance, financial controls, and client reporting requirements.
• Identify cost risks early and develop mitigation strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement and knowledge sharing across data centre projects.