Jobs and Careers

Project Controls Cost Lead, Project & Development Services

Cushman & Wakefield

United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 19 Aug 2026

💰 $130,000/yr($110,500/yr – $130,000/yr)

About the role

Job Title

Project Controls Cost Lead, Project & Development Services

Job Description Summary

This Lead-level role acts as the project controls lead for large, complex, or high-risk capital projects and programs. The individual is responsible for coordinating all cost management activities, serving as the primary point of contact for project-level controls delivery, and partnering directly with clients, project leadership, and key stakeholders. The role provides leadership across cost management workstreams, ensuring consistent application of project controls standards while delivering strategic insights related to cost performance, forecasting, risk, and project outcomes.

The Lead Cost Manager will drive the development and implementation of integrated cost management strategies from project initiation through closeout, coordinate inputs across project controls teams, and support delivery excellence across complex client engagements. This role represents a key transition point toward management responsibilities, providing oversight, mentoring, and leadership to project controls team members.

Job Description

Essential Job Duties

Act as the project controls lead for large-scale, complex, or high-risk capital projects, serving as the primary point of contact for project-level cost management delivery.
Establish and lead cost management programs, tools, technologies, processes, and procedures to support large capital projects and portfolios.
Coordinate and integrate contractor, consultant, engineering, and third-party cost inputs into a comprehensive and integrated project cost plan.
Lead cost management workstreams across multiple project phases, ensuring consistency with project controls standards and client requirements.
Interface directly with client stakeholders, project managers, construction managers, and project teams to provide strategic cost guidance and recommendations.
Identify, analyze, and communicate project cost risks, opportunities, and mitigation strategies to senior project leadership and clients.
Lead detailed cost trend, variance, and performance analysis, providing actionable insights to support project decision-making.
Drive project accrual, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow processes including monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly reporting requirements.
Support and facilitate project risk management processes, including quantitative risk assessments and cost contingency analysis where required.
Develop, implement, and lead earned value management practices on complex