Senior Cost Manager

A Snapshot

We are seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager to join our Sydney-based Development team. Reporting to the Associate Vice President – Cost, this role will lead all aspects of construction cost management across our hyperscale data centre developments portfolio.

The successful candidate will play a key role in driving commercial outcomes, cost certainty, procurement strategy and value optimisation throughout the full project lifecycle - from feasibility and design development through procurement, delivery and final account close-out.

This is a strategic and hands-on role suited to a senior professional with deep expertise in large-scale construction projects, strong stakeholder management capability and experience operating within complex, fast-paced environments.

Your Day to Day

• Lead detailed cost planning, estimating and benchmarking activities across multiple projects and development stages.
• Pre-contract cost estimation and benchmarking
• Drive value engineering and cost optimisation initiatives without compromising programme, operational performance or quality outcomes.
• Challenge design solutions and construction methodologies to achieve best-for-project commercial outcomes.
• Contract Procurement and Award – Assist Construction & Procurement Department in issuing, reviewing and analyzing the Contractor bid returns
• Actively take part in post-bid interviews with the goal of identifying the most complete bids which offer the best value. This is done through the bid level process, scope review, rate review and omission analysis
• Prepare commercial recommendations, tender reports and approval documentation for senior leadership.
• Provide on-going Cost Management and Cost Review support to the CM team during the currency of the construction period i.e. Estimates, Claim Review, Value Engineering
• Track monthly construction accruals across all region projects, collaborate closely with and report to the APAC Financial Team
• In conjunction with Procurement manage QS Vendor Procurement, assessment of tender returns and vendor selection
• Manage QS Vendor engagement during project tenure – to include invoicing and payments, key figures and performance review
• Provide cost estimating support to internal AirTrunk teams – Construction Managers, Tech, Finance, Procurement
• Provide salient and accurate construction cost data as a vital input for strategic decision-making process – spanning the full range of AirTrunk’s construction programme
• Provide both formal and ad-hoc reporting to various management teams within the AT group

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in quantity surveying or construction management
• 10+ years of proven experience
• Successfully delivered high value projects at the right cost and across different jurisdictions
• Strong cost management capability with both high-level perspective and deep-dive analytical skills
• Great teammate with the ability to work autonomously
• Excellent communications skills coupled with excellent report and bid writing skills
• Incredibly flexible and adaptable to a dynamic fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Willing to make decisions and be accountable for them
• Ability to deliver effective presentations to customers, peers and management
• Good leadership competence to lead multi-disciplinary teams across multiple geographies

AirTrunk Operating Pty Ltd is accepting applications for this full-time Senior Cost Manager position, based in North Sydney, from 16th June 2026 to 16th July 2026.