Senior Capital Cost Manager

Job Description

UW Facilities manages the Universitys buildings infrastructure and land with more than 1100 employees in a variety of fields. The Asset Management group includes Capital & Space Management Real Estate Sustainability and other teams responsible for planning and workload management. The Operations group includes Project Delivery Maintenance & Construction Transportation Services and Safety. Lastly there is the Campus Energy Utilities & Operations group. Supporting these groups are the Business Intelligence & Information Technology group and the Finance & Administration group.

Asset Management has an outstanding opportunity for a Senior Capital Cost Manager to join the team.

The Senior Capital Cost Manager supports the Universitys Asset Management group by providing independent data-driven cost analysis that informs early project definition scope development and delivery method decisions across the capital portfolio. This role ensures that project budgets are credible comparable and aligned with intended scope institutional standards market conditions and relevant peer and private sector benchmarks.

Positioned at the front end of the capital lifecycle the analyst partners closely with account and portfolio managers campus planners project managers finance staff and consultants to evaluate cost reasonableness identify risks and support options-based decision-making for academic research healthcare/hospital and auxiliary facilities at the Seattle Bothell Tacoma and medical campuses.

Key Responsibilities

Project Formation & Early Budgeting 30%

• Support project formation by informing early-phase budgets and estimates provided by consultants using historical project data and benchmark metrics.

• Assess cost implications of programmatic assumptions building systems site conditions utility connections permitting and delivery method selection.

• Identify cost risks scope gaps and anomalies prior to project authorization.

• Assist with options analysis and scenario modeling to support leadership decisions.

Benchmarking & Cost Analytics 30%

• Develop and maintain a benchmark cost database for facilities projects including construction soft costs escalation contingencies and allowances.

• Normalize historical project data to enable consistent comparisons across project types and delivery methods.

• Analyze cost drivers for complex facilities (e.g. laboratories research cores utilities specialized systems).

• Conduct peer benchmarking with comparable R1 research institutions and regional/national datasets highlighting discrepancies and identifying opportunities for cost saving measures.

Delivery Support & Cost Governance 20%

• Partner with project managers during delivery to assess cost trends relative to benchmarks.

• Support scope budget and change discussions with objective data-backed analysis.

• Establish and maintain cost benchmarking standards and methodologies within Asset Management in alignment with state- mandated forms.

• Track budget (and scope) variability of projects from formation to completion to inform cost and performance metrics and potential areas of improvement (e.g. unit pricing soft costs contingencies delivery method escalation code/standard impacts etc.).

Reporting & Communication 20%

• Prepare clear concise reports and dashboards for Facilities leadership campus stakeholders and governance bodies.

• Communicate assumptions limitations and findings in a manner that is accessible to non-technical audiences.

• Serve as a trusted internal advisor on cost reasonableness and market conditions questioning or validating areas of differentiation.

Core Competencies

• Analytical rigor and attention to detail

• Early-phase judgment and independence

• Collaborative service-oriented mindset

• Clear written and verbal communication

• Stewardship of public and institutional resources

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in construction management architecture engineering finance or a related field.

• 8-12 years of experience in cost analysis estimating benchmarking or capital financial analysis.

• Demonstrated experience working with large-scale capital projects in institutional or public-sector environments.

• Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel proficiency.

• Ability to translate technical cost data into actionable insights and presentation-quality communications.

Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements such as a license certification and/or registration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with laboratory research and infrastructure project cost drivers.

• Knowledge of multiple delivery methods (DBB GCCM/CM-at-Risk Progressive Design-Build).

• Experience with capital project management or construction management.

• Knowledge of constructability considerations in historic and existing buildings.

• Familiarity with applicable building codes life-safety requirements and renovation constraints.

• Proficiency with data visualization tools (Power BI Tableau).

• Note that while experience with cost estimating may be beneficial this position will not be responsible for performing design phase cost estimates and at its core is focused on cost analysis rather than quantity take-offs unit costs and the like.

Compensation Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

Pay Range Maximum:

Other Compensation:

Benefits:

Temporary or Regular

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

Union/Bargaining Unit:

About the UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses in our state and around the world.

UW employees bring their boundless energy creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier return they enjoy outstanding benefits opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity intellectual excitement artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race color creed religion national origin citizenship sex pregnancy age marital status sexual orientation gender identity or expression genetic information disability or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process contact the Disability Services Office at or .

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.