Job Description
Lead the global estimating function for a large-scale, leased data center build program, responsible for end-to-end estimating governance, standardization, and execution. Own development of funding and stage-gate estimates, "should-cost" change-order assessments, and continuous benchmarking. Establish and maintain the global Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) and a centralized cost database, integrating with program controls, procurement, finance, and regional delivery teams to ensure cost predictability, transparency, and compliance.
Key Responsibilities
Estimating Leadership and Governance
Define and enforce global estimating standards, procedures, and QA/QC aligned to AACE Class 5-Class 1 maturity and program stage gates.
Build and lead a high-performing estimating team (regional leads, discipline estimators, data analysts) with clear roles, SLAs, and succession plans.
Chair the Estimate Review Board; provide independent cost assurance for major funding decisions.
Oversee development of funding estimates and business cases
Produce CAPEX fit-out estimates for funding requests at each gate, aligned to scope, design maturity, and risk profile.
Structure estimates to distinguish co-lo shell vs. tenant fit-out, TI allowances, and capitalizable vs. expensed items (GAAP/IFRS).
Apply escalation, FX, location factors, productivity, market capacity, and procurement strategy assumptions with traceable basis-of-estimate.
Change Management and "Should-Cost" Analytics
Develop should-cost models and unit-rate libraries to evaluate vendor proposals and change orders for reasonableness.
Support negotiations with LV and other contractors; provide claim analysis and cost entitlement assessments.
Maintain a variance log with drivers (scope, rates, quantities, productivity, market) and recommended mitigations.
Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) and WBS Alignment
Establish a standardized global CBS tailored to data center fit-outs (e.g., civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, controls/BMS/SCADA, fire protection, racks/containment, network/telecom, security, commissioning, indirects, GC fee, contingency, owner costs, co-lointerfaces).
Align CBS to program WBS, scheduling activities, procurement packages, and the financial chart of accounts for straight-through cost control and reporting.
Global Cost Database and Benchmarking
Build and govern a centralized cost database with location factors, currency, FX history, escalation indices, and vendor rate cards.
Implement data quality standards, coding, and metadata to enable parametric and benchmark estimating across regions and facility tiers.
Publish quarterly market intelligence and cost indices; refresh benchmarks after each project closeout (lessons learned).
Risk and Contingency Management
Quantify risk and uncertainty; develop deterministic and probabilistic contingencies aligned to estimate classes.
Integrate risk registers, schedule risk outputs, and supply-chain signals into cost forecasts and funding requests.
Procurement and Market Interface
Partner with Strategic Sourcing on bid strategies (lump sum, GMP, unit price), prequalification, and evaluation criteria.
Support contracting strategies for long-lead equipment (switchgear, generators, UPS, CRAH/CRAC, transformers) and multi-region framework agreements.
Prepare should-costs for alternates and value engineering, ensuring TCO and reliability requirements are met.
Reporting and Stakeholder Management
Deliver executive-ready dashboards: funding deltas, cost drivers, location indexation, estimate accuracy, contingency burn.
Provide clear basis-of-estimate narratives, assumptions, exclusions, and confidence ranges.
Interface with Design, Delivery, Commissioning, Operations, Finance, and Landlord teams to maintain scope-cost alignment.
Systems, Data, and Integration
Implement enterprise tools for estimating, cost control, and reporting; integrate with ERP, commitments, and change control.
Ensure CBS/WBS codes are consistently applied across schedules, POs, commitments, and actuals for traceability and audit.
Establish data governance, access controls, and audit trails; comply with SOX, privacy, and records retention policies.
Core Deliverables
Global estimating standards and procedures (including class definitions, BOE templates, QA checklists)
Master CBS and coding dictionary mapped to WBS, ERP, and reporting hierarchies
Centralized cost database and benchmark library with regional indices and escalation curves
Should-cost models and unit-rate libraries for key trades and major equipment
Stage-gate estimates with confidence intervals and risk-adjusted contingencies
Independent cost reviews for large funding requests and major change events
Quarterly cost intelligence reports and annual update to location factors
Responsibilities
Qualifications
12-15+ years in cost estimating or cost engineering for mission-critical/data centers or large industrial MEP-intensive programs; global portfolio experience strongly preferred
Deep expertise in MEP systems, power distribution, backup generation, cooling technologies, controls, commissioning, and white space build-outs within leased DC environments
Track record establishing CBS frameworks, cost databases, and estimating governance at scale
Proficient in estimate classing (AACE), BOE development, quantity takeoff, parametric and unit-rate models, and change-order analysis
Strong understanding of procurement/contracting models (GMP, LS, CMAR), TI allowances, capitalization rules (GAAP/IFRS), and lease interfaces
Advanced Excel and data modeling; familiarity with enterprise cost/control platforms and integration with ERP
Professional certifications preferred: AACE CCP/CEP, RICS MRICS/FRICS, PE (where applicable), PMP a plus
Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and executive presentation skills
Tooling Experience
Enterprise cost and project controls (e.g., Oracle Primavera Unifier, Oracle Primavera Cloud (OPC), Oracle Aconex, Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP) and BI/reporting
Estimating/QTO tools and databases; ability to standardize data pipelines and maintain unit-rate libraries
Key Competencies
Strategic thinker with strong cost sense; able to challenge design and supplier assumptions with data
Data-driven; builds reusable models and institutional knowledge
Governance-minded; establishes standards that scale globally
Collaborative; effective across Design, Delivery, Procurement, Finance, and Operations
Resilient in fast-paced, high-change environments
Success Metrics (6 months)
Global CBS and cost database implemented and adopted (>90% coding compliance)
Stage-gate estimate accuracy within agreed bands (e.g., Class 3 P50 ±15-20%)
Reduction in avoidable change orders and improved CO cycle times
Achieved savings vs. market through should-cost and VE interventions
Reliable quarterly cost indices and benchmarks used across regions
Clean audit results and strong stakeholder satisfaction
Organizational Placement
Reports to: VP/Head of Global Project Controls
Disclaimer:
Certain US customer or client-facing roles may be required to comply with applicable requirements, such as immunization and occupational health mandates.
Range and benefit information provided in this posting are specific to the stated locations only
US: Hiring Range in USD from: $90,100 to $199,500 per annum. May be eligible for bonus and equity.
Oracle maintains broad salary ranges for its roles in order to account for variations in knowledge, skills, experience, market conditions and locations, as well as reflect Oracle's differing products, industries and lines of business.
Candidates are typically placed into the range based on the preceding factors as well as internal peer equity.
Oracle US offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes the following:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including expert medical opinion
Short term disability and long term disability
Life insurance and AD&D
Supplemental life insurance (Employee/Spouse/Child)
Health care and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts
Pre-tax commuter and parking benefits
401(k) Savings and Investment Plan with company match
Paid time off: Flexible Vacation is provided to all eligible employees assigned to a salaried (non-overtime eligible) position. Accrued Vacation is provided to all other employees eligible for vacation benefits. For employees working at least 35 hours per week, the vacation accrual rate is 13 days annually for the first three years of employment and 18 days annually for subsequent years of employment. Vacation accrual is prorated for employees working between 20 and 34 hours per week. Employees working fewer than 20 hours per week are not eligible for vacation.
11 paid holidays
Paid sick leave: 72 hours of paid sick leave upon date of hire. Refreshes each calendar year. Unused balance will carry over each year up to a maximum cap of 112 hours.
Paid parental leave
Adoption assistance
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Financial planning and group legal
Voluntary benefits including auto, homeowner and pet insurance
The role will generally accept applications for at least three calendar days from the posting date or as long as the job remains posted.
Career Level - IC4
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