Global Chief Estimating Lead Director- Data Center Fit-Out

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
• 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.
• 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, fee, contingency, owner costs, co-lointerfaces).
• 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).
• Quantify risk and uncertainty; develop deterministic and probabilistic contingencies aligned to estimate classes.
• Procurement and Market Interface
• 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
• Provide clear basis-of-estimate narratives, assumptions, exclusions, and confidence ranges.
• Interface with Design, Delivery, Commissioning, Operations, Finance, and Co-lo teams to maintain scope-cost alignment.
• Implement enterprise tools for estimating, cost control, and reporting; integrate with ERP, commitments, and change control.

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

Qualifications

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: $139,400 to $291,800 per annum. May be eligible for bonus, equity, and compensation deferral.

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:
1. Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including expert medical opinion
2. Short term disability and long term disability
3. Life insurance and AD&D
4. Supplemental life insurance (Employee/Spouse/Child)
5. Health care and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts
6. Pre-tax commuter and parking benefits
7. 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan with company match
8. 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.
9. 11 paid holidays
10. 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.
11. Paid parental leave
12. Adoption assistance
13. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
14. Financial planning and group legal
15. 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 - M4

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