Vice President, Cost and Commercial
2 days ago
City of London
About Vantage Data CentersVantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.Vice President, Cost, Commercial & Pre-ConstructionRole Purpose (Strategic “Why”)The Vice President, Cost, Commercial & Pre-Construction is accountable for defining and executing Vantage’s end-to-end cost and commercial strategy, from early-stage development and estimating through to construction delivery and close-out.This role ensures that Vantage’s rapid growth is underpinned by robust cost planning, disciplined estimating, strong contractual frameworks, and consistent commercial governance, enabling the business to scale without compromising cost certainty, financial control, legal protection, or long-term asset value.The Vice President acts as the ultimate authority on cost, estimating, and commercial strategy, shaping how Vantage develops budgets, prices risk, structures contracts, and manages value across the full lifecycle of development.Executive Role SummaryThe Vice President, Cost, Commercial & Pre-Construction leads all cost planning, estimating, and commercial management activities across the Development & Delivery portfolio.This role sets the strategic direction for how Vantage:Develops early-stage cost models and benchmarksProduces and validates estimates across design maturity stagesStructures contracts and procurement strategiesAllocates risk and manages changeEnsures contractual complianceMaintain accurate and timely cost reporting practicesProtects enterprise value from concept through deliveryThis role goes well beyond project oversight. It owns the integrated cost and commercial operating model, ensuring consistency across regions, partners, and project phases, while guiding senior leaders through complex decisions involving cost certainty, affordability, risk exposure, and investment trade-offs.The Vice President is a key member of the Delivery leadership team and a trusted advisor to Executive leadership, Finance, Legal, Development, and Design Engineering.Core AccountabilitiesCost Strategy, Pre-Construction & Estimating (Expanded)(Primary upstream focus)Define and lead Vantage’s pre-construction, cost planning and estimating strategy across all sites and regions.Establish a tiered estimating approach aligned to design maturity (concept, schematic, detailed design, IFC), ensuring progressive cost certainty.Own the development and maintenance of:o Cost benchmarks and regional cost intelligenceo Standardised estimating methodologies and assumptionso Portfolio-wide cost databases and escalation modelsEnsure robust cost planning and validation during development, investment approvals, and stage-gate processes.Partner with Development and Design Engineering to drive:o Value engineering and cost optimisation at early stageso Design-to-budget disciplineo Alignment between design decisions and cost/commercial outcomesProvide executive oversight and challenge on:o Business cases and capital expenditure planso Contractor pricing and tender returnso Affordability and cost-risk trade-offsEnsure strong integration between estimating, procurement strategy, and contracting approachCommercial & Contractual Strategy(Integrated with pre-construction)Define and own Vantage’s commercial and contractual strategy, ensuring alignment with estimating assumptions and risk pricing.Establish contract frameworks that:o Reflect accurate cost and risk positions established during pre-constructiono Appropriately allocate risko Enable controlled flexibilityo Protect long-term commercial and operational interestsEnsure that commercial strategies are informed by early-stage cost certainty and market intelligenceAct as executive sponsor for major procurement and tendering strategies, including contractor engagement models.Lead complex negotiations with General Contractors, consultants, and key suppliers.Contractual Governance & Change ControlHold ultimate accountability for contractual compliance and commercial governance across the portfolio.Ensure alignment between:o Baseline estimateso Approved budgetso Contract values and change controlOwn the change control philosophy, ensuring:o Impacts are measured against original estimates and business case assumptionso Cost and time implications are fully quantified and transparentProvide executive oversight of claims, disputes, and commercial escalations, ensuring alignment with original risk and pricing strategy.Portfolio Cost Control, Forecasting & CashflowAccountable for the integrity of cost data from estimate through to final account, ensuring a clear golden thread across:o Initial estimateso Approved budgetso Forecasts and outturn costsEnsure robust portfolio-level visibility of:o Cost performance vs estimateo Contingency usage and risk drawdowno Cashflow and funding alignmentPartner with Finance to ensure alignment between project-level cost positions and enterprise financial reportingCommercial & Cost Operating Model, Systems & StandardsDevelop and continuously evolve an integrated cost, estimating, and commercial operating modelEnsure consistent application of:o Estimating standards and toolso Cost management processeso Commercial governance frameworksSponsor development of digital cost tools, data platforms, and analytics capabilitiesDrive data-driven decision making, leveraging cost intelligence across regions and projectsEnsure strong integration between Delivery, Finance, Legal, Development, Procurement, and Design EngineeringContinuous Improvement & Cost IntelligenceLead portfolio-level reviews of:o Estimate accuracy vs outturno Cost performance trendso Commercial outcomes and dispute driversEmbed lessons learned from estimating through delivery into future cost plans, procurement strategies, and contract modelsSponsor continuous improvement initiatives focused on:o Cost certaintyo Speed of decision makingo Reduction in commercial risk and variabilityBuild a culture of proactive cost intelligence rather than reactive cost controlSenior Leadership & InfluenceAct as the enterprise leader for cost, estimating, and commercial strategyGuide executive stakeholders on:o Investment decisionso Cost-risk trade-offso Market conditions and pricing dynamicsSet expectations for cost discipline and commercial rigour across all project stagesBuild strong relationships with internal leaders and external partnersChampion Vantage’s values, while providing independent challenge and judgementLeadership Expectations & Ways of WorkingThe Vice President is expected to:Lead with strategic clarity across the full project lifecycle (concept to delivery)Balance cost certainty, risk management, and delivery pragmatismDrive early intervention rather than late-stage correctionEnable and empower teams across pre-construction and deliveryCoach and develop senior estimating and commercial talentFoster a culture where cost and commercial discipline enables better outcomesExperience & QualificationsDegree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Engineering, or similar (or equivalent senior-level experience)12+ years’ experience in senior cost, estimating, and commercial leadership rolesProven track record of:o Leading pre-construction, estimating, and cost planning functions at scaleo Managing contractual risk across large, complex capital programmeso Designing integrated cost and commercial governance frameworksExperience operating at portfolio or enterprise level in a fast-growth environmentStrong understanding of market pricing, contractor behaviour, and procurement strategiesWillingness to travel internationally as required (typically <20%)Strategic Value of the Role (Exec Lens)This role:Embeds cost certainty from concept stage, not just cost control during deliveryProtects hundreds of millions in capital investmentEnables scalable growth through repeatable, data-driven cost modelsReduces volatility through better upfront estimating and risk pricingAligns development, design, procurement, and delivery through a single cost and commercial strategyCreates greater confidence and speed in investment and executive decision makingWe operate with No Ego and No Arrogance. We work to build each other up and support one another, appreciating each other’s strengths and respecting each other’s weaknesses. We find joy in our work and each other, actively seeking opportunities to inject fun into what we do. Our hard and efficient work is rewarded with an above market total compensation package. We offer a comprehensive suite of health and welfare, retirement, and paid leave benefits exceeding local expectations.Throughout the year, the advantage of being part of the Vantage team is evident with an array of benefits, recognition, training and development, and the knowledge that your contribution adds value to the company and our community.Don't meet all the requirements? Please still apply if you think you are the right person for the position. We are always keen to speak to people who connect with our mission and values.Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity EmployerVantage Data Centers does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firm agencies. Fees will not be paid in the event a candidate submitted by a recruiter without an agreement in place is hired; such resumes will be deemed the sole property of Vantage Data Centers. #J-18808-Ljbffr