The Senior Capital Cost Manager supports the University’s 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.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s 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.
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.
As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities, and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.
UW Facilities operates and maintains more than 300 buildings, and over 27-million gross-square-feet of space, including 643-acres of main campus grounds. The main Seattle campus operates as a "city" of 60,000 people, and includes all municipal utilities, power generation, medical centers, research facilities, streets, parking, waste management, safety, and building operation to meet the standards of one of the nation’s major academic and research institutions. In addition to the Seattle campus, the University of Washington operates and maintains the Bothell and Tacoma campuses and several field stations (Friday Harbor, Olympic Natural Resources, Pack Forest, Sandpoint, and the UW Tower).
The Asset Management group inc...ludes Project Delivery Group, Engineering Services, Sustainability, and Campus Architecture and Planning. The Operations group includes Maintenance & Construction, Campus Utilities & Operations, Building Services, Transportation Services, Safety, and Emergency Management. Supporting these groups are the Business Intelligence & Information Technology group, Finance & Administration group, Real Estate, and Campus Energy. Campus Architecture & Planning is an integral part of the University and will serve as liaison for the UW campuses for strategic planning activities and deliverables.
