Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction
Job DescriptionJob DescriptionCompany Description
Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries.
Working with our clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people’s lives. Working in partnership makes it possible to deliver the world’s most impactful projects and programmes as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success.
Our capabilities include programme, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions.
We are majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with our partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with the premier programme, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.
Job Description
Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to act as the key, day‑to‑day client interface and deliver a value‑added cost management service on a large‑scale, mission‑critical data center program in the Phoenix market. You will ensure the project is delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards, with strong emphasis on governance, commercial rigor, and stakeholder engagement.
The ideal candidate is confident in client‑facing environments, communicates clearly, and can work both independently and as part of a collaborative team, providing leadership while embedding and promoting Turner & Townsend’s purpose, values, and vision.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain detailed cost plans and estimates through design milestones; produce and present final cost plans and executive summaries.
- Coordinate all sources of cost information (design teams, GC, subcontractors, vendor quotes, benchmark data) for robust cost validation and auditing.
- Provide commercial input to design optioneering and lead value engineering (VE) and cost optimization initiatives.
- Inform and drive engineering priorities based on cost impact; integrate cost with schedule and scope in coordination with project controls/scheduling.
- Lead procurement strategy development, scope validation, contractor/subcontractor pricing reviews, and commercial negotiations to achieve fair contract prices.
- Prepare written comments on contractor submissions and present executive‑level updates to stakeholders.
- Own change control throughout the lifecycle: review, estimate, negotiate, and reconcile change orders; manage post‑contract cost variances.
- Establish and operate cost control systems, including cost checks, valuations, commitment tracking, contingency management, and (where applicable) EVM.
- Produce and present monthly cost reports and funding data; coordinate VE sessions and scenario planning.
- Ensure timely agreement of final accounts and compile as‑built cost records for benchmarking and continuous improvement.
- Act as the primary client interface, ensuring objectives are met and service excellence is delivered.
- Demonstrate excellence in financial management (margin tracking, monthly /resource forecasts) across commissions.
- Implement and maintain internal Business Management Systems and company delivery methodologies/tools for consistent best practice.
- Coach and mentor junior team members; foster a high‑performance, one‑business culture.
- SOX control responsibilities may apply and must be adhered to where applicable.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Cost Management, or a related field.
- 5–7+ years of relevant experience in cost management/project controls within construction; construction consultancy experience strongly .
- Proven experience leading cost management on medium to large, complex projects—mission‑critical/data center, high‑tech, or industrial experience is a plus.
- Solid understanding of MEP systems, resilience requirements, and campus‑scale infrastructure common to hyperscale data centers.
- Strong foundation in budgeting, financial reporting, cost control systems, and (where applicable) EVM.
- Expertise in procurement strategies and commercial management of contractor/vendor contracts.
- RICS accreditation (or progress toward) .
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with strong analytical/problem‑solving ability and high attention to detail.
- Proficiency with industry‑standard cost management tools and software.
Additional Information
*On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our clients' needs.*
Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.
We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.
Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/
Turner & Townsend does not accept any speculative or unsolicited CV’s that have been sent to our internal recruitment team or hiring managers from agencies outside of our supplier list or that have not followed due process. Any speculative or unsolicited CV’s will be treated as a direct application.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
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