Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend is seeking a Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to lead cost management for a large-scale data center program. This hybrid role involves developing cost plans, producing reports, coordinating cost information, leading procurement, managing change control, and supporting risk analysis. The ideal candidate will be client-facing, ensure project delivery on time and within budget, and uphold high standards of governance and commercial rigor.

Must Have

• Develop and maintain detailed cost plans and estimates.
• Produce and present monthly cost reports, executive summaries, and funding data.
• Coordinate all sources of cost information for robust cost validation and auditing.
• Lead procurement strategy development, contractor/subcontractor pricing reviews, scope validation, and commercial negotiations.
• Manage final accounts and ensure timely agreement.
• Own change control throughout the lifecycle: review, estimate, negotiate, and reconcile change orders.
• Support cost risk analysis, scenario planning, contingency management, and commitment tracking.
• Ensure robust cost control systems, including Earned Value Management (EVM).
• Integrate cost with schedule and scope, coordinating closely with project controls/scheduling teams.
• Inform and drive engineering priorities based on cost impact; lead value engineering (VE) initiatives.
• Monitor market trends (escalation, labor availability, material pricing) and provide timely insights.
• Act as the primary client interface, ensuring objectives are met and service excellence is delivered.
• Prepare and present executive‑level updates, written comments on GC submissions, and cost estimate updates.
• Ensure adherence to internal Business Management Systems and company delivery methodologies.
• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5–7+ years in cost management/project controls within mission‑critical environments.
• Solid understanding of MEP systems, resilience requirements, and campus‑scale infrastructure.
• Strong foundation in budgeting, financial reporting, cost control systems, and EVM.
• Expertise in procurement strategies and the commercial management of contractor/vendor contracts.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities with high attention to detail.
• Proficiency with industry-standard cost management tools and software.

Good to Have

• Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred.
• RICS accreditation or progress toward certification is advantageous.

Perks & Benefits

• Opportunity and voice to affect change.
• Healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.
• Equal opportunity employer, committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Company 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 serve 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. This role is pivotal in ensuring 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 comfortable operating in a client-facing environment, communicate clearly, and can work both independently and as part of a collaborative team. In this significant position, you will provide leadership and direction while embedding and promoting the purpose, values, and vision of Turner & Townsend.

This is a hybrid role with regular on-site visits required approximately 25 miles east of Milwaukee.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain detailed cost plans and estimates through design and delivery phases, leveraging industry benchmarks and technical documentation.
• Produce and present monthly cost reports, executive summaries, and funding data to stakeholders.
• Coordinate all sources of cost information (design teams, GC, subs, vendor quotes) for robust cost validation and auditing.
• Compile built cost records for benchmarking and continuous improvement.
• Lead procurement strategy development, contractor/subcontractor pricing reviews, scope validation, and commercial negotiations to drive fair contract prices.
• Manage final accounts and ensure timely agreement.
• Own change control throughout the lifecycle: review, estimate, negotiate, and reconcile change orders; manage post‑contract cost variances.
• Support cost risk analysis, scenario planning, contingency management, and commitment tracking.
• Ensure robust cost control systems, including Earned Value Management (EVM) where applicable.
• Integrate cost with schedule and scope, coordinating closely with project controls/scheduling teams.
• Inform and drive engineering priorities based on cost impact; lead value engineering (VE) initiatives and cost optimization strategies.
• Monitor market trends (escalation, labor availability, material pricing) and provide timely insights.
• Act as the primary client interface, ensuring objectives are met and service excellence is delivered.
• Prepare and present executive‑level updates, written comments on GC submissions, and cost estimate updates.
• Ensure adherence to internal Business Management Systems and company delivery methodologies.
• Mentor and coach junior team members; foster a high‑performance, one‑business culture.
• Demonstrate excellence in financial management (margin tracking, monthly fee/resource forecasts) across commissions.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5–7+ years in cost management/project controls within mission‑critical environments (data centers, high‑tech, industrial) and medium to large projects of moderate to high complexity.
• Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred.
• 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 EVM.
• Expertise in procurement strategies and the commercial management of contractor/vendor contracts.
• RICS accreditation or progress toward certification is advantageous.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities with 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 diversity 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.turnerandtownend.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 preferred 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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