Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to lead cost management for a large-scale, mission-critical construction program, specifically a major data center campus. This role focuses on cost control, change management, and financial reporting throughout the project lifecycle to ensure timely and budget-compliant delivery. Responsibilities include developing cost plans, overseeing cost control, negotiating change orders, managing contingencies, preparing financial reports, and providing strategic advice on procurement and value engineering. The ideal candidate will have 6+ years of experience in cost management for large-scale construction projects.

Must Have

• Lead cost management activities across the full project lifecycle.
• Develop and present detailed cost plans, estimates, and budgets.
• Oversee cost control processes during construction.
• Review, validate, and negotiate change orders.
• Manage contingency tracking, commitments, and cost impacts.
• Prepare and deliver detailed cost reports, forecasts, and executive-level presentations.
• Provide strategic advice on procurement strategies, bid analysis, and contractor negotiations.
• Drive value engineering and design optimization initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with internal financial systems, client requirements, and regulatory controls.
• Maintain benchmarking data, historical cost records, and lessons learned.
• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
• 6+ years of experience in cost management or project controls.
• Expertise in cost planning, budgeting, post-contract cost control, change management, and financial reporting.
• Strong knowledge of procurement strategies and commercial management of contractor/vendor contracts.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving abilities with strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency in industry-standard cost management tools and software.

Good to Have

• Proven track record managing large-scale, mission-critical construction projects (e.g., data centers, high-tech, industrial).
• Familiarity with MEP systems.
• RICS accreditation or progress toward it.

Perks & Benefits

• Great place to work, where each person has the 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 and actively encourages applications from all sectors of the community.

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 programs as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success.

Our capabilities include program, 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 program, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.

Job Description

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to lead cost management for a large-scale, mission-critical construction program. This role requires experience across the full project lifecycle, with a primary focus on cost control, change management, and financial reporting during construction to ensure successful delivery on time and within budget.

The program involves the development of a major data center campus consisting of multiple buildings across two sites, designed to support growing demand for digital infrastructure in a rapidly expanding region. The project includes significant coordination with local stakeholders and will deliver substantial capacity for enterprise and co-location services.

Responsibilities:

• Lead cost management activities across the full project lifecycle, from early-stage budgeting and procurement support through post-contract cost control and final account closeout.
• Develop and present detailed cost plans, estimates, and budgets aligned with project scope and client objectives.
• Oversee cost control processes during construction, monitoring actual costs against forecasts, identifying variances, and implementing corrective actions to maintain budget integrity.
• Review, validate, and negotiate change orders, ensuring proper documentation and compliance with contractual terms.
• Manage contingency tracking, commitments, and cost impacts across multiple packages or phases.
• Prepare and deliver detailed cost reports, forecasts, and executive-level presentations for clients and senior stakeholders.
• Provide strategic advice on procurement strategies, bid analysis, and contractor negotiations.
• Drive value engineering and design optimization initiatives to identify cost-saving opportunities during construction.
• Ensure compliance with internal financial systems, client-specific requirements, and regulatory controls.
• Maintain benchmarking data, historical cost records, and lessons learned for continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the enhancement of internal cost management tools, templates, and processes.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, contractors, vendors, and internal teams.
• 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.
• 6+ years of experience in cost management or project controls, with increasing responsibility.
• Proven track record managing large-scale, mission-critical construction projects (e.g., data centers, high-tech, industrial) is advantageous.
• Familiarity with MEP systems is beneficial.
• Expertise in cost planning, budgeting, post-contract cost control, change management, and financial reporting.
• Strong knowledge of procurement strategies and commercial management of contractor/vendor contracts.
• RICS accreditation or progress toward it is advantageous.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving abilities with strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency in industry-standard cost management tools and software

Additional Information

*On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's 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.turnerandtownsend.com/ and https://www.heery.com/

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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*It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.*

*Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.*

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