Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

Job Description

Job Description

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 / Senior Quantity Surveyor to serve as the key day‑to‑day client interface on a major mission‑critical data center program. These projects require strong commercial leadership, rigorous cost control, and an ability to support complex infrastructure and site‑development activities.

The ideal candidate is confident in a client‑facing environment, self‑motivated, and able to work both independently and collaboratively. In this senior role, you will provide leadership, direction, and best‑practice commercial management while representing Turner & Townsend’s purpose, values, and vision.

Responsibilities

• Estimating and negotiating change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
• Provide estimating and cost planning services, including producing and presenting the final cost plan.
• Review and participate with the design team and general contractor in the development of detailed cost estimates.
• Develop cost plans and updated estimates throughout design, delivering refined cost packages at key milestones.
• Reconcile changes and assist the general contractor to ensure their data and quantities are accurate.
• Coordinate all sources of cost information, including subs, design quantities, benchmarking, and historical project data.
• Inform and drive design/engineering priorities based on cost impact.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and lead negotiations on behalf of the client to drive fair contract pricing.
• Manage cost checks and valuations on large, multi‑building data center projects; ensure timely, accurate cost review and valuation processes.
• Participate in post‑contract cost variance analysis and maintain strong change‑control governance.
• Manage contingency usage, cost impacts, and commitment tracking logs across multiple facilities or phases.
• Prepare funding data, cost summaries, and coordinate value‑engineering sessions with project stakeholders.
• Work proactively with minimal supervision to resolve scheduling or commercial coordination issues typical of large campus projects, including site development, multi‑phase construction, and renovation/upgrade activities.
• Perform quantity surveying, cost control, and change‑management activities throughout all project phases.
• Ensure that post‑contract cost variances and change‑control processes are managed effectively.
• Ensure robust cost auditing, valuation, and cost‑validation processes are in place.
• Prepare monthly cost reports and present commercial updates to the client.
• Carry out comprehensive cost reporting for both new ground‑up buildings and upgrades to existing data center facilities.
• Ensure final accounts are negotiated and agreed upon in a timely manner.
• Compile built‑cost estimate records for benchmarking future phases or facilities.
• Conduct lessons‑learned reviews, support development of handover documentation, and contribute to internal training.
• Identify, coach, and mentor talent to support team development and performance.
• Display excellence in leadership and service delivery in alignment with commission expectations.
• Utilize internal software to track ongoing margin levels, monthly fee/resource forecasts, and financial reporting for each commission.
• Implement and maintain internal Business Management Systems and company delivery methodologies to ensure consistent best practice.
• Serve as a role model who supports a one‑business culture across teams, clients, and stakeholders.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related construction field.
• A minimum 6 years of relevant cost management experience in the construction industry.
• Experience leading cost management on medium to large, complex construction projects, ideally in mission‑critical, industrial, or data center environments.
• Strong construction consultancy experience is preferred.
• Solid knowledge of procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.
• RICS accreditation or progress toward accreditation is preferred.
• Excellent communication and client‑facing skills, with confidence in leading commercial discussions at senior levels.

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.

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