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Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor – Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend
2 days ago
Full-time
On-site
Columbus, Ohio, United States
$140,000 - $160,000 USD yearly

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 and/or Quantity Surveyor to act as the day‑to‑day client interface on large, multi‑year construction programmes. The role will support the delivery of complex, multi‑building campus developments currently under construction across several locations within a single regional portfolio.

The successful candidate will ensure client objectives are met through the delivery of a value‑added cost management service, working closely with contractors, designers, and stakeholders across multiple workstreams and project phases.

This is a client‑facing leadership role, requiring strong communication skills, sound commercial judgment, and the ability to operate independently while contributing effectively as part of a wider programme team. You will play a key role in embedding and promoting the purpose, values, and vision of Turner & Townsend across the commission.

 

Responsibilities: 

  • Provide end‑to‑end cost management services across the construction lifecycle, including cost planning, estimating, valuations, change management, and final account close‑out.
  • Estimate, review, and negotiate change orders; manage post‑contract cost variances, change control processes, contingency management, and commitment tracking logs.
  • Prepare, update, and present detailed cost plans and estimates at appropriate design and construction milestones.
  • Review and collaborate with design teams, general contractors, and project managers in developing, reconciling, and validating cost estimates and financial data.
  • Coordinate all sources of cost information, including subcontractors, suppliers, NPA inputs, and quantities from architects and engineers.
  • Prepare written commercial commentary on contractor submissions, including executive summaries.
  • Perform quantity surveying, cost checks, cost audits, and valuations on larger projects, ensuring timely, accurate, and robust cost validation processes.
  • Produce monthly cost reports for client presentation and prepare funding data to support forecasting and decision‑making.
  • Provide commercial input to design optioneering and lead or support value engineering exercises.
  • Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and lead negotiations on behalf of the client to achieve fair and competitive contract values.
  • Inform and drive engineering and scheduling priorities based on cost impact, working proactively with minimal supervision to resolve issues.
  • Compile built‑cost data and benchmarking records for future reference.
  • Provide leadership, coaching, and mentoring to junior team members, supporting talent development and celebrating team success.
  • Ensure excellence in leadership and service delivery in line with the conditions of appointment and Turner & Townsend best practices.
  • Support financial management activities, including internal fee tracking, margin monitoring, resource forecasting, and reporting using internal systems.
  • Implement and maintain internal business management systems, delivery methodologies, and tools to ensure consistent, high‑quality client outcomes.
  • Act as a role model for professional service delivery and collaborative working, promoting a one‑business culture that balances people, clients, stakeholders, and society.
  • 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 field
  • Minimum 5–7 years’ experience in a cost management or quantity surveying role within the construction industry
  • Experience leading cost management services on medium to large, complex construction projects
  • Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred
  • Knowledge of procurement strategies, value management, and value engineering
  • RICS accreditation or active progress toward chartership preferred

Additional Information


*On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's needs.*

The base salary range for this role is $140K-$160K USD. This range reflects the company's good faith estimate of the base salary for this position at the time of the posting. Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, employees may be eligible for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.

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/

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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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.