Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

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. 

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Senior Quantity Surveyor to act as the key, day‑to‑day client interface on a major multi‑site, multi‑phase data center construction program. With several large campuses under development and long‑term investment across the area, this role is critical in ensuring strong commercial governance, accurate cost management, and high‑quality delivery across all phases of construction.

The successful candidate will be confident operating in a client‑facing environment, able to lead commercial processes independently, and skilled at mentoring junior team members. You will provide leadership, direction, and best‑practice cost controls while representing Turner & Townsend’s purpose, values, and vision.

Responsibilities

• Advise the client on procurement strategies for large‑scale data center construction packages.
• Lead vendor prequalification; evaluate proposals; prepare bid leveling documents; make final recommendations; chair or participate in bid interviews; and manage the full appointment process through contract award.
• Provide commercial input into design optioneering and value‑engineering exercises.
• Lead full‑project estimating, including construction costs, fees, and direct costs.
• Produce and present full cost plans, estimates, and value‑engineering packages at key design milestones.
• Review and reconcile estimates prepared by junior team members, including quantities, assumptions, and pricing.
• Meet with general contractors and trade partners to validate, challenge, and benchmark costs; inform design and engineering priorities based on commercial impact.
• Establish reporting schedules and oversee cost reports, forecasts, and budget tracking across multiple project phases.
• Review budget status and spend forecasts with the client; maintain the commercial risk register.
• Host regular cost and commercial review meetings with the project team and vendors.
• Prepare written comments, executive‑level summaries, funding data, and support contingency management and value‑engineering sessions.
• Review and validate payment application assessments completed by junior staff.
• Guide project managers on contractor entitlements, commercial positions, and contract administration.
• Manage cost checks and valuations on large data center packages.
• Review, negotiate, and make recommendations on vendor change orders; oversee the full change‑control process.
• Support dispute avoidance and resolution regarding cost, payment, and contractual issues.
• Ensure strong processes for cost validation, cost audits, approval workflows, and maintenance of commitment/exposure tracking logs.
• Manage and monitor invoicing processes.
• Lead final accounting, post‑contract audits, and project close‑out activities.
• Compile benchmarking data and built‑cost records for future data center commissions.
• Conduct lessons‑learned sessions, create handover documentation, and contribute to training materials.
• Coach and mentor junior team members; support talent development and continuous improvement across the team.
• Use bid analysis sheets, cost estimating platforms, take‑off tools, and change‑control systems.
• Utilize internal business systems for forecasting, fee management, financial reporting, and overall delivery governance.
• Support consistent use of Turner & Townsend methodologies, business management systems, and best‑practice frameworks.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
• A minimum of 6 years of cost management experience in the construction industry.
• Experience leading cost management on medium to large‑scale construction projects; mission‑critical or data center experience preferred.
• Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.
• Experience leading cost reporting, change management, and commercial governance on complex projects.
• RICS accreditation (or progress toward accreditation) preferred.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Self‑motivated, proactive, and able to work independently while leading and supporting teams.

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

The salary range for this role is $140K-$160 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/ and https://www.heery.com/

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

Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects: 

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

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.