Cost Manager - Pre Contract

Turner & Townsend; Abu Dhabi; Hybrid; AED 300,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend in Abu Dhabi, UAE, is seeking a detail-oriented Cost Manager - Pre Contract to drive pre-contract cost management for large-scale infrastructure projects. You will develop cost strategies, perform analyses, and work with clients and engineers to ensure projects stay within budget and meet expectations.

The role emphasizes cost planning, tender documentation, and risk assessment, with familiarity in CostX and standard measurement methods.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related field.
• MRICS, AIQS or equivalent accreditation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage pre-contract cost management responsibilities for infrastructure projects, including cost planning, estimating, budget development and tender documentation using industry-standard methods of measurement.
• Conduct thorough cost analysis and risk assessments for infrastructure-specific elements; develop appropriate contingency budgets to mitigate project uncertainties.
• Provide cost-effective solutions and value engineering recommendations to optimize infrastructure project budgets without compromising quality or compliance standards.
• Prepare clear, comprehensive reports on infrastructure project costs, highlighting deviations from budget and recommending corrective actions; collaborate with clients, engineers, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure transparent communication throughout the pre-contract phase.
• Utilize cost planning software and measurement tools (such as CostX) to enhance accuracy and efficiency in infrastructure cost modeling.
• Analyze local cost benchmarks, market conditions, and infrastructure-specific cost drivers to inform cost strategies and ensure compliance with industry standards, client requirements, and regulatory guidelines

Skills

Cost management

Pre-contract planning

Cost analysis

Data-driven

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying / Construction Management / Civil Engineering

MRICS / AIQS accreditation preferred

Tools

CostX

MS Office

Job 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.
Please visit our website: www.turnerandtownsend.com

Job Description

We're looking for a detail-oriented and analytical Cost Manager - Pre Contract to join our growing infrastructure team in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In this role, you will be instrumental in managing project costs during the pre-contract phase for large-scale infrastructure projects, ensuring that all projects are delivered within scope, on budget, and aligned with client expectations. You will work collaboratively with clients, stakeholders, and internal teams to develop comprehensive cost strategies tailored to infrastructure complexities and provide transparent, data-driven recommendations that drive project success.

• Manage pre-contract cost management responsibilities for infrastructure projects, including cost planning, estimating, budget development, and tender documentation using industry-standard methods of measurement
• Conduct thorough cost analysis and risk assessments for infrastructure-specific elements, including Preliminaries, Overheads, material costs, and site-specific requirements; develop appropriate contingency budgets to mitigate project uncertainties
• Provide cost-effective solutions and value engineering recommendations to optimize infrastructure project budgets without compromising quality or compliance standards
• Prepare clear, comprehensive reports on infrastructure project costs, highlighting deviations from budget and recommending corrective actions; collaborate with clients, engineers, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure transparent communication throughout the pre-contract phase
• Utilize cost planning software and measurement tools (such as CostX) to enhance accuracy and efficiency in infrastructure cost modeling
• Analyze local cost benchmarks, market conditions, and infrastructure-specific cost drivers to inform cost strategies and ensure compliance with industry standards, client requirements, and regulatory guidelines

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related field
• Professional accreditation (MRICS, AIQS, or equivalent) preferred

Experience:

• 5–10 years in cost management with focus on pre-contract activities
• Proven track record managing project costs independently and collaboratively
• Client-facing experience with demonstrated stakeholder coordination abilities
• Familiarity with local cost benchmarks and market conditions in the UAE or similar regions

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in cost planning, estimating, and tender documentation
• Strong knowledge of methods of measurement
• Competency with cost measurement software (CostX or similar)
• Ability to analyse and present cost data, strategies, and reports to clients and senior stakeholders
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools

Core Competencies:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams
• Transparent and collaborative working style with a goal-oriented mindset
• Understanding of value engineering principles, risk assessment, and contingency budget management

Additional Information

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