Senior Cost Manager (Pre - Contract)

Turner & Townsend; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend seeks an experienced Senior Cost Manager to join our Dubai team. You will lead pre-contract cost management for real estate projects, ensuring the work is delivered within scope, on time and within budget while maintaining quality. The ideal candidate has 10+ years in cost management, UAE market experience, and professional accreditation such as MRICS/AIQS; strong client-facing and mentoring skills.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in cost management with a pre-contract focus.
• UAE market experience mandatory.
• MRICS/AIQS accreditation preferred.
• Strong client-facing and stakeholder coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-contract cost management.
• Provide cost-effective solutions including value engineering.
• Prepare reports on deviations from the budget.
• Review project costs including preliminaries and materials.
• Mentor and train junior cost managers.
• Collaborate with clients and stakeholders to ensure project effectiveness.

Skills

Cost management

Pre-contract

Client-facing

Stakeholder coordination

Communication skills

Cost planning

Estimating

Measurement methods

CostX

Lead teams

Education

Degree in QS/Construction

MRICS/AIQS

Tools

CostX

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.

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

We are seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager to join our dynamic team.

The ideal candidate should have extensive pre-contract experience and a strong background in real estate sector, with a focus on commercial real estate.

You will play a key role in ensuring our projects are delivered within scope, on time, and within budget while maintaining quality.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-contract cost management responsibilities.
• Provide advice and support on cost-effective solutions, including value engineering.
• Conduct risk assessments and ensure contingency budgets are managed appropriately.
• Prepare regular reports on projects highlighting any deviations from the budget.
• Review and analyze project costs, including Preliminaries, Overheads, and materials.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, client requirements, and regulatory bodies.
• Mentor and train junior cost managers.
• Collaborate with clients and other stakeholders to ensure the project is managed effectively.

Qualifications

Education

• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
• Professional accreditation (e.g., MRICS, AIQS, or equivalent) is highly preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years in cost management, with a strong focus on pre-contract.
• Proven ability to lead and manage multiple projects independently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in client-facing roles and stakeholder coordination.
• Understanding of local cost benchmarks.
• UAE market experience is mandatory.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in cost planning, estimating, and tender documentation.
• Ability to present cost strategies and reports to clients and senior stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of various methods of measurement (e.g., NRM, POMI, CESMM).
• Skilled in measurement software such as CostX or similar.

Leadership

• Ability to lead cost management activities across multiple projects.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Capable of mentoring junior staff and coordinating with multidisciplinary teams.

Additional Information

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