Senior Cost Manager (Pre - Contract)

Turner & Townsend International Limited; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend International Limited in the United Arab Emirates seeks an experienced Senior Cost Manager to lead pre-contract cost management for major real estate projects, ensuring delivery within scope and budget while upholding quality. The ideal candidate has 10+ years in cost management, MRICS/AIQS preferred, strong client-facing and stakeholder coordination skills, and UAE market experience is mandatory, with proficiency in cost planning and reporting.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in cost management with a strong pre-contract focus.
• MRICS/AIQS accreditation is highly preferred and real estate experience in UAE is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-contract cost management activities for multiple projects.
• Provide advice on cost-effective solutions including value engineering.
• Conduct risk assessments and manage contingency budgets.
• Prepare regular project cost reports highlighting deviations from budget.
• Review costs including preliminaries, overheads, and materials.
• Ensure compliance with client requirements and regulatory standards.
• Mentor and train junior cost managers.
• Collaborate with clients and other stakeholders to ensure effective project management.

Skills

Cost management

Pre-contract focus

Client-facing

Stakeholder coordination

Leadership

Cost reporting

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying

Construction Management

Civil Engineering

MRICS/AIQS accreditation (preferred)

Tools

CostX

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

Education

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

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

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

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.