Senior / Lead Cost Manager (Pre - Contract)

Turner & Townsend International Limited; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend International Limited in Dubai seeks an experienced senior cost manager to lead pre-contract cost management across multiple projects, driving value through strategic cost control.

You will provide expert cost planning and tender documentation, run risk assessments, present cost strategies to clients and senior stakeholders, mentor junior staff, and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams in a client-facing role within the UAE market.

Qualifications

• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related field.
• MRICS or AIQS accreditation preferred.
• 10+ years in cost management with pre-contract focus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in client-facing roles and stakeholder coordination.
• Understanding of UAE market benchmarks.
• Proficiency in cost planning, estimating, and tender documentation.
• Familiarity with measurement methods (NRM/POMI/CESMM).
• Ability to lead cost management activities across multiple projects.

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.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Mentoring

Stakeholder coordination

Analytical thinking

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying

MRICS/AIQS accreditation

Tools

CostX

Job description

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.