Associate Cost Manager | Defence & Infrastructure

Turner & Townsend Plc.; Adelaide; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking an Associate Cost Manager to lead end-to-end cost management on medium to large defence and infrastructure projects in Australia. You will act as day-to-day client interface, shape cost plans, feasibility studies and procurement strategies, and mentor junior cost managers.

The ideal candidate has MRICS/AIQS, a degree in Quantity Surveying or Construction Management, Baseline (or UK) clearance, and 6–11 years of consultancy experience on complex projects.

Qualifications

• Degree in Quantity Surveying or Construction Management.
• MRICS and/or AIQS accreditation.
• Baseline clearance or UK Security Clearance.
• 6–11 years’ experience delivering consultancy services in construction.
• Proven experience leading cost management commissions on complex projects.
• Proficiency with CostX, CATO or CADMeas.

Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end cost management commissions on medium to large, complex construction projects.
• Serve as day‑to‑day client interface and ensure objectives are achieved.
• Deliver projects to agreed time, cost and quality targets across the full lifecycle.
• Produce feasibility studies, cost plans, procurement strategies and tender documentation.
• Manage tendering and procurement processes from prequalification to contract award.
• Provide robust post‑contract cost control, including valuations, change management and reporting.
• Mentor and manage cost management team members and foster collaboration.
• Contribute to business development through client engagement and bid support.

Skills

Leadership

Client interface

Cost management

Procurement knowledge

People management

Education

Quantity Surveying or Construction Management degree

Tools

CostX

CATO

CADMeas

Job description

Associate Cost Manager | Defence & Infrastructure

• Full-time


• Department: Defence

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, defence, 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.

As an Associate Cost Manager, you will take the lead on exciting and complex commissions, playing a pivotal role in shaping successful project outcomes while building trusted client relationships.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading end‑to‑end cost management commissions on medium to large, complex construction projects


• Acting as the day‑to‑day client interface, ensuring objectives are achieved and expectations exceeded


• Delivering projects to agreed time, cost and quality targets across the full project lifecycle


• Producing feasibility studies, cost plans, procurement strategies and tender documentation


• Managing tendering and procurement processes, from prequalification through to contract award


• Providing robust post‑contract cost control, including valuations, change management and reporting


• Mentoring and managing cost management team members, fostering high performance and collaboration


• Contributing to business development through client engagement, cross‑selling and bid support

We're looking for a driven, commercially minded professional who thrives in a client‑facing leadership role.

You will ideally bring:

• Be an Australian citizen with a Baseline clearance or the ability to achieve this OR be a UK citizen with a current UK Security Clearance


• A recognised degree in Quantity Surveying or Construction Management


• MRICS and/or AIQS accreditation with substantial industry experience


• 6-11 years’ experience delivering consultancy services within the construction sector


• Proven experience leading cost management commissions on complex projects or programmes


• Strong technical knowledge of procurement routes, value management and value engineering


• Demonstrated people management experience within a project or consultancy environment


• A thorough understanding of the full project lifecycle, from inception to post‑completion


• Experience using industry‑standard software such as CostX, CATO and CADMeas (preferred)

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 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and people from all sectors of the community.

Turner & Townsend does not accept any speculative or unsolicited CVs that have been sent to our internal recruitment team or hiring managers from agencies outside of our preferred supplier list. Any speculative or unsolicited CVs will be treated as a direct application.

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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.

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