Senior Cost Manager | Cost Manager | Defence & Infrastructure

Turner & Townsend; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend in Adelaide seeks a Senior Cost Manager to lead cost control, contract administration and commercial oversight on defence and infrastructure programs. You will work with stakeholders to ensure budgets, progress and variations are accurately reported.

Applicants should have proven experience in cost management, contract administration or quantity surveying, with strong data analysis, record-keeping and Excel skills.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Cost Manager, Contract Administrator, or Quantity Surveyor within construction, infrastructure, or Defence projects.
• Strong understanding of contract management principles, particularly around variations and cost control.
• Demonstrated ability to monitor budgets, analyse financial data, and prepare accurate cost reports.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• High attention to detail with strong documentation and record‑keeping capabilities.
• Proficiency in cost management software and MS Excel.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Must be an Australian Citizen or a British Citizen holding UKSV

Responsibilities

• Administer construction contracts, including assessment, implementation, and negotiation of variations.
• Monitor and track construction progress, providing accurate and timely reporting.
• Conduct detailed cost management activities, including budget monitoring and forecasting.
• Maintain robust financial records, documentation, and cost databases to support project reporting.
• Support commercial reviews and ensure contractual compliance throughout project delivery.
• Work closely with internal and external stakeholders to resolve cost‑related issues.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of cost control processes and project reporting standards

Skills

Cost management

Contract administration

Quantity surveying

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Tertiary qualification in Quantity Surveying

Construction management or related discipline

Tools

MS Excel

Cost management software

Job description

Senior Cost Manager | 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, 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.

We are seeking a skilled Senior/Cost Manager to join an established project team in Adelaide. This role focuses on providing high‑quality cost control, contract administration, and commercial oversight.You will work closely with project stakeholders to ensure construction progress, budgets, and variations are well‑managed and accurately reported.

• Administer construction contracts, including assessment, implementation, and negotiation of variations.
• Monitor and track construction progress, providing accurate and timely reporting.
• Conduct detailed cost management activities, including budget monitoring and forecasting.
• Maintain robust financial records, documentation, and cost databases to support project reporting.
• Support commercial reviews and ensure contractual compliance throughout project delivery.
• Work closely with internal and external stakeholders to resolve cost‑related issues.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of cost control processes and project reporting standards
• Proven experience as a Cost Manager, Contract Administrator, or Quantity Surveyor within construction, infrastructure, or Defence projects.
• Strong understanding of contract management principles, particularly around variations and cost control.
• Demonstrated ability to monitor budgets, analyse financial data, and prepare accurate cost reports.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• High attention to detail with strong documentation and record‑keeping capabilities.
• Proficiency in cost management software and MS Excel.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Must be an Australian Citizen or a British Citizen holding UKSV

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 all sectors of the community.

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