Associate Director - Cost Management Lead

Turner & Townsend; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A global professional services firm is seeking a Cost Management Leader in Ottawa, Ontario. In this role, you will lead a multidisciplinary team, ensuring high-quality cost estimates and acting as the primary liaison with project stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in cost management, particularly in public sector projects, along with strong communication and negotiation skills. This position offers comprehensive health benefits, an RRSP option, and a flexible work approach.

Benefits

100% covered health and dental benefits

Health spending account

RRSP option with company matching

Annual learning and development budget

Work-life balance with flexibility

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in cost management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience delivering cost management services on large-scale public sector or infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian public procurement and Treasury Board requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary cost management team.
• Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality cost estimates aligned with project milestones.
• Act as the primary cost management liaison with clients and stakeholders.

Skills

Cost management

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Professional designation (e.g., PQS, MRICS)

Tools

Cost estimating tools

Reporting systems

Job description

Overview

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries. We work with clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources to transform challenges into opportunities and deliver outcomes that improve people’s lives. 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., with partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE collaborate to provide premier programme, project and cost management services worldwide.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary cost management team (Architectural, Structural, Mechanical & Electrical).
• Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality cost estimates (Class D to Class A) aligned with project milestones.
• Foster a collaborative, integrated team culture with the client and other stakeholders.

Cost Management Services Delivery

• Oversee the preparation and reconciliation of cost estimates using Uniformat and MasterFormat.
• Lead options estimating and scenario reviews to support design decision-making.
• Direct value engineering (VE) efforts, including workshops, proposal development, and scoring.
• Ensure compliance with Expenditure Authority (EA) requirements and support Treasury Board submissions.
• Manage procurement package assurance, including scope definition, risk mitigation, and quality control.
• Monitor and control CM’s general requirements (Division 1), including monthly reviews and early warning identification.
• Lead change management processes, including cost impact analysis and contingency tracking.
• supervise billing reviews, invoice verification, and payment tracking.
• Oversee the development of detailed cost reports, dashboards, and executive summaries.
• Manage budget planning, monitoring, and forecasting, ensuring alignment with fiscal targets.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary cost management liaison with client and other project stakeholders.
• Provide strategic advice and reporting to senior leadership.
• Ensure transparency and accountability through regular communication and reporting.

Business Development & Governance

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities within public sector clients.
• Lead proposal development for new commissions and service variations.
• Participate in networking and promotional events to enhance Turner & Townsend’s market presence.

Financial & Resource Management

• Monitor project financials, including fee / resource forecasts and margin performance.
• Support recruitment and staff development initiatives within the cost management function.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in cost management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience delivering cost management services on large-scale public sector or infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian public procurement and Treasury Board requirements.
• Proficiency in cost estimating tools, dashboards, and reporting systems.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Professional designation (e.g., PQS, MRICS, or equivalent) preferred.
• Security clearance or ability to acquire clearance quickly.

Additional Information

• 100% covered health and dental benefits for you and your dependents (including paramedical services).
• Health spending account to top up expenses not covered in the benefits program.
• RRSP option with company matching.
• Annual learning and development budget with access to online tools and support for career development.
• Coverage of one professional membership or license fee per year, if related to your role.
• Work-life balance with vacation, flex and sick days and a flexible, hybrid work approach.
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and a safe, accessible environment. Equal opportunity employer with accommodations available upon request.

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Additional Notices

• We do not accept speculative or unsolicited CVs from agencies outside our preferred supplier list. Unsolicited CVs are considered direct applications.
• It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any recruitment fee.