Cost Manager, Construction Projects

Austin NAWIC; Bogotá; Hybrid; COP 254,623,000 - 350,107,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking a Cost Manager to deliver cost planning, estimating, procurement support, and cost control across corporate fit-out and building projects. You will combine technical construction knowledge with commercial acumen, advanced Excel skills, and strong communication to support local and international clients.

Travel to on-site sites outside Bogotà is required. Fluency in English and Spanish is essential, with experience in tendering and contractor management highly valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field required or preferred.
• Fluent in English and Spanish (written and spoken).
• Advanced Excel skills for cost models, budgeting and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Assist in feasibility studies and procurement reporting.
• Prepare estimates, budgets, cost plans and present to stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain cost management procedures across projects.
• Manage tendering, procurement, and contract documentation.
• Review subcontractor proposals, contracts, variations and change requests.
• Monitor budgets, expenditures and forecasted costs throughout lifecycle.
• Prepare cash flow forecasts and cost reports with Excel models.
• Present monthly cost reports and financial analyses to clients and internal stakeholders.

Skills

Advanced Excel

MEP experience

Tendering processes

Contractor management

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Civil Engineering degree

RICS accreditation

AACE CCP/CCT

Tools

Cost management software

Job description

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.

Please visit our website: www.turnerandtownsend.com

Job Description

This role will need travel to on site job, outside Bogotá.

The Cost Manager will be responsible for delivering cost planning, estimating, procurement support, and cost control services throughout the lifecycle of corporate fit-out, workplace, and building construction projects. The successful candidate will combine strong technical construction knowledge with commercial acumen, advanced Excel skills, and excellent communication abilities to support local and international clients. Experience in MEP systems, tendering processes, and contractor management will be highly valued.

• Assist in feasibility studies and preparation of procurement reports.
• Prepare estimates, budgets, cost plans, and present final cost plans to stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain project cost management procedures.
• Manage tendering and procurement processes, including prequalification, tender analysis, commercial evaluations, tender reports, and contract documentation.
• Review and approve subcontractor proposals, manage contracts, variations, and change requests.
• Monitor project budgets, expenditure, commitments, and forecasted costs throughout the project lifecycle.
• Prepare and maintain cash flow forecasts, cost reports, and budget tracking tools using advanced Excel-based models.
• Perform cost checks, valuations, benchmarking, and financial analyses to ensure project costs remain aligned with approved budgets.
• Review payment applications, monitor invoicing, and ensure timely and accurate payments.
• Prepare and present monthly cost reports, forecasts, and financial analyses to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Review contractor cost reports and provide recommendations to project leadership and clients.
• Support value engineering initiatives and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Negotiate and agree final accounts with contractors and suppliers.
• Review and evaluate mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), hydraulic, and low-voltage packages during estimating, tendering, and construction phases.
• Interface with clients, consultants, contractors, and project teams throughout all project stages.
• Lead and mentor junior cost management professionals when required.
• Utilize financial management systems to monitor project performance and margin control.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and contribute to best-practice initiatives.
• Capture lessons learned and contribute to knowledge-sharing initiatives within the organization.

Qualifications

• 6-8 years of professional experience in construction projects.
• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering (preferred), Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, or related Engineering disciplines.
• Proven experience in cost estimating, cost planning, budgeting, and cost control.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including cost models, financial reporting, budget tracking, and data analysis.
• Strong understanding of construction market rates, quantity take-offs, and cost benchmarking.
• Experience preparing and reviewing budgets, forecasts, tender evaluations, and financial reports.
• Fluent English and Spanish (written and spoken).
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills.

Preferred

• Previous experience in commercial buildings, workplace projects, corporate fit-outs, interior construction, or similar building assets.
• Experience estimating and controlling costs for Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP), Hydraulic, and Low Voltage systems.
• Experience in procurement, tendering, contractor selection, and contract administration.
• Experience working with international clients, global organizations, or consulting environments.
• RICS accreditation.
• AACE certifications (CCP, CCT, or equivalent).

Additional Information

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.

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

Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/

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.

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.