Operational Lead, Cost Management - Data Centres

Turner & Townsend; Madrid; Hybrid; EUR 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend in Madrid seeks an experienced Operational Lead for Cost Management to drive delivery and growth of Data Centre projects. You will lead a high-performing team, oversee cost plans and governance, and guide strategic commercial decisions in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires 15+ years in cost management, strong leadership, and fluency in English; Spanish is highly desirable. This is a full-time on-site position based in Spain's capital.

Qualifications

• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Construction Management, Commercial Management, or a related discipline.
• 15+ years of cost management experience in large-scale projects (data centre or complex construction).
• Proven experience leading cost management and commercial teams in an operational leadership capacity.
• Experience managing business performance including P&L and commercial decision-making.
• Strong strategic mindset balancing delivery, performance, and long-term objectives.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluent English; Spanish desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of cost management services across project stages with quality and governance.
• Review and approve estimates, cost plans, and reports; guide value engineering and commercial strategy.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing Cost Management team.
• Drive tools/process improvements in Cost Management delivery.
• Oversee recruitment, performance management, and succession planning.
• Act as senior escalation point for complex commercial and operational issues.
• Lead operational leadership across projects and ensure governance and best practices.
• Manage business performance, including P&L, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Build and maintain senior client relationships and lead executive-level discussions.
• Support business development and growth for the Data Centre sector in Spain.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Client relationship management

Communication

Presentation

MS Office

Cost management

Education

Quantity Surveying

Engineering

Construction Management

Commercial Management

Tools

MS Office

Cost management software

Job description

• Full-time

Company 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.

Turner & Townsend is a global leader in professional services for the data centre sector. Due to the continued growth and success of our Data Centre business in Spain, we are seeking an experienced Operational Lead for our Cost Management service to support the delivery and growth of major data centre projects and programmes.

With a market-leading client base and the opportunity to lead strategic commissions, high-profile projects, and a growing commercial team, this is an exciting opportunity for an experienced cost management leader to play a key role in the operational and commercial success of our Data Centre business.

Responsibilities:

Cost Management Delivery

• Lead and oversee the delivery of cost management services through all projectile stages, ensuring quality, consistency, and successful client outcomes.
• Review and approve estimates, cost plans, reports, and commercial deliverables, maintaining robust quality standards and governance.
• Provide expert guidance on value engineering, value management, and commercial strategy.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing Cost Management team, fostering technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of Cost Management delivery tools and processes.
• Support recruitment, performance management, succession planning, and the professional development of team members.
• Act as the senior point of escalation for complex commercial, contractual, and operational issues.

Operational Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing Cost Management team, ensuring excellence in project delivery, quality, and client satisfaction.
• Take overall responsibility for operational performance across projects, proactively identifying and resolving delivery challenges and operational issues.
• Ensure consistent quality standards, governance, and best practices are implemented across all commissions.
• Drive efficient resource planning and utilization across the team.
• Take responsibility for business performance, including P&L management, forecasting, financial reporting, and commercial decision-making.
• Lead commercial teams and provide mentorship, coaching, and career development support.
• Ensure projects meet commercial objectives while maintaining exceptional client service and delivery quality.
• Monitor project profitability, risk, cash flow, and overall financial performance.

Client & Strategic Leadership

• Act as a senior client-facing leader, building and maintaining trusted relationships with key stakeholders.
• Lead strategic client conversations and support clients in achieving their business objectives.
• Provide strategic advice across all stages of the project lifecycle.
• Represent Turner & Townsend in executive-level meetings.

Business Development & Growth

• Support the continued growth of the Data Centre business in Spain by influencing and contribution to business development activities and strategic growth initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for account expansion and new business opportunities.
• Collaborate with regional and global leadership teams to enhance market presence and service offerings.

Qualifications

• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Construction Management, Commercial Management, or a related discipline.
• 15+ years of cost management experience, preferably within large-scale mission-critical, preferably data centre, or complex construction projects.
• Proven experience leading cost management and commercial teams in an operational leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated experience managing business performance, including P&L responsibility and commercial decision-making.
• Extensive experience across the full cost management lifecycle, including planning, estimating, procurement, pre-contract, post-contract, and final account management.
• Strong strategic mindset with the ability to balance operational delivery, commercial performance, and long-term business objectives.
• Experience managing senior client relationships and leading executive-level discussions.
• Business development capabilities with a track record of growing client relationships and influencing opportunities.
• Excellent leadership, communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluent English required; Spanish language skills are highly desirable.
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office and modern cost management digital tools.

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.

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