Senior Cost Manager

Turner & Townsend; Ireland; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% Pension

23 days Annual leave (+ 2 company days)

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking a Senior Cost Manager in Ireland to oversee cost management processes for a complex rail construction programme.

The successful candidate will ensure effective governance of project costs, support procurement activities, and provide reliable cost information for decision-making. The role includes managing budgets, developing cost control processes, and collaborating with stakeholders to achieve project objectives.

Benefits include competitive remuneration, pension, and 23 days of annual leave.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in cost management, quantity surveying, or commercial management.
• Experience on major infrastructure or rail projects.
• Strong understanding of NEC contract environments.

Responsibilities

• Manage cost control processes for budgeting and forecasting.
• Provide cost input to procurement and tender processes.
• Support risk assessment and mitigation strategies.

Skills

Cost planning

Budgeting

Financial reporting

Analysis

Communication

Commercial risk understanding

Education

Professional qualification in quantity surveying or commercial management

Job description

Job Description

The Senior Cost Manager plays a key role within the programme’s cost management function, supporting the planning, control and reporting of costs across a complex NEC‑based light rail construction programme.

Operating in a client‑side environment, the role is responsible for developing and applying robust cost management processes, supporting procurement activities and providing clear, reliable cost information to enable effective governance, decision‑making and assurance. The role contributes directly to the responsible management of public funds and cost transparency across the programme lifecycle.

Cost Planning, Control & Reporting

• Develop and operate cost control processes to manage budgets, forecasts and expenditure.
• Prepare and manage programme and package budgets, ensuring alignment with approved scope and objectives.
• Produce regular cost reports, including variance analysis, cash flow and forward projections.
• Proactively monitor cost performance and support corrective action where required.

NEC Commercial & Contract Support

• Support cost management activities associated with NEC contracts, including change, compensation events and cash flow.
• Provide cost input to commercial assessments and support alignment with contract processes and governance.
• Maintain accurate cost records to support audit, assurance and programme reporting.

Procurement & Tender Support

• Support procurement activities, including cost input to pre‑qualification, tender documentation, evaluation and contract award.
• Oversee the preparation and review of cost elements within tender and contract documentation.
• Ensure procurement cost activities align with programme cost and commercial strategies.

Risk, Forecasting & Assurance

• Identify and assess cost and commercial risks, supporting the development of mitigation strategies.
• Support contingency management and risk‑adjusted forecasting.
• Ensure cost management activities comply with programme controls, standards and best practice.

Stakeholder & Team Interface

• Work closely with project, commercial and controls teams to ensure integrated planning and reporting.
• Support senior stakeholders with clear, evidence‑based cost advice.
• Provide guidance and oversight to junior cost management staff as required.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong cost planning, budgeting and financial reporting capability.
• Analytical, structured and detail‑focused approach.
• Clear communication skills and confidence engaging with senior stakeholders.
• Good understanding of construction processes and commercial risk.
• Collaborative working style aligned with NEC principles.

Qualifications

• 7+ years’ experience in cost management, quantity surveying or commercial management.
• Experience on major infrastructure or rail projects of significant scale and complexity.
• Strong understanding of cost management within NEC contract environments.
• Experience supporting procurement, budgeting and cost control in multi‑party programmes.
• Relevant professional qualification.

Additional Information

• Full time
• Competitive remuneration and attractive range of benefits
• 8% Pension
• 23 days Annual leave (+ 2 company days)
• Opportunity to work on impactful and innovative projects
• Career development opportunities both in Ireland and globally
• Opportunity to work with a diverse group of talented and collaborative colleagues

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.