(MEP) Senior Cost Manager (Semi-Con M...

Turner & Townsend; Malaysia; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend Malaysia is seeking a Senior Cost Manager to oversee cost governance across large-scale manufacturing and industrial projects. You will lead cost planning, commercial management, and life‑cycle costing, ensuring strict financial discipline and value delivery.

The role demands strong leadership and stakeholder engagement, experience with cost estimation tools such as Cost-X, and proven ability to guide cross‑functional teams through complex projects in fast‑paced environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Cost Management, Engineering, Construction, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in cost management within construction, industrial, or manufacturing projects.
• Strong leadership abilities and proven experience guiding project teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Experience working directly with clients in advisory, cost engineering, and value management capacities.
• Proficiency in Cost-X or equivalent cost estimation platforms.
• Strong business acumen, able to balance technical, financial, and commercial considerations in complex industrial projects.

Responsibilities

• Foster a high‑performance culture built on integrity, professionalism, and collaboration.
• Guide, mentor, and motivate team members to drive strong project results.
• Support onboarding and integration of new hires into project workflows.
• Lead cross‑functional teams involving engineering, manufacturing, procurement, consultants, and contractors.
• Build trusted working relationships with key stakeholders through consistent communication.
• Help resolve conflicts and provide practical, solutions‑driven recommendations.
• Manage structured communications, including progress meetings, reporting, and documentation.
• Review and challenge project scopes, budget assumptions, and cost deliverables—seeking innovative approaches to maximise value.
• Develop comprehensive cost reporting frameworks and robust control mechanisms.
• Act as Commission Manager, overseeing the entire cost management lifecycle for large or multiple industrial projects.
• Lead estimating and cost‑planning activities, including ownership of the final cost plans.
• Prepare and present monthly post‑contract cost reports to senior stakeholders.
• Drive value engineering and life cycle costing exercises tailored for manufacturing environments.
• Implement integrated controls across schedule, cost, risk, and change management.
• Lead commercial negotiations and contract administration in partnership with commercial and procurement teams.
• Ensure compliance with internal risk procedures, client care processes, and contract databases.
• Coordinate with finance teams to align billing cycles with project milestones and client requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder management

Advisory services

Cost control

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Cost Management, Engineering, Construction, or related

Tools

Cost-X

Job description

(MEP/CSA) Senior Cost Manager (Semi-Con Manufacturing/Industrial)

• Full-time

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.

Role Summary

A leading global organisation operating large‑scale manufacturing and industrial facilities is seeking a highly experienced Senior Cost Manager to oversee cost governance across complex construction, upgrade, and expansion projects. This role is ideal for professionals who excel in cost planning, commercial management, and strategic stakeholder engagement in fast‑paced, high‑precision industrial environments.

You will play a pivotal part in ensuring that major capital projects—including facility expansions, process line installations, cleanroom upgrades, and infrastructure enhancements—are delivered with strong cost control and financial discipline.

Job Responsibilities

• Foster a high‑performance culture built on integrity, professionalism, and collaboration.
• Guide, mentor, and motivate team members to drive strong project results.
• Support onboarding and integration of new hires into project workflows.
• Lead cross‑functional teams involving engineering, manufacturing, procurement, consultants, and contractors.
• Build trusted working relationships with key stakeholders through consistent communication.
• Help resolve conflicts and provide practical, solutions‑driven recommendations.
• Manage structured communications, including progress meetings, reporting, and documentation.
• Review and challenge project scopes, budget assumptions, and cost deliverables—seeking innovative approaches to maximise value.
• Develop comprehensive cost reporting frameworks and robust control mechanisms.
• Act as Commission Manager, overseeing the entire cost management lifecycle for large or multiple industrial projects.
• Lead estimating and cost‑planning activities, including ownership of the final cost plans.
• Prepare and present monthly post‑contract cost reports to senior stakeholders.
• Drive value engineering and life cycle costing exercises tailored for manufacturing environments.
• Implement integrated controls across schedule, cost, risk, and change management.
• Lead commercial negotiations and contract administration in partnership with commercial and procurement teams.
• Ensure compliance with internal risk procedures, client care processes, and contract databases.
• Coordinate with finance teams to align billing cycles with project milestones and client requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Cost Management, Engineering, Construction, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in cost management within construction, industrial, or manufacturing projects.
• Strong leadership abilities and proven experience guiding project teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Experience working directly with clients in advisory, cost engineering, and value management capacities.
• Proficiency in Cost-X or equivalent cost estimation platforms.
• Strong business acumen, able to balance technical, financial, and commercial considerations in complex industrial projects.

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.