Senior Cost Manager (Semicon/Lifescience/Pharma)

Turner & Townsend; Singapore; On-site; SGD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A global professional services company based in Singapore is seeking a Senior Cost Manager. The ideal candidate will manage cost control for construction projects and lead multidisciplinary teams. Applicants should have at least 7 years of experience in cost management, a relevant degree, and strong leadership skills. The company offers an engaging work environment focused on collaboration and success.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in cost management or construction projects.
• Strong business acumen to drive outcomes and meet deadlines.
• Experience in client management with advisory skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of cost management services for construction projects.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams including clients and contractors.
• Act as Commission Manager, responsible for end-to-end service delivery.
• Lead commercial negotiations and contract administration.

Skills

Leadership skills

Strong communication

Business acumen

Client management

Proficiency in Cost-X

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Cost Management or related field

Master’s degree is a plus

Tools

Cost-X software

Job description

Senior Cost Manager (Semicon/Lifescience/Pharma)

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.

• Full-time

As a Senior Cost Manager in Cost Management, you will be responsible for leading the execution of cost management services for construction projects, ensuring cost control and quality objectives are met. You are expected to lead cost management project teams and/or key cost management roles, and coordinate with clients and stakeholders to foster a collaborative and high‑performing project environment. This role also includes commission management responsibilities overseeing invoicing processes and project compliance through D‑365 to ensure financial accuracy and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Hold the highest level of professional integrity and business ethics.
• Contribute to a positive team culture by promoting open communication, mutual respect, and shared accountability.
• Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, and a proactive attitude in team interactions.
• Motivate team members, and drive towards positive client outcomes and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Assist in onboarding new team members and helping them integrate into project workflows.
• Assist in conducting interviews for vacant positions in line with the team’s recruitment process and resource requirements.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead multidisciplinary project teams including clients, consultants, contractors, and suppliers.
• Build productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders through consistent follow‑up and responsiveness.
• Support conflict resolution and issue management by escalating appropriately and offering practical solutions.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration across all stakeholders through structured meetings, reporting, and documentation.
• Critically analyze, challenge and brainstorm project requirements and cost deliverables, in order to find creative solutions and alternatives on behalf of clients.
• Collaborate in developing robust cost reporting structures and control mechanisms.

Project Controls & Reporting

• Act as Commission Manager, taking responsibility for end‑to‑end service delivery, often with respect to large or complex commissions or multiple commissions.
• Managing estimating and cost planning activities to include taking ownership of and presenting the final revisions of cost plans.
• Leading the production of monthly post‑contract cost reports and presenting them to the client.
• Leading value engineering and life cycle costing exercise.
• Implement and maintain cost controls mechanisms incorporated into projects’ schedule, cost, risk, and change management.

Financial and Risk Management

• Lead commercial negotiations and contract administration on projects alongside the cost management team.
• Responsible for supporting the internal risk management procedures and systems, including client care processes and the contract database.
• Reviewing and validating invoice data for accuracy and completeness.
• Coordinating with finance teams to ensure timely submission and approval.
• Tracking invoice status and resolving discrepancies.
• Ensuring compliance with client billing requirements and internal financial controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, Construction, Engineering, or a related field; Master’s degree is a plus.
• Minimum 7 years’ experience in cost management or construction projects (e.g. cost manager, construction manager, procurement, project manager, vendor, consultant, etc.).
• Strong communication and leadership skills; experience in people management is a plus.
• Strong business acumen, with the ability to drive outcomes on behalf of clients and coordinate with construction and design teams to meet deadlines and deliverables.
• Experience in client management with solid experience in client‑facing environments that require incumbent to utilize critical business development skills and advisory skills to enhance project delivery on value management, value engineering, and life cycle costing.
• Proficiency in Cost‑X or equivalent cost estimation software.