Associate Director - Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Construction Management

Turnertownsend; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend in Tampa, FL seeks an experienced Associate Director to lead cost management and/or quantity surveying for commercial real estate programs. You will drive delivery of cost management services, manage client relationships, and mentor project teams.

The role requires strong leadership, excellent communication, and the ability to oversee cost control, change management, and reporting across the full project lifecycle. This is an on-site, client-facing role in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, or related field.
• Graduate degree in quantity surveying, cost management, construction management, or engineering preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost management teams and ensure delivery across complex programs.
• Interface with clients, stakeholders, and consultants throughout all project stages.
• Manage cost control, change management, and reporting across the full lifecycle.
• Provide leadership and direction, embedding Turner & Townsend values and vision.
• Develop strategies for cost management and project controls across diverse project types.

Skills

Leadership

Client-facing

Communication

Mentoring

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in construction management or related field

Graduate degree preferred

Job description

Turner & Townsend are looking for an experienced Associate Director, Cost Manager and/or Quantity Surveyor to lead cost management services for a key client or several clients, primarily supporting commercial real estate programs alongside a diverse portfolio of projects. This individual will ensure successful management of both internal and external stakeholders and drive the delivery of high-quality cost management services.

To be successful in this role, you must have excellent communication skills and be comfortable operating in a client-facing environment. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, driven, and able to work independently as well as part of a team. In this significant position, you will be responsible for providing leadership and direction, embedding, and promoting the purpose, values, and vision of Turner & Townsend.

Responsibilities

• Strong leadership skills, with experience leading cost management teams and ensuring delivery across all accountabilities on complex construction programs.
• Taking a lead role interfacing with clients, stakeholders, and consultants across all stages of commercial real estate and broader construction projects.
• Maintain excellent communication with clients and project teams throughout all project phases.
• Perform quantity surveying, cost control, and change management activities across the full project lifecycle, including fit-out, refurbishment, and ground-up developments.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with general contractors, owners' representatives, and external stakeholders, taking responsibility for Turner & Townsend coordination within the overall construction process.
• Coordinate and assist with the strategic and operational delivery of Cost Management and Project Controls services across a variety of project types and sectors.
• Act as the primary point of contact for reporting on the overall commercial status of projects and programs.
• Drive Turner & Townsend best practices at all stages of a project or program.
• Identify opportunities to improve cost management procedures, processes, templates, and tools.
• Undertake staff performance reviews and support career development initiatives.
• Set a clear strategy and ambition for the team aligned with client and business objectives.
• Identify, coach, and mentor talent to realize their potential and celebrate team success.
• Grow and develop high-performing teams across cost management and quantity surveying disciplines.
• Demonstrate excellence in leadership and service delivery in line with client expectations and contractual requirements.
• Manage financial performance by utilizing internal systems to track margins, fee forecasts, and resource planning across commissions.
• Develop priority plans including risk mitigation strategies, performance tracking through KPIs, and alignment with company objectives.
• Implement and maintain internal Business Management Systems and delivery methodologies to ensure consistent best practice application.
• Undertake internal BMS audits and coordinate external audit processes with certification authorities.
• Develop a strong understanding of the market, acting as a brand ambassador and building a pipeline of opportunities.
• Advise clients on contracting and procurement strategies across a range of delivery models, including program-level capital planning and reporting.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and cross-functional team members.
• Participate in leadership meetings and prepare and deliver presentations to senior stakeholders.
• Provide regular updates on project status, initiatives, and staffing, and propose solutions for leadership alignment and approval.
• Identify and pursue cross-selling and business development opportunities.
• Participate in proposal development and RFP responses for new clients and projects.
• Support knowledge management by capturing lessons learned and contributing to internal best practice databases.
• Attend relevant industry and networking events to support market presence and business growth.
• Act as a role model, promoting a collaborative culture that balances outcomes for people, clients, stakeholders, and society.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, or a related field.
• Graduate degree in quantity surveying, cost management, construction management, or engineering is preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in cost management within the construction industry, including experience on commercial real estate projects.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong foundation in quantity surveying practices, with RICS certification or working toward accreditation preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supporting projects across multiple sectors is valued.
• Excellent presentation, verbal, written, organizational, and communication skills.

*On-site pre