Senior Construction Cost Manager - Benchmarking Lead

Turner & Townsend; Wide Ruins (AZ); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking a Senior Cost Manager to act as the primary client interface and lead cost planning, governance, and reporting across large infrastructure or real estate portfolios.

You will manage cost baselines, guide strategic commercial decisions, and mentor junior staff while coordinating remote delivery teams to ensure value‑added cost management and benchmarking initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Cost Engineering, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of experience in cost management or quantity surveying, ideally within a consultancy or large capital program environment.
• Proven experience delivering cost management services on medium to large, complex construction projects.
• Demonstrated ability to develop cost models, analyze project data, and contribute to benchmarking or cost intelligence initiatives.
• Experience leading or coordinating remote or distributed project teams is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of construction industry practices, including procurement routes, value engineering, and commercial management.
• Proficiency with digital cost management tools such as CostX or similar platforms.
• RICS accreditation (or working toward it) or equivalent professional certification is preferred.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary client interface, delivering clear, executive‑level cost reporting, variance analysis, and strategic commercial guidance.
• Lead cost planning, estimating, and financial governance across the full project lifecycle, preparing and presenting detailed cost plans, forecasts, and cash flow projections.
• Oversee project cost control processes, including managing change orders, valuations, contractor applications, and final account negotiations.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing, lead commercial negotiations, and ensure accuracy and alignment of project cost data.
• Participate in design development, providing commercial input into design optioneering, value engineering, and engineering prioritization based on cost impact.
• Coordinate and consolidate cost information from contractors, consultants, and suppliers to support informed decision‑making.
• Manage post‑contract cost variances, change control processes, and contingency tracking to ensure effective project delivery.
• Prepare monthly cost reports, funding updates, and executive summaries for client presentation.
• Lead and contribute to the development of Turner & Townsend’s internal benchmarking strategy, compiling built cost data and establishing consistent cost baselines across programs.
• Track market trends (labor, materials, and economic conditions) and apply insights to forecasting and risk mitigation.
• Drive the use of digital cost management and benchmarking tools to standardize data, improve reporting, and enhance delivery efficiency.
• Oversee remote delivery teams, ensuring consistent execution of best practices, governance standards, and company methodologies.
• Mentor and support junior team members, fostering a collaborative, high‑performance culture.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of internal business management systems and delivery frameworks.
• Support financial management activities, including fee tracking, resource forecasting, and margin reporting.
• Adhere to SOX control responsibilities where applicable.

Skills

Cost management

Quantity surveying

Cost modeling

Benchmarking

Remote team leadership

Stakeholder management

Cost reporting

SOX controls

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management

Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying

Tools

CostX

Job 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 outcomes that improve people’s lives. Our capabilities include program, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement, supply chain, net zero and digital solutions.

Senior Cost Manager

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager to act as the key day‑to‑day client interface, ensuring client objectives are met through delivery of a value‑added cost management service. In this role you will serve as a senior commercial authority across large‑scale infrastructure or real estate portfolios, combine hands‑on project delivery with leadership of internal benchmarking and cost intelligence initiatives, orchestrate remote delivery teams, leverage global program data, establish cost baselines, mitigate risk, and inform strategic decision‑making.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary client interface, delivering clear, executive‑level cost reporting, variance analysis, and strategic commercial guidance.
• Lead cost planning, estimating, and financial governance across the full project lifecycle, preparing and presenting detailed cost plans, forecasts, and cash flow projections.
• Oversee project cost control processes, including managing change orders, valuations, contractor applications, and final account negotiations.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing, lead commercial negotiations, and ensure accuracy and alignment of project cost data.
• Participate in design development, providing commercial input into design optioneering, value engineering, and engineering prioritization based on cost impact.
• Coordinate and consolidate cost information from contractors, consultants, and suppliers to support informed decision‑making.
• Manage post‑contract cost variances, change control processes, and contingency tracking to ensure effective project delivery.
• Prepare monthly cost reports, funding updates, and executive summaries for client presentation.
• Lead and contribute to the development of Turner & Townsend’s internal benchmarking strategy, compiling built cost data and establishing consistent cost baselines across programs.
• Track market trends (labor, materials, and economic conditions) and apply insights to forecasting and risk mitigation.
• Drive the use of digital cost management and benchmarking tools to standardize data, improve reporting, and enhance delivery efficiency.
• Oversee remote delivery teams, ensuring consistent execution of best practices, governance standards, and company methodologies.
• Mentor and support junior team members, fostering a collaborative, high‑performance culture.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of internal business management systems and delivery frameworks.
• Support financial management activities, including fee tracking, resource forecasting, and margin reporting.
• Adhere to SOX control responsibilities where applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Cost Engineering, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of experience in cost management or quantity surveying, ideally within a consultancy or large capital program environment.
• Proven experience delivering cost management services on medium to large, complex construction projects.
• Demonstrated ability to develop cost models, analyze project data, and contribute to benchmarking or cost intelligence initiatives.
• Experience leading or coordinating remote or distributed project teams is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of construction industry practices, including procurement routes, value engineering, and commercial management.
• Proficiency with digital cost management tools such as CostX or similar platforms.
• RICS accreditation (or working toward it) or equivalent professional certification is preferred.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.

Salary & Benefits

Base salary range: $140,000–$170,000 depending on location. Compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, employees may be eligible for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.

Equal Opportunity / EEO

Turner & Townsend is an equal‑opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.