Senior Cost Controls Lead - Data Center Programs

Turner & Townsend; Fayetteville (GA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager to lead cost management across a large-scale data center program. You will act as the primary day-to-day client interface, focusing on change management, cost control, and commercial governance throughout the construction lifecycle in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

The ideal candidate will have strong client-facing communication, self‑motivation, and detail‑oriented leadership, delivering cost plans, variance analysis, and

Qualifications

• Regular onsite presence is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, or related field.
• 5–7+ years of cost management or project controls experience on medium‑to‑large‑scale construction programs.
• Mission‑critical, industrial, or large campus‑scale experience preferred.
• Consultancy experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of civil, structural, and MEP construction.
• Advanced knowledge of budgeting, financial reporting, cost‑control systems, and Earned Value Management (EVM).
• Proven experience managing full change‑management processes on major construction programs.
• Strong cost‑focused project controls background, including forecasting and variance analysis.
• Ability to interpret schedules and assess cost impacts across phases and trades.
• Expertise in procurement strategy and commercial contract management.
• RICS accreditation (or progress toward certification) is advantageous.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Proficiency with industry‑standard cost management tools and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage change management processes across the program, ensuring all changes are properly identified, evaluated, documented, and approved.
• Review, evaluate, and negotiate change orders throughout the construction lifecycle, ensuring commercial alignment and cost transparency.
• Maintain and manage change logs, contingency tracking, and commitment registers, providing clear visibility into cost impacts.
• Establish and enforce change control procedures and governance frameworks across multiple projects within the campus.
• Provide detailed cost analysis and recommendations to support client decision‑making on change events.
• Support dispute avoidance and resolution through strong commercial oversight and documentation of changes.
• Provide cost planning and estimating, including producing and presenting final cost plans.
• Review and participate with the design team and general contractor in developing cost estimates.
• Reconcile changes and validate contractor cost data to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Communicate with the general contractor and project team to gather updates and support cost reporting.
• Prepare written comments on contractor submissions, including executive summaries.
• Coordinate cost inputs from subcontractors, suppliers, and design teams.
• Inform and help drive construction priorities based on cost and change impact.
• Work proactively to resolve cost, scope, and scheduling conflicts.
• Manage cost checks and carry out valuations on complex projects.
• Lead post-contract cost variance analysis and ensure adherence to change control processes.
• Prepare funding updates and support value engineering sessions, particularly in response to change drivers.
• Develop cost plans through design and provide updates at key milestones.
• Review contractor pricing and support negotiations to ensure fair and commercially sound outcomes.
• Ensure cost auditing, validation, and reporting processes are consistently applied.
• Produce monthly cost reports with clear visibility into change activity, risks, and forecast impacts.
• Support final account closeout, ensuring all changes are fully agreed and reconciled.
• Maintain cost benchmarking data and program records to support future forecasting and decision‑making.
• Mentor team members and promote best practices in change management and cost control.

Skills

Onsite presence

Communication skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Analytical abilities

Attention to detail

Civil/structural/MEP construction

Cost management tools

Microsoft Office

Forecasting & variance analysis

Procurement strategy

Contract management

Change management

EVM knowledge

RICS accreditation (adv)

Education

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

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager to lead cost management across a large-scale data center program. You will act as the primary day-to-day client interface, focusing on change management, cost control, and commercial governance throughout the construction lifecycle in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

The ideal candidate will have strong client-facing communication, self‑motivation, and detail‑oriented leadership, delivering cost plans, variance analysis, and