Senior Cost Leader – Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend; Fort Worth (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager/Quantity Surveyor to support a major, multi-phase hyperscale data center construction program from the DFW, TX area, with periodic travel to a large campus site in central Texas.

You will serve as a key day-to-day client interface, ensuring disciplined cost controls, clear communication, and strong stakeholder coordination across both the Houston team and the active project site.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Experience with mission‑critical, data center, industrial, or large campus‑scale developments preferred.
• Consultancy experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of civil, structural, and MEP construction, with exposure to complex infrastructure systems preferred.
• Advanced competency in budgeting, financial reporting, forecasting, and cost‑control systems; EVM experience beneficial.
• Proven ability to manage full change‑management processes on major projects.
• Strong project controls understanding, including cost‑schedule integration and variance analysis.
• Skilled in procurement support and commercial contract management.
• RICS accreditation (or progress toward certification) preferred.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• High analytical capability and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with standard cost management tools and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain detailed cost plans, budgets, and estimates throughout design and construction phases across a large, multi‑building campus.
• Prepare and present monthly cost reports, forecasts, and executive‑level summaries to support program‑wide decision making.
• Coordinate cost data from designers, contractors, subcontractors, and vendors for accurate validation across multiple workstreams.
• Maintain benchmarking and built‑cost records to support continuous improvement across the broader program.
• Lead procurement support activities, including pricing reviews, scope validation, and commercial negotiations for major trade packages.
• Manage final accounts and drive timely agreement across multiple contractors and phases.
• Oversee full change‑management workflow, ensuring changes are reviewed, evaluated, negotiated, approved, and accurately tracked.
• Maintain rigorous cost‑control systems, monitoring commitments, variances, and trends across a high‑value capital program.
• Support contingency planning and cost‑risk analysis activities in a dynamic construction environment.
• Coordinate cost, schedule, and scope alignment with project controls and site delivery teams.
• Lead value‑engineering and cost‑optimization efforts across phases, systems, and trades, including mission‑critical MEP infrastructure.
• Monitor market conditions and provide commercial insights relevant to large‑scale construction and supply chain dynamics.
• Serve as a primary client interface, ensuring objectives and expectations are met across both office and site stakeholders.
• Prepare clear commentary on contractor submissions and support governance reviews.
• Ensure compliance with Turner & Townsend Business Management Systems.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to a collaborative, high‑performance culture.
• Support financial management tasks including margin tracking and resource forecasting
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which must be adhered to where applicable.

Skills

Client interface

Cost controls

Budgeting & forecasting

Stakeholder management

Data center cost management

Analytical ability

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/Quantity Surveyor to support a major, multi-phase hyperscale data center construction program from the DFW, TX area, with periodic travel to a large campus site in central Texas.

You will serve as a key day-to-day client interface, ensuring disciplined cost controls, clear communication, and strong stakeholder coordination across both the Houston team and the active project site.