Senior Cost Manager - Construction Management

Turner & Townsend; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend in Nashville is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager/Quantity Surveyor to lead cost management across a diverse portfolio of projects, including real estate developments, data centers, and infrastructure. You will serve as a key day-to-day client contact and ensure cost objectives are met with high-quality reporting.

The ideal candidate has 5–7 years of cost management experience, strong estimating and procurement knowledge, and excellent communication skills for

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of cost management experience in construction.
• Experience delivering cost management on medium to large-scale projects, ideally in commercial real estate.
• Strong understanding of estimating, cost planning, procurement, contract administration, and change management.
• RICS accreditation or working towards certification preferred.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management for client-facing work.

Responsibilities

• Lead estimating and cost planning across commercial construction projects.
• Act as daily client interface, coordinating with owners, designers, and contractors for updates and cost reporting.
• Manage cost control processes: valuations, change orders, contingencies, and variance analysis.
• Coordinate cost information sources (A/Es, subcontractors, suppliers) and advise on procurement.
• Lead procurement activities, bid packages, negotiations, and tender reporting.
• Produce and present monthly cost reports and closeout documents.
• Mentor junior team members and uphold delivery excellence.

Skills

Cost estimation

Cost planning

Quantity surveying

Client liaison

Stakeholder management

SOX controls

Education

Bachelor’s degree in construction management / cost management / related field

Tools

Cost estimating software

Financial reporting systems

Job description

• Full-time

Company 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 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.

Job Description

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager and/or Quantity Surveyor to join our growing Nashville team, supporting construction cost services across a diverse portfolio of projects, including real estate developments, data centers (including major hyperscale facilities), and civil and local government infrastructure programs.

In this role, you will serve as a key day-to-day client contact, building strong relationships and ensuring client objectives are achieved through the delivery of high-quality, value-added cost management services on complex commercial construction projects.

To succeed in this position, you will possess excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence and professionalism to operate in a client-facing environment. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, results-driven, and capable of working independently while also contributing effectively within a collaborative team setting. As a senior member of the team, you will provide leadership and direction, championing and embedding Turner & Townsend’s purpose, values, and vision while driving excellence in project delivery.

Responsibilities:

• Lead estimating and cost planning efforts, including developing, reviewing, and presenting project cost plans, supporting design development, and reconciling changes throughout the lifecycle of commercial construction projects.
• Act as a key daily client interface, coordinating with owners, designers, and contractors to gather project updates, review submissions, and deliver clear, accurate cost reporting and executive summaries.
• Manage cost control processes including valuations, change orders, contingency tracking, and cost variance analysis, ensuring alignment between budgets, forecasts, and actuals.
• Coordinate and validate all sources of cost information (A/Es, subcontractors, suppliers), and provide commercial input into procurement strategies, value engineering, and design optioneering.
• Support and lead procurement activities, including preparation and evaluation of bid packages, contractor negotiations, contract input, and tender recommendation reporting.
• Produce and present monthly cost reports, funding updates, and benchmarking data, ensuring timely closeout of final accounts and maintenance of cost records for future use.
• Ensure effective implementation of cost auditing, validation, and change control procedures across all project phases.
• Mentor and support junior team members while contributing to overall team performance and delivering high-quality client service.
• Manage financial aspects of commissions, including margin tracking, fee forecasting, and adherence to internal systems and delivery methodologies.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in cost management, quantity surveying, or project controls within the construction industry.
• Experience delivering cost management services on medium to large-scale construction projects, ideally within commercial real estate environments.
• Strong understanding of estimating, cost planning, procurement, contract administration, and change management processes.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with industry tools, cost estimating platforms, and financial reporting systems.
• RICS accreditation or working towards certification is preferred.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to operate in a client-facing role.

Additional Information

• On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client’s needs.

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.