Senior Cost Manager - Energy

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Engineer in Houston to lead cost management for major energy, transmission, industrial, and infrastructure programs. You will be the key day-to-day client interface, ensuring objectives are achieved through value-added cost management across the full project lifecycle.

The role requires strong estimation, change management, and project controls expertise, with a background in renewables or large capital programs.

Qualifications

• 5-7+ years of cost engineering, cost management, estimating, or project controls on major capital projects.
• Experience leading cost management on medium to large-scale construction projects.
• Experience supporting renewable energy, transmission, utility, infrastructure, industrial, or other large capital programs.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of estimating, forecasting, change management, cost control, and project controls.
• Experience developing and reviewing budgets, forecasts, cash flows, contingencies, and cost reports.
• Good understanding of procurement strategies, value management, and value engineering.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate change orders across the construction lifecycle.
• Develop and present cost plans, estimates, and project forecasts.
• Review and support development of cost estimates with design and construction teams.
• Reconcile project changes and validate contractor cost information.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to prepare cost reports and updates.
• Provide commercial guidance based on cost impacts and project priorities.
• Mentor junior team members and support team development.

Skills

Cost engineering

Estimating

Project controls

Change management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or Engineering

Tools

SAP

EcoSys

Job description

• Department: Energy and natural resources

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 Engineer to act as the key day-to-day client interface, ensuring client objectives are achieved through the delivery of value-added cost management services. This role will support the delivery of large-scale capital construction programs across renewable energy, transmission, industrial, and infrastructure projects. The ideal candidate will bring strong experience in cost engineering, estimating, change management, and project controls throughout the full project lifecycle.

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 collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. In this significant position, you will be responsible for providing leadership and direction while promoting the purpose, values, and vision of Turner & Townsend. Responsibilities:

• Negotiate change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
• Develop and present cost plans, estimates, and project forecasts.
• Review and support the development of cost estimates with design and construction teams.
• Reconcile project changes and validate contractor cost information.
• Coordinate with project stakeholders to prepare cost reports and estimate updates.
• Review contractor submissions and prepare commercial recommendations.
• Coordinate cost data from contractors, suppliers, consultants, and design teams.
• Provide commercial guidance based on cost impacts and project priorities.
• Resolve project and commercial issues with minimal supervision.
• Perform cost checks, valuations, and cost validation on complex projects.
• Manage change control, contingency, commitment tracking, and cost variance reporting.
• Prepare funding presentations and support value engineering initiatives.
• Develop and maintain cost plans throughout design and construction.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and support commercial negotiations.
• Perform quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management activities.
• Manage cost audits, benchmarking, forecasting, and monthly reporting.
• Support final account negotiations and project closeout activities.
• Maintain benchmarking databases and historical cost records.
• Mentor junior team members and support team development.
• Support commission financial management, forecasting, and reporting.
• Implement company systems, procedures, and delivery best practices.
• Promote a collaborative culture and high standard of client service.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Qualifications

• 5-7+ years of experience in cost engineering, cost management, estimating, or project controls on major capital projects.
• Experience leading cost management activities on medium to large-scale construction projects.
• Experience supporting renewable energy, transmission, utility, infrastructure, industrial, or other large capital programs.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of estimating, forecasting, change management, cost control, and project controls.
• Experience developing and reviewing budgets, forecasts, cash flows, contingencies, and cost reports.
• Good understanding of procurement strategies, value management, and value engineering.
• Experience with SAP is preferred.
• Experience with EcoSys is preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
• RICS accreditation, or progress toward accreditation, is preferred.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience supporting multi-site programs or geographically dispersed projects is preferred.

Additional Information

*On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's needs.*

Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.

We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.

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.