Senior Cost Manager / Estimator - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend in Miami is seeking a Senior Cost Manager / Estimator to lead proactive cost management across data center projects. You’ll own budgets, cost plans, forecasts, and benchmark analyses while presenting updates to clients and senior leadership.

The ideal candidate has 5–7 years in cost management, excels in communication and stakeholder management, and can mentor junior staff while ensuring governance, risk control, and value engineering across the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5-7 years in cost management, quantity surveying, estimating, or commercial management.
• Experience on data center/mission-critical or highly technical projects.
• Knowledge of cost control, value engineering, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage budgets, cost plans, forecasts, and benchmark analyses.
• Lead cost planning, reviews, and budget validation from inception to completion.
• Support procurement, bid packages, contractor selection, and commercial recommendations.
• Review pricing, change orders, and conduct financial reporting.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Client-facing skills

Budgeting / cost management

Education

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

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 / Estimatorto serve as the day-to-day client lead, delivering proactive cost management services across the full project lifecycle for data center developments.

The successful candidate will have experience in cost planning, cost modeling, and pre-construction activities, supporting informed decision-making from early-stage feasibility through project delivery. While working closely with our dedicated Data Center estimating team, this role will be responsible for leading client-facing commercial discussions, reviewing estimates, and ensuring robust cost management strategies are implemented.

Strong communication and stakeholder management skills are essential, along with the ability to work independently, lead project teams, and drive successful outcomes in complex, fast-paced environments. As a senior member of the team, you will champion Turner & Townsend's purpose, values, and vision while providing leadership and mentorship to colleagues.
Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage project budgets, cost plans, forecasts, and benchmark analyses throughout the project lifecycle.
• Prepare and present cost reports, commercial updates, and financial analyses to project stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Lead cost planning, estimating reviews, and budget validation activities from project initiation through completion.
• Support procurement activities, including bid package development, contractor selection, proposal evaluation, leveling, and commercial recommendations.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing, proposals, and change order requests.
• Manage commercial change control processes, evaluating impacts to cost, schedule, scope, and project risk.
• Monitor project expenditures, commitments, contingency utilization, and forecasted final costs.
• Perform cost checks, valuations, benchmarking exercises, and budget reconciliations.
• Collaborate with project teams to identify value engineering and cost optimization opportunities.
• Maintain oversight of project cash flow forecasting and financial reporting.
• Support commercial risk management efforts, including contingency planning, cost risk assessments, and contract compliance reviews.
• Assist in the resolution of commercial issues, claims, and disputes while minimizing project risk exposure.
• Review project controls documentation and ensure alignment between scope, schedule, and budget objectives.
• Produce monthly cost reports and participate in client and project team meetings.
• Manage project financial closeout activities, including final account negotiations and vendor settlements.
• Maintain cost databases and benchmarking information to support future project planning and delivery.
• Mentor junior cost management professionals and contribute to team development.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and implementation of best practices across project delivery.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, delivery methodologies, and governance requirements.
• Be a role model that drives a one-business culture and delivers successful outcomes for clients, colleagues, and stakeholders.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related construction field.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in cost management, quantity surveying, estimating, or commercial management within the construction industry.
• Experience supporting mission-critical, data center, advanced technology, industrial, infrastructure, or other highly technical construction projects is required.
• Demonstrated experience managing project costs from planning and procurement through construction and closeout.
• Experience reviewing estimates, contractor pricing, change orders, and commercial negotiations.
• Knowledge of construction procurement strategies, value engineering, cost control, and risk management principles.
• Experience working in active operational environments is preferred.
• Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred.
• RICS accreditation or progress toward chartership preferred.
• Excellent communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and client-facing skills.

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.

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