Senior Cost Manager – Heavy Civil Infra

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

Job summary

Turner & Townsend in Houston is seeking a Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to lead cost management across heavy civil and infrastructure projects. You will oversee estimating, cost planning, procurement support, change management, forecasting, and commercial administration for multiple clients.

The ideal candidate will be client-focused, collaborative, and able to manage stakeholders in complex programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Cost Management, or related field.
• 6–8+ years of experience in construction cost management, quantity surveying, estimating, or commercial management.
• Experience supporting medium to large-scale heavy civil and infrastructure projects, including transportation, roadway, bridge, utility, drainage, water/wastewater, or site development.
• Strong experience preparing and reviewing estimates, cost plans, forecasts, change orders, and contractor pricing.
• Experience managing cost controls through design and construction phases.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications, schedules, and contract documents.
• Accreditation (RICS) or progress toward accreditation preferred; CCP/CEP/PMP advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on project cost and commercial strategies through planning, design, procurement, construction, and closeout.
• Manage estimating services, develop estimates, validate pricing, review team estimates, and present recommendations.
• Support procurement activities: vendor prequalification, bid analysis, contract award recommendations.
• Develop and maintain project cost plans, budgets, forecasts, and cash flow projections.
• Manage cost reporting: cost reports, budget updates, contingencies, forecasts.
• Monitor expenditures against budgets and identify cost risks and opportunities.
• Review payment applications, change orders, claims, and contractor requests for compensation.
• Maintain risk registers and support mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate with clients, engineers, contractors, and stakeholders for informed decisions.
• Perform cost validation, benchmarking, quantity reviews, and estimate comparisons.
• Support value engineering for cost savings and better outcomes.
• Oversee post-contract cost controls: change management, audits, final accounts, closeout.

Skills

Cost management

Estimating

Procurement

Forecasting

Stakeholder management

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management/ QS/ Civil Eng/ Cost Management

Job description

Turner & Townsend in Houston is seeking a Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to lead cost management across heavy civil and infrastructure projects. You will oversee estimating, cost planning, procurement support, change management, forecasting, and commercial administration for multiple clients.

The ideal candidate will be client-focused, collaborative, and able to manage stakeholders in complex programs.