Senior Cost Manager - Life Sciences

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Lansdale (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager to act as the key day‑to‑day client interface, ensuring project objectives are met through cost management services. The role supports complex life sciences and commercial construction projects within a large campus in Southern Montgomery County, PA.

Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills, be self‑motivated, and able to work independently or as part of a team while upholding our values and vision.

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills essential for client-facing role.
• Bachelor's degree in construction-related field required.
• RICS accreditation preferred or current progress toward accreditation.
• Experience leading cost management on medium to large scale projects.
• Experience in life sciences, laboratory, healthcare or other complex projects preferred.
• Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of procurement routes, value management and value engineering.

Responsibilities

• Estimate and negotiate change orders through the construction lifecycle.
• Provide estimate and cost planning, including presenting final cost plan.
• Review and participate with design teams and general contractors on cost estimates.
• Coordinate cost information from NPA, subs, and quantities from A/Es.
• Prepare cost updates, executive summaries and written comments.
• Lead cost control, post‑contract variances and change control processes.
• Produce monthly cost reports and ensure final accounts are negotiated promptly.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, or related field

Job 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 to act as the key day‑to‑day client interface, ensuring project objectives are met through the delivery of value‑added cost management services. This role will support a portfolio of complex life sciences, laboratory, research, and commercial construction projects within a large campus environment in Southern Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

To be successful in this role, you must have strong 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 part of a team while promoting the purpose, values, and vision of Turner & Townsend.

Responsibilities:

• Estimating and negotiating change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
• Provide estimate and cost planning to include producing and presenting the final cost plan.
• Review and participate with the design services team and general contractor in the development of cost estimates.
• Reconcile changes and assist the general contractor to ensure that their data is accurate.
• Communicate or meet with the general contractor and owner or project manager to gather status information to prepare a cost estimate update.
• Prepare written comments to the general contractor’s submissions, including the executive summary.
• Coordinate all sources of cost information for cost discussions and suppliers direct from NPA, subs, quantities from A/Es.
• Inform and drive engineering priorities based on cost impact.
• Work proactively with minimal supervision to resolve scheduling issues.
• Manage cost checks and carry out valuations on larger projects. Complete timely, accurate cost checking and valuation processes.
• Participate effectively with post‑contract cost variances and the change control processes.
• Manage cost impact / contingency management and commitment tracking logs.
• Prepare funding data presentations and coordinate VE sessions with stakeholders.
• Develop cost plans and estimates through the design phase, delivering updated cost plans at appropriate design milestones.
• Provide commercial input to design optioneering and value engineering exercises.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and lead negotiations on behalf of the client to drive fair contract pricing.
• Perform quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure post‑contract cost variances and change control processes are managed effectively.
• Ensure cost auditing and valuation work is managed effectively and that a robust process for cost validation is in place.
• Produce monthly cost reports for presentation to the client.
• Ensure final accounts are negotiated and agreed upon in a timely manner.
• Compile built cost estimate records for benchmarking purposes.
• Identify, coach and mentor talent to realize their potential and celebrate the success of others.
• Display excellence in leadership and service delivery on commissions in line with the conditions of appointment.
• Financial Management: Utilize internal software to track ongoing margin levels and monthly fee/resource forecasts for each commission and financial reports.
• Implement and maintain internal Business Management Systems and company delivery methodologies and tools to ensure consistent delivery of best practices for clients and the company.
• Be a role model that drives a one business culture that achieves great outcomes by striking the right balance for our people, clients, stakeholders, and society.
• 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 field related to construction.
• Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience working in a cost management role in the construction industry.
• RICS accredited or working towards it is preferred.
• Experience leading cost management on medium or large‑scale construction projects of moderate to high complexity.
• Experience supporting life sciences, laboratory, research, healthcare, commercial, or other technically complex construction projects is preferred.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, including procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.

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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It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.

Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and arenot subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team,to submit candidates for review.