Senior Cost Manager & QS - Life Sciences Construction

Turner & Townsend; Hillsboro (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend in the United States is seeking a Senior Cost Manager and/or Quantity Surveyor to lead cost management on life sciences construction projects, from planning through closeout. This role requires strong client interaction, leadership, and collaboration with design and delivery teams.

You will manage estimates, cost plans, change control, value engineering, and post‑contract cost validation, while mentoring junior staff and aligning with our standards, procedures, and SOX controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in construction.
• RICS accredited or working toward accreditation preferred.
• Experience leading cost management on medium to large construction projects of moderate to high complexity.
• Experience supporting large-scale manufacturing, life sciences, technology, industrial, or commercial construction projects is preferred.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to thrive in a client-facing environment while managing multiple priorities and project stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Estimate and negotiate 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 change control processes.
• Manage cost impact, contingency management, and commitment tracking logs.
• Prepare funding data presentations and coordinate value engineering 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 achieve fair and competitive contract pricing.
• Perform quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure that post-contract cost variances and change control processes are managed effectively.
• Ensure that cost auditing and valuation work is managed effectively and that a robust process for cost validation is in place.
• Carry out the production of monthly cost reports for presentation to the client.
• Ensure that 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.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role and are to be adhered to where applicable.

Skills

Cost management

Quantity surveying

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Client-facing

Communication

Education

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

Job description

Turner & Townsend in the United States is seeking a Senior Cost Manager and/or Quantity Surveyor to lead cost management on life sciences construction projects, from planning through closeout. This role requires strong client interaction, leadership, and collaboration with design and delivery teams.

You will manage estimates, cost plans, change control, value engineering, and post‑contract cost validation, while mentoring junior staff and aligning with our standards, procedures, and SOX controls.