Senior Cost Manager & QS – Workplace Projects

Turner & Townsend; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager/Quantity Surveyor to support a portfolio of workplace, commercial, and capital improvement projects across North America. This role focuses on budgeting, forecasting, cost controls, change management, and financial reporting through the project lifecycle, with collaboration across project teams and external cost consultants.

Experience in tenant improvement, renovation, decommissioning, laboratory, infrastructure, or related capital

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Cost Management, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in construction cost management, quantity surveying, cost controls, or project controls.
• Experience managing budgets, forecasts, change management, cost reporting, and financial controls across multiple projects or programs.
• Experience leading cost management services on medium to large-scale construction projects.
• Experience supporting workplace, tenant improvement, renovation, decommissioning, laboratory, infrastructure, or similar capital projects preferred.
• Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred; RICS accreditation is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of procurement, cost management, value engineering, and construction industry best practices.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

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 with project teams, consultants, contractors, and stakeholders to gather status information and prepare cost estimate updates.
• Prepare written comments to contractor and consultant submissions, including executive summaries.
• Coordinate all sources of cost information for cost discussions and decision-making.
• Inform and drive project priorities based on cost impact.
• Work proactively with minimal supervision to resolve project and cost management 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 drive fair contract pricing.
• Perform quantity surveying, cost controls, forecasting, budgeting, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Manage and oversee cost management activities across multiple concurrent construction projects.
• Review, validate, and monitor project budgets, forecasts, commitments, and expenditures.
• Coordinate with external cost consultants to ensure accurate and timely cost reporting, forecasting, and budget updates.
• Support portfolio-level financial reporting and provide cost performance analysis to stakeholders and leadership.
• 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

Budgeting

Forecasting

Cost management

Change management

Financial reporting

Stakeholder mgmt

Communication

Education

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

Job description

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager/Quantity Surveyor to support a portfolio of workplace, commercial, and capital improvement projects across North America. This role focuses on budgeting, forecasting, cost controls, change management, and financial reporting through the project lifecycle, with collaboration across project teams and external cost consultants.

Experience in tenant improvement, renovation, decommissioning, laboratory, infrastructure, or related capital