Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Construction Management

Turner-; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend in Houston is seeking a Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to lead cost management across a diverse portfolio of construction projects. Based in Houston, TX, you will work with clients and design teams to develop, update and present cost plans and estimates.

The role requires strong client-facing skills, leadership, and a collaborative approach to value engineering, cost controls and post‑contract cost variances. Some travel within Texas is expected as projects progress.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in construction-related field; preferred RICS accreditation.
• 5–7 years of relevant cost management experience in construction.
• Experience leading cost management on medium to large projects.
• Construction consultancy experience preferred.
• Knowledge of procurement routes, value management and value engineering.

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 general contractor and owner to gather status information for cost estimates.
• Prepare written comments to contractor submissions and executive summaries.
• Coordinate cost information sources for cost discussions and supplier data.
• Inform and drive engineering priorities based on cost impact.
• Manage cost checks and valuations on larger projects; timely and accurate processes.

Skills

Cost management

Quantity surveying

Leadership

Construction knowledge

SOX compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in construction management/cost management/quantity surveying/engineering

Job description

Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Construction Management

• Full-time

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.

Turner & Townsend are looking for an experienced Senior Cost Manager and/or Quantity Surveyor to join our Houston cost management team, supporting a diverse portfolio of construction projects across multiple sectors.This role is based in Houston, Texas with a variety of travel across to Texas.

In this role, you will act as the key day-to-day client interface, ensuring that client objectives are met through the delivery of a value-added cost management service across various asset types and project stages.

To be successful in this role you must have strong communication skills and be comfortable operating in a client-facing environment across multiple stakeholders and projects. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, driven, and able to work independently while collaborating effectively within a team environment. In this significant position, you will be responsible for providing leadership and direction, while embedding and 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 of 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 of control processes.
• Manage Cost impact / contingency management and commitment tracking logs.
• Prepare funding data presentations and coordinate VE sessions with stakeholders.
• Developing cost plans and estimates through the design phase, delivering updated cost plans at appropriate design milestones.
• Providing commercial input to design optioneering and input into value engineering exercises.
• Reviewing contractor and subcontractor pricing and leading negotiations on behalf of the client to drive fair contract prices.
• Performing quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensuring that post-contract cost variances and change control processes are managed effectively.
• Ensuring that cost auditing and valuation work is managed effectively and that a robust process for cost validation is in place.
• Carrying out the production of monthly cost reports for presentation to the client.
• Ensuring that final accounts are negotiated and agreed upon in a timely manner.
• Compiling 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 is 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 the use of internal Business Management Systems and company delivery methodologies and tools in the office to ensure consistent delivery of best practice 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 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 of leading cost management on medium or large sized construction projects of medium to high complexity.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, such as different procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.

*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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