Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor – Data Center

Turner & Townsend; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to serve as the key day-to-day client interface on large-scale data center construction projects. The role ensures client objectives through high-quality cost management across the project lifecycle.

The successful candidate will have extensive experience in complex mission-critical projects, with expertise in cost planning, estimating, change management, and negotiations.

Qualifications

• Experience in cost management on large-scale or complex construction projects.
• Strong cost planning, estimating, and change management skills.
• Excellent communication and client-facing abilities.

Responsibilities

• Estimate and negotiate change orders across the construction lifecycle.
• Produce and present final cost plans and budgets.
• Review design and contractor estimates for accuracy and completeness.
• Coordinate cost information from design teams, subs, and suppliers.
• Prepare cost updates and executive summaries for stakeholders.
• Lead cost control, valuations, and post-contract cost variance management.

Skills

Cost management

Quantity surveying

Estimating

Negotiation

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s in construction

RICS acc. preferred

Job description

Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center

• 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 is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to serve as the key day-to-day client interface on large-scale data center construction projects. This role is responsible for ensuring client objectives are achieved through the delivery of high-quality, value-added cost management services across the full project lifecycle.

The successful candidate will have extensive experience supporting complex mission-critical or advanced technology construction programs, with strong expertise in cost planning, estimating, change management, commercial negotiations, and cost control. The role requires excellent communication skills, a proactive approach, and the ability to operate confidently in a client-facing environment.

As a senior member of the team, you will provide leadership and direction while promoting Turner & Townsend's purpose, values, and vision. You will work collaboratively with clients, design teams, contractors, and stakeholders to successfully deliver data center projects from planning through closeout.

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.

The base salary range for this role is $140K-$165K USD. This range reflects the company's good faith estimate of the base salary for this position at the time of the posting. Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, employees may be eligible for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.

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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