Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A construction consultancy firm in Austin, Texas is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to lead cost management for a critical data center project. The role involves developing cost plans, managing procurement strategies, and ensuring project delivery is on time and within budget. Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree and 5-7+ years of relevant experience, strong budgeting and financial management skills, and proficiency with cost management tools. This is an opportunity to join a leading firm committed to fostering diversity and inclusion.

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of experience in cost management/project controls within mission-critical environments.
• Solid understanding of MEP systems and campus-scale infrastructure.
• RICS accreditation or progress toward certification is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain detailed cost plans and estimates through design and delivery phases.
• Produce and present monthly cost reports and executive summaries to stakeholders.
• Lead procurement strategy development and manage final accounts.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial reporting

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Cost management

Education

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

Tools

Industry-standard cost management tools and software

Job description

Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to serve as the key, day‑to‑day client interface and deliver a value‑added cost management service on a large‑scale, mission‑critical data centre program. This role is pivotal in ensuring the project is delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards, with a strong emphasis on governance, commercial rigor, and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain detailed cost plans and estimates through design and delivery phases, leveraging industry benchmarks and technical documentation.
• Produce and present monthly cost reports, executive summaries, and funding data to stakeholders.
• Coordinate all sources of cost information (design teams, GC, subs, vendor quotes) for robust cost validation and auditing.
• Compile built cost records for benchmarking and continuous improvement.
• Lead procurement strategy development, contractor/subcontractor pricing reviews, scope validation, and commercial negotiations to drive fair contract prices.
• Manage final accounts and ensure timely agreement.
• Own change control throughout the lifecycle: review, estimate, negotiate, and reconcile change orders; manage post‑contract cost variances.
• Support cost risk analysis, scenario planning, contingency management, and commitment tracking.
• Ensure robust cost control systems, including Earned Value Management (EVM) where applicable.
• Integrate cost with schedule and scope, coordinating closely with project controls/scheduling teams.
• Inform and drive engineering priorities based on cost impact; lead value engineering (VE) initiatives and cost optimization strategies.
• Monitor market trends (escalation, labor availability, material pricing) and provide timely insights.
• Act as the primary client interface, ensuring objectives are met and service excellence is delivered.
• Prepare and present executive‑level updates, written comments on GC submissions, and cost estimate updates.
• Ensure adherence to internal Business Management Systems and company delivery methodologies.
• Mentor and coach junior team members; foster a high‑performance, one‑business culture.
• Demonstrate excellence in financial management (margin tracking, monthly fee/resource forecasts) across commissions.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5–7+ years in cost management/project controls within mission‑critical environments (data centres, high‑tech, industrial) and medium to large projects of moderate to high complexity.
• Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred.
• Solid understanding of MEP systems, resilience requirements, and campus‑scale infrastructure common to hyperscale data centres.
• Strong foundation in budgeting, financial reporting, cost control systems, and EVM.
• Expertise in procurement strategies and the commercial management of contractor/vendor contracts.
• RICS accreditation or progress toward certification is advantageous.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities with high attention to detail.
• Proficiency with industry‑standard cost management tools and software.

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.