Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor – Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working environment

Opportunity for professional growth

Inclusive company culture

Job summary

A leading global professional services company is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager or Quantity Surveyor to manage cost for a large-scale data center project in Chicago. This role requires strong expertise in estimating, procurement, and financial management. The ideal candidate will be responsible for cost planning and control, leading project finances, and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships. Excellent communication skills and experience in client-facing roles are essential.

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of experience in cost management or project controls.
• Experience in large-scale, mission-critical environments like data centers.
• Proficiency in budgeting and Earned Value Management (EVM).

Responsibilities

• Lead cost management across all project phases.
• Develop and maintain detailed cost plans and estimates.
• Produce and present monthly cost reports and financial updates.

Skills

Cost management

Financial reporting

Communication

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Education

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

Tools

Cost management tools

Job description

Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

• 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 programs as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success.

Our capabilities include program, 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 program, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager or Quantity Surveyor to drive cost management for a large-scale, mission-critical data center program in the Chicago metropolitan area. These projects involve multi-phase construction of advanced facilities designed to expand cloud and AI infrastructure, with significant investment in MEP systems and high-performance environments.

You will manage cost planning and control from concept through final account, working closely with internal teams, contractors, and stakeholders to deliver high-value outcomes. The ideal candidate has deep expertise in estimating, procurement, and financial management, with strong knowledge of MEP systems and experience handling complex construction budgets for multi-building campuses.

To be successful in this role you must have great communication skills and be comfortable operating in a client-facing role.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost management across all project phases, ensuring alignment with scope, budget, and schedule.
• Develop and maintain detailed cost plans and estimates, leveraging industry benchmarks and technical documentation.
• Produce and present monthly cost reports, executive summaries, and financial updates to stakeholders.
• Manage change control processes, including review and negotiation of change orders and post-contract cost variances.
• Oversee contractor and subcontractor pricing reviews, scope validation, and procurement strategy development.
• Collaborate with design teams, general contractors, and vendors to validate cost estimates and perform quantity surveying.
• Drive continuous improvement in cost management practices, supporting standardization and best-in-class delivery.
• Support cost risk analysis and scenario planning for multi-phase programs.
• Monitor market trends and provide insights on escalation, labor availability, and material pricing.
• Develop strategies for cost optimization and value engineering.
• Coordinate with scheduling teams to align cost forecasts with project timelines.
• Track and report on cash flow forecasts and commitments to ensure financial accuracy.
• Review and validate invoices against contract terms and approved budgets.
• Maintain accurate cost databases and benchmarking information for future projects.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to a high-performance, collaborative team culture.
• Ensure compliance with internal financial systems, regulatory requirements, and SOX controls where applicable.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, vendors, and project teams to support successful project delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5–7+ years of experience in cost management or project controls, ideally within large-scale, mission-critical environments (e.g., data centers, high-tech, industrial).
• Proven experience in construction consultancy is preferred.
• Strong background in budgeting, financial reporting, cost control systems, and Earned Value Management (EVM).
• Expertise in procurement strategies and 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 attention to detail.
• Proficiency in industry-standard cost management tools and software.

*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.

It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.

Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e‑mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.