Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 140,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager and/or Quantity Surveyor to support a large-scale data center programme. You will act as a key client interface, delivering value-added cost management and commercial services across the project lifecycle.

This site-based role requires strong communication, independence, and collaboration with project teams to promote Turner & Townsend's values while delivering cost certainty and governance on a multi-year campus development in Ohio.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–7 years' cost management experience in construction.
• Experience leading cost management on medium to large projects.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Client-facing experience on major capital programmes is preferred.
• RICS accreditation is preferred or being pursued.

Responsibilities

• Estimate and negotiate change orders across the construction lifecycle.
• Provide cost planning, final cost plans, and value engineering input.
• Review design and contractor estimates; reconcile changes with the GC.
• Produce monthly cost reports and manage post-contract variances.
• Lead cost checks, valuations, and final accounts with strong governance.
• Coordinate cost information and drive cost impact decisions with stakeholders.
• Mentor talent and promote leadership within the team.

Skills

Estimating

Cost management

Negotiation

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management

Bachelor's degree in Cost Management

Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying

Engineering or related construction field

RICS accreditation (preferred)

Job description

Job Description

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager and/or Quantity Surveyor to support the delivery of a large-scale data center construction programme. Acting as a key day-to-day client interface, you will help ensure successful project outcomes through the delivery of value-added cost management, commercial, and quantity surveying services across the project lifecycle.

This role will support the delivery of a significant multi-year campus development. To be successful, you must have strong communication skills and be comfortable operating in a client-facing environment. You will be self-motivated, driven, and capable of working independently while collaborating effectively with project teams, promoting the purpose, values, and vision of Turner & Townsend.

This is a primarily site-based role supporting a major construction programme. Regular on-site presence is required at the project site in Miami County, Ohio, located approximately 80 minutes from Columbus.

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 or 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 large and complex construction projects. Complete timely, accurate cost checking and valuation processes.
• Participate effectively with post-contract cost variances and the 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, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure post-contract cost variances and change control processes are managed effectively.
• Ensure cost auditing and valuation work is managed effectively and that a robust process for cost validation is in place.
• Produce monthly cost reports for presentation to the client and key stakeholders.
• Ensure 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.
• 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 to ensure consistent delivery of best practices for clients and the company.
• Be a role model who drives a one-business culture that achieves great outcomes for our people, clients, stakeholders, and society.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role and are to be adhered to where applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related construction field.
• Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience working in a cost management role within the construction industry.
• RICS accredited or working towards accreditation is preferred.
• Experience leading cost management on medium to large-scale construction projects of moderate to high complexity.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, including procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.
• Experience supporting major capital projects from planning and design through construction and closeout is preferred.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Additional Information

*On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's needs.

The base salary range for this role is $140,000-$165,000 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.

Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/ and www.heery.com/.

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.