Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction (Anticipated Opening)

Turner-; Oklahoma City (OK); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend is seeking a Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor for a large-scale data centre construction program. You will be the primary client interface, delivering value-added cost management across multiple projects and phases.

Ideal candidates have 5–7 years in cost management roles within construction, with strong cost planning, procurement, and leadership capabilities. On-site role with potential travel and a focus on mission-critical facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 5-7 years in cost management, quantity surveying, or commercial management in construction.
• RICS accreditation or progress toward chartership preferred.
• Experience leading cost management on medium to large-scale projects, ideally data centres or mission-critical facilities.
• Strong knowledge of procurement, cost planning, value management, and risk planning.

Responsibilities

• Estimate and negotiate change orders across the data centre lifecycle.
• Provide estimating and cost planning services, and present final cost plans.
• Develop cost estimates for building, MEP, power, cooling, and infrastructure.
• Coordinate with design teams, trade partners, and GC on cost estimates.
• Prepare cost updates, executive summaries, and reports for clients.
• Manage cost information from suppliers, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Drive value engineering and cost optimisation opportunities.
• Lead post-contract cost management and change control processes.
• Produce monthly cost reports and programme-level cost insights.
• Coach and mentor junior staff and promote Turner & Townsend standards.

Skills

Cost management

Quantity surveying

Commercial management

Estimating & cost planning

Value engineering

Client-facing skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management / Cost Management / Quantity Surveying

Tools

CostX

Excel

Job description

Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction (Anticipated Opening)

• 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 are looking for an experienced Senior Cost Manager and/or Quantity Surveyor to act as the key day‑to‑day client interface on a large‑scale data center construction program, ensuring that client objectives are met through the delivery of a value-added cost management service across multiple projects and delivery phases.

To be successful in this role, you must have excellent communication skills and be comfortable operating in a client-facing environment with multiple stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be self‑motivated, driven, and able to work independently as well as part of an integrated project team. 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 data center construction lifecycle, including mission‑critical systems and infrastructure packages.
• Provide estimating and cost planning services, including producing and presenting final cost plans across all project phases.
• Review and participate with the design team, trade partners, and general contractor in the development of cost estimates for building, MEP, power, cooling, and supporting infrastructure systems.
• Reconcile changes and assist contractors in ensuring that cost and quantity data are accurate and aligned with program objectives.
• Communicate and meet with contractors, consultants, and client project teams to gather status information and prepare cost estimate updates.
• Prepare written reviews and executive summaries of contractor submissions, estimates, and change requests.
• Coordinate all sources of cost information for cost discussions, including suppliers, subcontractors, vendors, labor rates, equipment costs, and quantities from design consultants.
• Inform and drive engineering and design priorities based on cost impact and value optimization opportunities.
• Work proactively with minimal supervision to resolve commercial, procurement, and scheduling issues.
• Manage cost checks and carry out valuations on large‑scale, complex data centre projects. Complete timely and accurate cost checking and valuation processes.
• Participate effectively in post‑contract cost management, commercial administration, and change control processes.
• Manage cost impact assessments, contingency management, risk allowances, and commitment tracking logs.
• Prepare funding and budget presentations and coordinate value engineering workshops with stakeholders.
• Develop cost plans and estimates through all design phases, delivering updated cost plans at key design and procurement milestones.
• Provide commercial input to design optioneering, constructability reviews, and value engineering exercises.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and lead negotiations on behalf of the client to achieve fair and competitive contract pricing.
• Perform quantity surveying, cost controls, forecasting, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure post‑contract cost variances and change control processes are managed effectively across multiple workstreams and contracts.
• Ensure cost auditing and valuation activities are managed effectively and that robust cost validation processes are maintained.
• Produce monthly cost reports, forecasts, and programme‑level reporting for presentation to the client and project leadership teams.
• Ensure final accounts are negotiated and agreed upon in a timely manner.
• Compile historical cost data and benchmarking information for data centre facilities, mission‑critical infrastructure, and related construction scopes.
• 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 performance, resource forecasts, fee projections, and financial reporting requirements for each commission.
• Implement and maintain the use of internal Business Management Systems and company delivery methodologies 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 by balancing the needs of people, clients, stakeholders, and society.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role and are to be adhered to where applicable.

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

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience in a cost management, quantity surveying, or commercial management role within the construction industry.
• RICS accreditation or progress toward chartership is preferred.
• Experience leading cost management activities on medium to large-scale construction projects of moderate to high complexity, preferably within mission‑critical, data centre, advanced technology, industrial, or infrastructure sectors.
• Experience supporting large‑scale data centre developments, including MEP‑heavy scopes, electrical infrastructure, cooling systems, and mission‑critical facilities, is strongly preferred.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of construction industry technical matters, including procurement strategies, cost planning, value management, value engineering, and commercial risk management.
• Experience working in fast‑paced, multi‑project program environments is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and client‑facing skills.

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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