Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Life Sciences Construction

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses

Benefits package

Job summary

Turner & Townsend seeks an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to lead cost management for a growing life sciences campus. You will be the primary client interface, delivering value‑added cost control and commercial leadership across multiple project phases.

The role requires strong communication, independence, and the ability to mentor others while embedding Turner & Townsend’s purpose and values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering or related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years in a cost management role within construction.
• Experience leading cost management on medium to large projects; life sciences or pharma exposure is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Estimate, negotiate changes, and develop cost plans throughout the lifecycle.
• Coordinate with design teams and general contractor on cost estimates.
• Lead cost checks, valuations, and post‑contract cost variances.
• Prepare funding data, VE sessions with stakeholders, and monthly cost reports.

Skills

Cost management

Quantity surveying

Leadership

Client relations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in construction management or related field

RICS accreditation desirable

Job description

Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Life Sciences Construction

• Full-time
• Compensation: USD 150,000 - USD 175,000 - yearly

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 are looking for an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to act as the key day-to-day client interface, ensuring that client objectives are met through the delivery of a value-added cost management service.

This opportunity will involve supporting the continued expansion of a large life sciences manufacturing campus, working closely with project stakeholders to deliver complex projects across multiple phases of development.

To be successful in this role, you must have excellent communication skills and be comfortable operating in a client-facing role. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, driven, and able to work independently as well as part of a 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 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 larger 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 VE 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 prices.
• Perform quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure that post-contract cost variances and change control processes are managed effectively.
• Ensure that cost auditing and valuation work is managed effectively and that a robust process for cost validation is in place.
• Carry out the production of monthly cost reports for presentation to the client.
• Ensure that 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 both the client 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 a 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 leading cost management on medium or large-sized construction projects of medium to high complexity.
• Experience supporting life sciences, manufacturing, industrial, commercial, or other large capital construction projects is highly desirable.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, such as different procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.
• Experience managing client relationships and coordinating with multidisciplinary project teams.

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

• In addition to base salary, employees may be eligible for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.

The base salary range for this role is $140,000-$175,000 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.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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