Strategic Cost Manager & Quantity Surveyor

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

Job summary

Turner & Townsend in Chicago is seeking an experienced Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to deliver cost management on complex construction projects and programs. You will manage stakeholder relationships and drive cost control across the full project lifecycle with a focus on collaboration and excellence.

The successful candidate will apply commercial insight, risk assessment, and value engineering to ensure successful outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering or field related to construction.
• Minimum 3–5 years of relevant cost management experience in construction.
• RICS accreditation or progression toward it is valuable.
• Experience supporting cost management on medium to large construction projects.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.

Responsibilities

• Advise client on strategies, assess vendor prequalifications, bids and interviews; manage appointment process.
• Develop project estimates for construction, fees, direct costs; review junior estimates and present to client.
• Provide value engineering recommendations and risk assessments to client; review costs with vendors.
• Establish cost reporting schedule; review forecasts and budgets; maintain risk register; run periodic team meetings with project and vendors.
• Oversee cost control: review payment applications, entitlement recommendations, change orders, and dispute prevention/resolution.
• Monitor invoicing process and benchmark performance against commissions.
• Handle final accounting and post-contract audits; conduct post‑contract reviews for lessons learned.
• Develop handover procedures and training materials from project data.

Skills

Communication skills

Cost management

Construction consultancy

Education

Bachelor’s degree (construction related)

Job description

Turner & Townsend in Chicago is seeking an experienced Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to deliver cost management on complex construction projects and programs. You will manage stakeholder relationships and drive cost control across the full project lifecycle with a focus on collaboration and excellence.

The successful candidate will apply commercial insight, risk assessment, and value engineering to ensure successful outcomes.