Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Life Sciences Construction

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

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 seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to act as the primary day‑to‑day client interface on a large-scale, multi-phase life sciences manufacturing upgrade and integration program. This complex capital project involves the modernization and expansion of an existing manufacturing campus.

In this role, you will lead cost management activities across the full project lifecycle, including cost planning, estimating, change management, contractor negotiations, and reporting. You will work closely with design teams, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure accurate cost controls, drive value engineering initiatives, and support timely decision-making.

The position requires strong client-facing communication skills, the ability to operate independently, and experience managing costs on large, technically complex construction projects in regulated or advanced manufacturing environments.

• Estimating and negotiating change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
• Provide estimate and cost planning, including producing and presenting final cost plans.
• Review and participate with the design team and general contractor in the development of cost estimates.
• Reconcile changes and assist the general contractor to ensure cost data accuracy.
• Communicate with the general contractor and client project team to gather status information for cost updates.
• Prepare written comments on contractor submissions, including executive summaries.
• Coordinate all sources of cost information including suppliers, subcontractors, and design teams.
• Inform and help drive engineering priorities based on cost impact.
• Work proactively with minimal supervision to resolve cost and scheduling issues.
• Manage cost checks and carry out valuations on large, complex projects.
• Participate in post-contract cost variance and change control processes.
• Manage cost impact, contingency tracking, and commitment logs.
• Prepare funding data presentations and coordinate value engineering sessions with key stakeholders.
• Develop cost plans and estimates through the design phase at appropriate milestones.
• Provide commercial input into design optioneering and value engineering exercises.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and lead negotiations on behalf of the client.
• Perform quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure cost auditing, validation, and reporting processes are robust and accurate.
• Produce monthly cost reports for client presentation.
• Ensure final accounts are negotiated and agreed upon in a timely manner.
• Compile cost benchmarking data and maintain historical cost records.
• Mentor and support team members while contributing to a high-performance team environment.
• Support financial management activities, including fee forecasting and reporting.
• Ensure consistent implementation of internal systems, methodologies, and best practices.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable. 

• 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 role within the construction industry.
• Proven experience supporting medium to large-scale, complex construction projects (life sciences, manufacturing, or similar environments preferred).
• Strong knowledge of construction industry technical practices, including procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.
• Experience with cost planning, change management, and contract administration.
• Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred.
• Excellent communication and client-facing skills.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders in a dynamic project environment.
• RICS accredited or actively working toward accreditation preferred.

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

The base salary range for this role is $135K-$165K 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.

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 and 

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

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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.