Associate Director - Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

Associate Director - Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

• 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 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 seeking an experienced Associate Director to provide strategic leadership and oversight for cost management on one of the largest hyperscale AI data center developments in the United States. This multi-phase campus is planned to scale up to multi-gigawatt capacity, integrating advanced energy strategies, fiber connectivity, and carbon capture solutions. The role offers an opportunity to lead on a project of unprecedented scale and complexity, supporting AI workloads for leading technology firms.

This position will focus on driving cost certainty and value optimization across all phases of a multi-billion-dollar program. You will lead the development of cost strategies, governance frameworks, and risk management plans while ensuring alignment with client objectives and regulatory requirements. The role requires strong leadership, commercial acumen, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders and decision-makers.

Travel Requirement

This role could be based in Denver, a major hub close to the project site, and will require approximately 50% travel per month (one week on-site in Cheyenne, WY and one week remote) to support project delivery and stakeholder engagement. We provide full travel arrangements and accommodations to ensure a smooth and productive on-site experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for cost management across a multi-phase hyperscale data center program, ensuring governance and compliance with client and regulatory standards.
• Develop and implement cost strategies, frameworks, and reporting structures to manage budgets exceeding multi-billion-dollar scale.
• Oversee full lifecycle cost management activities, including early-stage budgeting, detailed cost planning, procurement strategy, and risk mitigation.
• Advise senior stakeholders on commercial strategy, procurement models, and contract negotiations for complex packages involving energy infrastructure and sustainability initiatives.
• Lead executive-level reporting, presenting cost performance, forecasts, and risk assessments to client leadership teams.
• Drive value engineering and design optimization initiatives to identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising performance.
• Manage contingency tracking, commitments, and cost impacts across multiple packages and phases.
• Mentor and develop cost management teams, ensuring capability growth and succession planning.
• Contribute to the enhancement of internal cost management tools, templates, and processes for continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, contractors, vendors, and internal teams, acting as a trusted advisor.
• Participate in risk workshops and proactively identify financial risks, developing mitigation strategies.
• Support preconstruction activities, feasibility studies, and early-stage cost modeling for future phases.
• Coordinate with energy infrastructure partners and understand cost implications of natural gas power strategies, renewable integration, and carbon capture systems.
• Manage cost considerations for fiber connectivity and large-scale land development in a remote region.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in cost management or project controls, with at least 3–5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience managing large-scale, mission-critical construction programs (e.g., hyperscale data centers, energy infrastructure, industrial).
• Expertise in cost planning, budgeting, financial reporting, and cost control systems at program level.
• Strong knowledge of procurement strategies and commercial management of contractor/vendor contracts.
• RICS accreditation or equivalent professional certification strongly preferred.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and negotiation skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail.
• Proficiency in industry-standard tools and software for cost management.
• Familiarity with MEP systems and complex building services is beneficial.
• Ability to manage multiple phases and packages concurrently in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong understanding of construction contracts, change management processes, and risk allocation.
• Experience with value engineering and design optimization techniques.
• Knowledge of energy infrastructure, carbon capture technologies, and sustainability considerations is a plus.

Salary

The salary range for this full-time role is $165K-$190K per year. Ranges are determined by role and level and represent a good faith effort to provide a fair and equitable salary. This range is a reflection of base salary only, not of a total compensation package. Please note Turner & Townsend reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range, depending on candidate’s experience and qualifications.

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

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.

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 committed to building a strong foundation for our people to thrive in a dynamic world.

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.