Senior Cost Manager - Data Center

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 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 is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to serve as the key day-to-day client interface on large-scale data center and retail capital construction programs. Supporting a major financial institution's multi-state real estate portfolio, this role is responsible for ensuring client objectives are achieved through the delivery of high-quality, value-added cost management and procurement services across ground-up developments, critical infrastructure upgrades, and facility refresh initiatives.

The successful candidate will have extensive experience supporting complex mission-critical, data center, or commercial construction programs, with strong expertise in cost planning, estimating, strategic procurement, change management, commercial negotiations, and cost control. The role requires excellent communication skills, a proactive approach, and the ability to operate confidently in a fast-paced, client-facing environment.

As a senior member of the team, you will provide leadership and direction while promoting Turner & Townsend's purpose, values, and vision. You will work collaboratively with clients, design teams, sourcing groups, contractors, and stakeholders to successfully deliver projects from planning through closeout.

• 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, and 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 of control processes.
• Manage cost impact / contingency management and commitment tracking logs.
• Prepare funding data presentations and coordinate VE sessions with stakeholders.
• Developing cost plans and estimates through the design phase, delivering updated cost plans at appropriate design milestones.
• Providing commercial input to design optioneering and input into value engineering exercises.
• Reviewing contractor and subcontractor pricing and leading negotiations on behalf of the client to drive fair contract prices.
• Performing quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensuring that post-contract cost variances and change control processes are managed effectively.
• Ensuring that cost auditing and valuation work is managed effectively and that a robust process for cost validation is in place.
• Carrying out the production of monthly cost reports for presentation to the client.
• Ensuring that final accounts are negotiated and agreed upon in a timely manner.
• Compiling 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 in the office to ensure consistent delivery of best practice for clients and the company.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.
• 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.

• Project/Program Specifics:

• Develop and execute procurement strategies for capital projects across Retail Refresh, De Novo, and Data Center programs, ensuring alignment with client procurement policies and commercial objectives.
• Prepare and manage RFPs and RFQs, including scopes of work, pricing schedules, tender documentation, supplier engagement, and bid clarifications.
• Undertake detailed commercial bid evaluations and bid levelling, assessing contractor pricing, exclusions, qualifications, and compliance with project budgets.
• Support contractor selection, commercial negotiations, and award recommendations, identifying opportunities for cost savings, risk mitigation, and improved procurement outcomes.
• Support the development of contractor frameworks, Master Services Agreements (MSAs), unit-rate schedules, and vendor onboarding in coordination with Sourcing, Legal, and project management teams.
• Apply cost management expertise to procurement activities, including ROM estimating, budget validation, market benchmarking, and commercial assessments to support informed procurement decisions.

• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, Cost Engineering, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5–7 years of experience in cost management, quantity surveying, or project controls within the construction industry, with proven experience on data center, mission-critical, or multi-site commercial capital programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in pre- and post-contract cost management, strategic procurement, RFP/RFQ management, bid levelling, and commercial contract negotiations (including MSAs and unit-rate frameworks).
• Familiarity with financial governance, audit readiness, and SOX compliance standards within institutional or corporate real estate environments.
• Proficiency in cost estimating software, benchmarking databases, and Microsoft Excel.
• RICS, AACE, or similar professional certification is strongly preferred.

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

The base salary range for this role is $130,000-$155,000 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.

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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.