Lead Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

Lead Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Lead Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to oversee cost management delivery for a large-scale, mission-critical data center program. In this role, you will act as the primary site lead, serving as the day-to-day client interface and ensuring consistent, high-quality delivery across all on-site cost management activities.

This is a highly visible, client-facing position with responsibility for governance, commercial rigor, high-quality reporting, and proactive stakeholder engagement. The ideal candidate communicates clearly, operates effectively in fast-paced environments, and collaborates seamlessly with both client teams and Turner & Townsend colleagues.

Role requires 50% onsite presence in Hall County; greater Amarillo, Texas area. Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain detailed cost plans and estimates throughout design and construction phases, utilizing industry benchmarks and technical documentation.
• Produce and present monthly cost reports, executive summaries, and funding analyses.
• Coordinate and validate cost inputs from design teams, GC, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Maintain and use built cost data to support benchmarking and continuous improvement.
• Lead procurement strategy development, conduct contractor/subcontractor pricing reviews, validate scopes, and support commercial negotiations.
• Manage final accounts and ensure timely agreement.
• Own and manage the change control process: estimate, evaluate, negotiate, and reconcile change orders; track post-contract cost variances.
• Support cost risk analysis, contingency management, scenario planning, and commitment tracking.
• Ensure accurate cost control systems are in place, including Earned Value Management (EVM) where applicable.
• Coordinate integration of cost, schedule, and scope with the project controls/scheduling team.
• Serve as the primary on-site client interface, ensuring objectives are met and a high standard of service is delivered.
• Provide direction and support to Turner & Townsend team members located on site.
• Drive engineering and project priorities based on commercial impact, performance metrics, and client needs.
• Lead value engineering (VE) efforts and cost-optimization initiatives across the program.
• Monitor local market conditionsincluding escalation, labor availability, and material pricingand advise the client accordingly.
• Prepare and deliver executive-level updates, cost estimate revisions, and written analyses on GC submissions.
• Ensure all work aligns with Turner & Townsend's Business Management Systems and company delivery methodologies.
• Mentor and coach junior staff; support a high-performance, collaborative team culture.
• Maintain excellence in financial management, including margin tracking and monthly fee/resource forecasting.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Qualifications:

• 50% onsite presence required in Hall County (Greater Amarillo, Texas area).
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
• 57+ years of cost management or project controls experience within mission-critical, industrial, or high-tech construction environments, supporting medium- to large-scale projects.
• Experience working in a construction consultancy strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of MEP systems, resilience requirements, and campus-scale infrastructure relevant to hyperscale data centers.
• Solid foundation in budgeting, financial reporting, cost control methodologies, and EVM.
• Demonstrated expertise in procurement strategies and commercial management of contractor/vendor contracts.
• RICS accreditation or active progress toward certification is advantageous.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong negotiation and stakeholder-management capabilities.
• Strong analytical abilities, problem-solving skills, and high attention to detail.
• Proficiency with industry-standard cost management tools and software.

Additional Information:

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

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.