Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction
- Full-time
- Department: Real estate
Company Description
Turner & Townsend are engaged to support our clients with many complex projects, responsible for all aspects of cost management and project delivery and we are seeking the ideal Senior Quantity Surveyor / Cost Manager to act as the day-to-day interface with the client and drive large-scale data center projects to achieve excellent outcomes. You have a chance to be a key player in our technological future, as part of a team of innovative professionals shaping our built environment.
This role is to provide cost control and estimating services on our high-profile technology client’s construction programs. To be successful in this role you must have great communication skills and be comfortable operating in a client-facing role.
*This role requires regular onsite presence approximately 20 miles north of Fort Worth, TX.*
Job Description
- Develop and maintain detailed cost plans and estimates through design and delivery phases, leveraging industry benchmarks and technical documentation.
- Lead GMP / Guaranteed Maximum Price reviews, including detailed estimate reconciliation, scope validation, bid leveling, assumptions analysis, risk identification, and commercial challenge to ensure accurate, market-aligned pricing.
- Produce and present monthly cost reports, executive summaries, cashflows, and funding data to stakeholders.
- Review and recommend contractor payment applications for approval, coordinating with client finance and accounts payable teams to ensure accurate commercial administration and timely processing.
- Coordinate all sources of cost information (design teams, GC, subcontractors, vendor quotes) for robust cost validation and auditing.
- Compile built‑cost records for benchmarking and continuous improvement.
- Lead procurement strategy development, pricing reviews, scope validation, and commercial negotiations to ensure fair and competitive contract awards.
- Manage final accounts and ensure timely agreement.
- Own change control throughout the lifecycle: review, estimate, negotiate, and reconcile change orders; manage post‑contract cost variances.
- Support cost risk analysis, scenario planning, contingency management, and commitment tracking.
- Ensure robust cost control systems, including Earned Value Management (EVM) where applicable.
- Coordinate cost, schedule, and scope alignment with project controls and delivery teams.
- Lead and inform value engineering (VE) initiatives and cost‑optimization strategies.
- Monitor market trends (escalation, labor availability, materials) and provide timely commercial insights.
- Act as the primary client interface, ensuring objectives are met and service excellence is delivered.
- Prepare and present executive‑level updates, written commentary on contractor submissions, and estimate revisions.
- Ensure adherence to internal Business Management Systems and company delivery methodologies.
- Mentor and coach junior team members and foster a high‑performance, one‑business culture.
- Demonstrate strong financial management across commissions, including margin tracking and monthly fee/resource forecasts.
- SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which must be adhered to where applicable.
You will also be responsible for:
Pre-Contract
- 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.
Post-Contract
- 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 in a timely manner.
- Compiling as built cost estimate records for benchmarking purposes.
Qualifications
- Regular onsite presence is required approximately 20 miles north of Fort Worth, TX.
- Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, or related field.
- 5–7+ years of experience in cost management or project controls on large‑scale construction projects.
- Experience in mission‑critical, industrial, or data center environments preferred.
- Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred.
- Solid understanding of MEP systems and campus‑scale infrastructure.
- Strong foundation in budgeting, financial reporting, cost control systems, and EVM.
- Expertise in procurement strategies and commercial management of contractor/vendor contracts.
- RICS accreditation (or progress toward certification) is advantageous.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder‑management skills.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities with high attention to detail.
- Proficiency with industry‑standard cost management tools and Microsoft Office.
- US experience is strongly desirable.
Additional Information
Turner & Townsend is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Equal Employment Opportunity Posters If you’d like to view a copy of the company’s affirmative action plan, please email [email protected]. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact the Human Resources Department at 713-457-9400 or [email protected]. This telephone line and email address is reserved solely for job seekers with disabilities requesting accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Please do not call about the status of your job application if you do not require accessibility assistance or an accommodation. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or non-disability related technical issues, will not receive a response
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
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