Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor – Data Center Construction

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. 

Job Description

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to act as the day‑to‑day client interface and lead delivery of a value‑added cost management service on a large, multi‑phase data center development program. You will drive cost planning, change management, procurement support, and governance, ensuring commercial rigor across multiple phases/packages. The ideal candidate is a confident client‑facing communicator who is self‑motivated, collaborative, and able to work independently when needed.

Travel Requirement

Candidates must be based in the Chicago, IL area and able to travel to the project site near St. Louis, MO approximately once per month for 2–3 days per trip.

Responsibilities: 

• Serve as the key, day‑to‑day client interface; ensure client objectives are met through best‑in‑class cost management.
• Lead scope delivery for assigned phases/packages; coordinate with designers, GC/CM, and trade partners.
• Prepare and present clear written and verbal updates, executive summaries, and recommendations.
• Develop estimates and cost plans through design, presenting updates at each design milestone.
• Review and reconcile estimates with the GC/CM and design team; validate quantities and scope alignment.
• Provide commercial input to design optioneering and value engineering (VE); inform engineering priorities based on cost/constructability.
• Support procurement strategy and contract administration; review contractor/subcontractor pricing.
• Lead/assist price negotiations to drive fair and competitive contract values.
• Provide independent cost/market inputs using internal benchmarks and supplier intelligence.
• Manage change orders end‑to‑end: evaluate, negotiate, and track through approval.
• Maintain commitment tracking, contingency management, trend analysis, and risk registers.
• Ensure robust cost validation, auditing, and change control processes throughout delivery.
• Produce timely monthly cost reports, forecasts, cash flows, and variance analyses.
• Coordinate funding data, develop executive‑level summaries, and facilitate VE/risk sessions.
• Implement and maintain Turner & Townsend Business Management Systems (BMS) and delivery tools; comply with SOX controls where applicable.
• Mentor and coach junior team members; model T&T purpose, values, and service excellence.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of internal tools, templates, benchmarks, and best practices.
• Support account growth and cross‑selling through strong stakeholder relationships.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable. 

Qualifications

• Ability to travel to the St. Louis, MO area monthly for a 2–3 day trip.
• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or related field (advanced degree a plus).
• A minimum of 6-7 years of cost management / project controls experience, including leading cost deliverables on medium‑to‑large, complex projects.
• Data center or mission‑critical/industrial project experience strongly preferred.
• Consultancy experience preferred; strong knowledge of procurement, commercial management, contracts, change, and risk.
• Demonstrated expertise in estimating, cost planning, budgeting, reporting, and cost control systems.
• RICS accreditation (or working toward it) strongly preferred.
• Excellent client‑facing communication and negotiation skills; ability to influence stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills with high attention to detail; proficiency with industry‑standard cost tools.

Additional Information

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