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 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. 

Job Description

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to support a large-scale, mission-critical data center program as the primary client-facing cost management lead. This role is responsible for ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget while maintaining strong commercial controls and stakeholder engagement.

This position supports a major data center campus in Frederick, Maryland. We are open to candidates located anywhere on the East Coast with strong data center cost management experience. The role is primarily remote, with travel to the project site required for key project activities and approximately 3-4 days per month. All approved travel expenses are reimbursed.

The ideal candidate is a strong communicator who thrives in a client-facing environment, can work independently, and has experience leading cost management efforts on large, complex mission-critical projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain detailed cost plans and estimates through design and delivery phases, leveraging industry benchmarks and technical documentation.
• Produce and present monthly cost reports, executive summaries, and funding data to stakeholders.
• Coordinate all sources of cost information (design teams, GC, subs, vendor quotes) for robust cost validation and auditing.
• Compile built cost records for benchmarking and continuous improvement.
• Lead procurement strategy development, contractor/subcontractor pricing reviews, scope validation, and commercial negotiations to achieve fair contract pricing.
• 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.
• Integrate cost with schedule and scope, coordinating closely with project controls and scheduling teams.
• Inform and drive engineering priorities based on cost impact; lead value engineering (VE) initiatives and cost optimization strategies.
• Monitor market trends (escalation, labor availability, material pricing) and provide timely insights.
• Act as the primary client interface, ensuring objectives are met and service excellence is delivered.
• Prepare and present executive‑level updates, written comments on GC submissions, and cost estimate revisions.
• Ensure adherence to internal Business Management Systems and company delivery methodologies.
• Mentor and coach junior team members; foster a high‑performance, one‑business culture.
• Demonstrate 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

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5-7+ years of cost management experience supporting mission-critical data center projects is required, with strong expertise in cost planning, forecasting, change management, procurement, and project controls.
• Open to candidates based anywhere on the East Coast who can travel to the Frederick, MD project site as needed, including major project events and approximately one visit per month (3-4 days onsite).
• Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred.
• Solid understanding of MEP systems, resilience considerations, and campus-scale infrastructure common to hyperscale developments.
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