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 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 serve as the day‑to‑day client interface on a large, multi‑site mission-critical, rapidly scaling data center program.
You will serve as the day‑to‑day client interface and lead value‑driven cost management across the full project lifecycle for a major campus development consisting of multiple large‑scale buildings now under active construction. This role partners closely with real estate, design, engineering, and construction teams to deliver high‑density, schedule‑driven facilities at scale. Strong communication, client‑facing leadership, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast‑paced environment are essential.
This is a flexible hybrid role with occasional in‑office days in San Francisco, CA, and approximately three days of monthly travel to the Amarillo, Texas area. The remaining time can be worked remotely.
Responsibilities:
- Provide estimating and cost planning, producing and presenting cost plans at key design milestones.
- Review and collaborate with design teams and GC/CM partners on progressive estimates and design‑to‑budget alignment.
- Lead value engineering, optioneering, and cost‑impact assessments to guide engineering priorities.
- Validate and reconcile GC/CM cost data; review subcontractor pricing and lead commercial negotiations.
- Estimate and negotiate change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
- Conduct cost checks, valuations, forecasting, and monthly cost reporting.
- Manage commitment tracking, contingency usage, and change control processes.
- Coordinate and validate all sources of cost information, including supplier pricing, subcontractor quotes, and A/E quantities.
- Prepare executive‑level written commentary on contractor submissions and cost updates.
- Support schedule‑driven delivery by resolving cost‑schedule issues proactively.
- Lead cost auditing, cost validation, and post‑contract cost variance reviews.
- Negotiate and close out final accounts; compile cost benchmarks for future phases.
- Liaise with client stakeholders across Bay Area corporate and engineering teams while supporting large‑scale data center construction in energy‑abundant regions.
- Mentor and develop team members; model best‑practice delivery and internal compliance standards.
- SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.
Qualifications
- Ability to work occasional in‑office days in San Francisco, CA, and travel to the Amarillo, Texas area for three days each month; remaining work may be performed remotely.
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
- 5–7+ years of relevant experience in cost management within the construction industry; construction consultancy experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated leadership on medium to large, complex projects—ideally mission‑critical / data centers, industrial, or heavy MEP programs.
- Strong knowledge of procurement routes, value management, value engineering, and cost/risk management for fast‑track delivery.
- Proficiency in cost planning, estimating, change management, and commercial negotiations across the full project lifecycle.
- Excellent stakeholder communication with proven client‑facing experience; ability to translate cost drivers and risks for executive audiences.
- RICS accreditation (or working toward it) preferred.
- Bay Area experience is a plus, including familiarity with local market conditions, permitting influences, utilities, and MEP trade dynamics for mission‑critical projects.
Additional Information
The salary range for this full-time role is $140K-$170K per year. Ranges are determined by role and level and represent a good faith effort to provide a fair and equitable salary. This range is a reflection of base salary only, not of a total compensation package. Please note Turner & Townsend reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range, depending on candidate’s experience and qualifications.
*On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our clients’ 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.
Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/
Turner & Townsend does not accept any speculative or unsolicited CV’s that have been sent to our internal recruitment team or hiring managers from agencies outside of our preferred supplier list or that have not followed due process. Any speculative or unsolicited CV’s will be treated as a direct application.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
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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.
