Senior Cost Manager (Preconstruction) - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend are seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager to serve as a trusted advisor and key client interface, leading preconstruction cost management activities on a major mission critical campus development.
This role will be heavily focused on cost planning, benchmarking, design-phase cost management, procurement support, conceptual estimating, and value engineering across multiple concurrent projects. The successful candidate will work closely with clients, designers, contractors, and project stakeholders to provide strategic commercial guidance throughout the planning and design phases, ensuring informed decision-making and successful project outcomes.
The ideal candidate will possess strong commercial acumen, experience influencing design through cost advice, and the ability to communicate complex cost information to both technical and executive stakeholders. This individual will play a key role in driving cost certainty, managing project budgets, and supporting the successful delivery of large-scale mission critical construction programs.
Responsibilities:
Lead preconstruction and cost planning activities from concept through design development and procurement.
Develop, maintain, and present detailed cost plans, estimates, and budgets at key design milestones.
Review designs and provide cost feedback, identifying cost drivers, risks, opportunities, and optimization strategies.
Support design teams with cost-informed decision making throughout the preconstruction process.
Prepare conceptual, schematic, design development, and construction document estimates.
Perform cost analyses using historical benchmarking data and market intelligence.
Coordinate and consolidate cost information from architects, engineers, contractors, suppliers, and specialty consultants.
Lead value engineering and design optioneering exercises to maximize project value while maintaining scope and quality objectives.
Prepare funding requests, business case support documentation, and executive-level cost presentations.
Review contractor budgets, GMPs, and procurement packages for accuracy and commercial alignment.
Analyze market conditions, escalation trends, labor availability, and material pricing impacts.
Establish and maintain cost benchmarks and cost databases for future project planning.
Manage contingency planning and cost risk assessments throughout project development.
Support procurement strategy development and contractor selection processes.
Review contractor and subcontractor pricing proposals and support commercial negotiations on behalf of the client.
Prepare and deliver cost reports, estimate reconciliations, and executive summaries for client leadership.
Partner with project stakeholders to ensure project scope, schedule, and budget remain aligned throughout preconstruction.
Mentor junior cost management staff and contribute to team development and knowledge sharing.
Support implementation of Turner & Townsend's delivery methodologies, tools, and best practices.
SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role and are to be adhered to where applicable.
Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
6+ years of experience in estimating, preconstruction, cost management, quantity surveying, or commercial management.
Demonstrated experience developing conceptual through detailed construction estimates for large-scale construction projects.
Experience supporting projects through planning, design, procurement, and preconstruction phases.
Mission critical, data center, advanced technology, semiconductor, life sciences, or similarly complex construction experience preferred.
Strong understanding of cost planning, benchmarking, escalation analysis, estimate, and contingency management.
Experience leading value engineering and design-phase cost optimization initiatives.
Experience evaluating contractor budgets, GMPs, bids, and procurement strategies.
Strong analytical and financial modeling skills, with advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, including experience presenting cost information to executive stakeholders and clients.
Experience working in a client-facing consulting environment preferred.
Professional certifications such as MRICS, PQS, CCP, CEP, or similar are preferred but not required.

Employment type
Full-time

Work arrangement
Hybrid