Senior Cost Manager - Life Sciences

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to support the successful delivery of complex capital construction projects within a dynamic research, laboratory, and innovation environment. Acting as a key day-to-day client interface, you will provide comprehensive cost management services throughout the project lifecycle, helping to ensure successful project outcomes from planning and design through construction and closeout.
To be successful in this role, you will possess strong communication and stakeholder management skills and be comfortable operating in a client-facing environment. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities while collaborating effectively with project teams, consultants, contractors, and client stakeholders. In this position, you will provide leadership, technical expertise, and commercial guidance while promoting the values and delivery excellence of Turner & Townsend.
Responsibilities:
Develop cost plans, estimates, and budgets throughout project planning and design phases.
Review design documentation and provide cost advice to support informed decision-making.
Prepare and maintain project cost reports, cash flow forecasts, and budget tracking tools.
Lead cost checking, valuation, and change management processes throughout the project lifecycle.
Review contractor and subcontractor pricing, proposals, and change order requests.
Perform estimate reconciliation and benchmark analysis to validate project costs.
Support procurement activities through bid evaluations, commercial reviews, and recommendations.
Participate in value engineering and cost optimization initiatives.
Monitor project commitments, forecast final costs, and identify potential commercial risks.
Coordinate with project teams, consultants, and contractors to ensure alignment between scope, schedule, and budget.
Produce monthly cost reports and present findings to client stakeholders.
Support cost auditing activities and maintain robust cost validation processes.
Manage contingency tracking and cost risk management activities.
Ensure post-contract cost variances and change control processes are effectively managed.
Negotiate and agree final accounts in a timely manner.
Maintain cost databases and benchmarking information to support future projects.
Mentor junior team members and contribute to a collaborative team environment.
Support financial management of commissions, including resource planning and forecasting.
Maintain compliance with internal procedures, controls, and delivery methodologies.
Participate in client meetings and act as a trusted advisor on commercial and cost management matters.
SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.
Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related construction field.
Minimum 5-7 years of cost management, quantity surveying, or construction estimating experience.
Experience supporting commercial, laboratory, research, pharmaceutical, healthcare, life sciences, higher education, or other technically complex construction projects.
Experience managing project costs from design through construction closeout.
Ability to prepare cost plans, estimates, cash flows, and cost reports independently.
Experience reviewing contractor pricing, change orders, and commercial negotiations.
Consultancy experience strongly preferred.
Knowledge of construction procurement strategies, value engineering, and cost control methodologies.
RICS accreditation or progress toward chartership preferred.
Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Employment type
Full-time

Work arrangement
Hybrid