Associate Director - Quantity Surveyor / Cost Manager - Data Center Construction

About the role

The Associate Director level Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor will provide strategic leadership for end-to-end cost management across all phases of a large, multi-package, mission-critical construction program. This role sits within a high-security, highly complex construction environment and supports a long-term program involving significant capital investment, extensive campus-scale infrastructure, and multiple construction phases.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for end-to-end cost management across all phases of a large, multi-package, mission-critical construction program.
• Develop, manage, and maintain comprehensive cost plans, estimates, and forecasts, aligned with scope, schedule, and procurement strategy.
• Lead change control processes, including evaluation and negotiation of change orders, tracking post-contract variances, and ensuring robust commercial governance.
• Oversee contractor and subcontractor pricing reviews, scope validation, procurement routes, and contracting strategies; support program-level capital planning.
• Cook up closely with scheduling teams to ensure integration of cost forecasts with construction phasing, milestones, and sequencing.
• Act as the primary commercial point of contact, producing and presenting monthly cost reports, executive summaries, and financial updates to senior stakeholders.
• Interface effectively with clients, consultants, contractors, and internal teams, maintaining strong working relationships throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead cost risk analysis, scenario planning, and sensitivity testing, with awareness of market conditions, escalation, labor availability, and material pricing.
• Develop and implement value engineering and cost optimization strategies to improve outcomes and lifecycle value.
• Establish and monitor KPIs and critical success factors; prepare presentations and briefings for senior leadership.
• Manage financial performance using internal systems, ensuring accurate forecasting, margin management, and compliance with Business Management Systems (BMS).
• Drive continuous improvement by enhancing cost management processes, tools, templates, and lessons-learned capture.
• Provide clear leadership and direction to project teams; mentor and develop junior staff, support performance management, and foster a collaborative, high-performance culture.
• Act as a brand ambassador, supporting business development, market engagement, and proposal/RFP responses as required.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related discipline; graduate degree preferred.
• A minimum of 8–10+ years of experience in cost management or commercial management within the construction industry.
• Demonstrated experience delivering large-scale, mission-critical or complex construction projects, such as data centers, high-tech facilities, or industrial campuses.
• Strong background in construction consultancy with proven client-facing leadership experience.
• Solid understanding of MEP-intensive construction, infrastructure resilience, and campus-scale delivery.
• Expertise in budgeting, cost control, financial reporting, procurement strategies, and commercial governance.
• Proficiency with industry-standard cost management tools (e.g., CostX, Oracle, Excel, Primavera).
• RICS accreditation or equivalent (or progress toward) highly desirable.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Highly analytical, organized, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced construction environment.