Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor – Construction Management

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries. Working with clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy, and natural resources, we transform challenges into opportunities and deliver outcomes that improve lives. Our capabilities include programme, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero, and digital solutions.

About the role

Turner & Townsend is seeking a Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to join our New York City team. In this client-facing role, you will serve as a key day-to-day contact, delivering value-added cost management services across major commercial real estate, data center, and other complex capital projects in the New York metropolitan area. The ideal candidate will have strong communication and stakeholder management skills, be self-motivated and collaborative, and thrive in a fast-paced project environment. This role offers the opportunity to provide leadership, build trusted client relationships, and contribute to the successful delivery of high-profile construction and development programs.

Responsibilities

• Estimate and negotiate change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
• Provide estimate and cost planning, including producing and presenting the final cost plan.
• Review and participate with the design services team and general contractor in developing cost estimates.
• Reconcile changes and assist the general contractor to ensure data accuracy.
• Communicate or meet with the general contractor and owner/project manager to gather status information for cost estimate updates.
• Prepare written comments on the general contractor’s submissions, including executive summaries.
• Coordinate all sources of cost information for discussions, including direct data from NPAs, subcontractors, and quantities from A/Es.
• Inform and drive engineering priorities based on cost impact.
• Work proactively with minimal supervision to resolve scheduling issues.
• Manage cost checks and carry out valuations on larger projects.
• Complete timely and accurate cost checking and valuation processes.
• Participate in post-contract cost variances and change control processes.
• Manage cost impact, contingency, and commitment tracking logs.
• Prepare funding data presentations and coordinate value engineering (VE) sessions with stakeholders.
• Develop cost plans and estimates through the design phase, delivering updates at appropriate milestones.
• Provide commercial input to design optioneering and value engineering exercises.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and lead negotiations to drive fair contract prices.
• Perform quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure post-contract cost variances and change control processes are managed effectively.
• Ensure cost auditing and valuation work is managed effectively with a robust process for cost validation.
• Produce monthly cost reports for client presentation.
• Negotiate and agree on final accounts in a timely manner.
• Compile built cost estimate records for benchmarking purposes.
• Identify, coach, and mentor talent to realize potential and celebrate success.
• Display excellence in leadership and service delivery aligned with conditions of appointment.
• Utilize internal software to track ongoing margin levels and monthly fee/resource forecasts.
• Implement and maintain internal Business Management Systems and company delivery methodologies.
• Be a role model driving a "one business" culture that balances outcomes for people, clients, stakeholders, and society.
• Adhere to SOX control responsibilities where applicable.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience in a cost management role within the construction industry.
• RICS accreditation or working toward it is preferred.
• Experience leading cost management on medium to large, complex construction projects.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, including procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.
• Excellent communication skills.

Pay

The base salary range for this role is $130K–$160K USD. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity. Employees may also be eligible for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Turner & Townsend promotes a healthy, productive, and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance. The company supports professional growth and encourages a diverse, inclusive workplace.