Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

About the role

The successful candidate will play a critical role in ensuring client objectives are achieved through robust cost planning, disciplined commercial management, and consistent stakeholder engagement across multiple projects progressing simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage cost plans and estimates through design and delivery phases, producing updated cost plans at defined design milestones.
• Prepare, present, and maintain the final cost plan, aligned with program phasing, site constraints, and infrastructure scope.
• Review and participate with design teams and general contractors in the development, validation, and reconciliation of estimates.
• Compile built cost records to support benchmarking, forecasting, and continuous program improvement.
• Estimate, negotiate, and reconcile change orders throughout the construction lifecycle, ensuring robust governance and documentation.
• Manage post-contract cost variances, change control processes, and contingency allocations.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing, validate scope and quantities, and lead negotiations on behalf of the client to drive fair and defensible contract values.
• Ensure final accounts are negotiated and agreed in a timely and accurate manner.
• Carry out cost checks, valuations, and audits on larger and more complex projects, ensuring data accuracy and consistency.
• Produce monthly cost reports, executive summaries, and funding data presentations for client review.
• Maintain commitment tracking logs and manage cost impact reporting across multiple workstreams.
• Ensure robust cost validation processes are in place using inputs from designers, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and professional advisors.
• Capture and coordinate cost information across all sources, including drawings, specifications, schedules, and site data.
• Inform and influence engineering and construction priorities based on cost and value considerations.
• Provide commercial input into design optioneering and value engineering exercises, coordinating and supporting VE workshops with stakeholders.
• Work proactively, with minimal supervision, to resolve cost- and schedule-related challenges in a fast-paced construction environment.
• Act as the primary interface for cost matters, communicating regularly with the client, project managers, and construction teams to gather status and align expectations.
• Prepare formal written commentary on contractor submissions, including executive-level summaries.
• Identify, coach, and mentor team members, supporting professional development and celebrating success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related construction discipline.
• Minimum 5–7 years’ experience in a cost management or quantity surveying role within the construction industry.
• Proven experience leading cost management on medium to large construction projects of moderate to high complexity, ideally within campus, multi-building, or multi-site programs.
• Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of construction delivery, including procurement routes, cost controls, change management, value management, and value engineering.
• RICS accreditation or progress toward certification preferred.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Detail-oriented, commercially astute, and capable of working independently within complex project teams.