Senior Quantity Surveyor / Cost Manager - Data Center Construction

About the role

The role provides strategic leadership for end-to-end cost management across all phases of a large, multi-package, mission-critical construction program. It involves developing, managing, and maintaining comprehensive cost plans, estimates, and forecasts, leading change control processes, overseeing contractor and subcontractor pricing reviews, coordinating with scheduling teams, interfacing with clients and stakeholders, leading cost risk analysis, and driving continuous improvement in cost management processes.

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.
• Carefully coordinate 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 Key Performance Indicators (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.

Additional Information

*On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's needs.

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Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/ and https://www.heery.com/.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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