Associate Director - Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor

Turner & Townsend•San Francisco, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking a highly experienced Associate Director to join our San Francisco Bay Area Cost Management team. In this leadership role, you’ll guide the commercial delivery of complex construction projects for high-profile clients, while mentoring team members and driving strategic outcomes across all phases of the project lifecycle. The ideal candidate brings deep regional insight, strong professional relationships, and a well-rounded background in both pre- and post-contract cost management.

Requirements

Must be available to work from our San Francisco office at least three days per week.
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related technical field.
Extensive experience in cost management across all phases of construction from early estimating through close-out on large-scale, or complex projects.
Strong background in cost planning, budgeting, and financial control, with the ability to lead commercial strategy and execution.
Skilled in reviewing and validating contractor estimates, bids, and change orders.
Proven ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
Experience with various procurement strategies and contract types.
Familiarity with sectors such as commercial, data centers, high-tech manufacturing, or mission-critical environments.
Strong understanding of local market dynamics, with established contacts and experience navigating regional construction practices.
Proficient in cost management tools and Excel-based reporting.
Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Nice To Haves

RICS accreditation (or working toward it) is a plus.

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior commercial lead across multiple projects, ensuring accurate and timely cost reporting at both project and portfolio levels.
Oversee change management processes, including negotiation and resolution of change orders throughout the project lifecycle.
Build and maintain strong relationships with general contractors, client representatives, and external stakeholders to ensure alignment and smooth execution.
Conduct forensic cost reviews and valuations on high-value, time-sensitive projects.
Extract and analyze data from multiple sources to support strategic decision-making and portfolio-level insights.
Lead contingency tracking, cost impact analysis, and commitment management.
Prepare funding data and facilitate value engineering sessions with senior stakeholders.
Provide estimating support during design development, including quantity take-offs, cost benchmarking, and pricing validation.
Review contractor and subcontractor pricing, lead negotiations, and prepare bid comparisons and funding recommendations.
Oversee forecasting, cash flow reporting, and commercial risk management.
Drive continuous improvement of cost management processes and procedures.
Manage cost auditing, validation, and monthly reporting across multiple projects.
Negotiate and finalize accounts to ensure maximum client value.
Support project close-out and compile as-built cost data for benchmarking.
Mentor and support junior team members, contributing to talent development and team growth.
SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.