Associate Director - Cost Manager - Commercial Real Estate Construction

Turner & Townsend•San Francisco, CA

18d

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Associate Director Cost Manager to lead cost management services for construction programs and capital projects throughout California. The role manages internal and external stakeholder relationships and oversees delivery of cost management services across all project phases. It is a client-facing leadership position requiring strong communication, leadership, independent judgment, and the ability to lead and collaborate with project teams. The successful candidate will provide strategic direction, develop high-performing teams, and promote Turner & Townsend’s purpose, values, and vision across project delivery and client engagements. The position combines cost management and project controls leadership with team development, financial and operational management, business development, and market engagement. The role also supports workplace construction projects through estimating, cost planning, procurement advice, budget and risk management, cost intelligence, and reporting. It includes developing parametric and hybrid cost models and supporting AI-enabled cost modeling and digital cost management solutions. On-site presence and requirements may change depending on client needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, or a construction-related field.
At least 8 years of relevant experience in a cost management role in the construction industry.
Subject matter expertise in quantity surveying.
RICS certification or equivalent accreditation.
Excellent presentation, verbal, written, organizational, and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in quantity surveying, cost management, construction management, or engineering.
Construction consultancy experience.

Responsibilities

Lead a cost management team and ensure it delivers on its accountabilities.
Lead interaction with clients, stakeholders, and other consultants throughout project stages, maintaining excellent communication.
Perform quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management throughout the project lifecycle.
Coordinate Turner & Townsend’s work within the overall construction process and communicate with general contractors, owner representatives, and external stakeholders.
Coordinate or assist with the strategic and operational management of Cost Management and Project Controls Services across sectors.
Serve as the first point of contact for reporting a project’s overall commercial status.
Apply Turner & Townsend best practices and identify improvements to cost management procedures, processes, templates, and products.
Conduct staff performance reviews; set a strategy and ambition for the team; identify, coach, and mentor talent; and develop team members.
Deliver commission leadership and service in line with the conditions of appointment.
Use internal software to track commission margins, monthly fee and resource forecasts, and financial reports.
Develop priority plans, risk mitigation, KPI and performance measures, management controls, and critical success factors aligned with company goals.
Implement and maintain internal Business Management Systems, delivery methodologies, and tools; conduct internal BMS audits and coordinate and represent the office during external certification audits.
Develop market knowledge, act as a brand ambassador, and build a pipeline of opportunities.
Advise clients on contracting and procurement strategy, capital planning, and program-level reporting.
Build relationships with clients and cross-functional team members; participate in meetings with business unit leadership and staff; and prepare and deliver presentations.
Provide weekly updates on projects, initiatives, and staffing, and propose solutions for management approval and agreement.
Identify cross-selling and business-generation opportunities; contribute to proposals and RFP responses; and attend relevant networking events.
Capture key information and lessons learned from commissions in internal databases.
Model a one-business culture and balance the needs of people, clients, stakeholders, and society.
Adhere to applicable SOX control responsibilities.
Develop and maintain parametric and hybrid cost models for rapid estimating, benchmarking, and scenario analysis.
Prepare detailed cost estimates and budgets for workplace new builds, remodels, and tenant improvements.
Lead cost planning, bid review, procurement strategy, and cost analysis reporting.
Monitor project costs, manage financial risks, and maintain budget adherence throughout the project lifecycle.
Use historical data, market intelligence, and industry trends to improve the accuracy and scalability of cost outputs.
Align cost plans with project schedules to manage cash flow, accruals, and forecasting.
Ensure compliance with client financial policies, contract requirements, and applicable SOX controls; maintain financial documentation, manage change orders, and report cost status and risks.
Support AI-enabled cost modeling tools, automated estimating, scenario analysis, and scalable cost intelligence platforms integrating design, asset, and market data.
Improve efficiency, standardization, and data-driven delivery; collaborate with technical teams to translate cost management workflows into digital solutions.
Partner with clients and project teams to align scope, cost, and delivery strategy; provide value engineering and data-driven recommendations.
Communicate cost and risk insights to senior stakeholders and contribute to enterprise cost strategies, capital planning, and long-range forecasting.
Mentor team members and drive continuous improvement.