Associate Director, Estimating – Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend • Sacramento, CA

4h • Hybrid

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries. Working with our clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people’s lives. Working in partnership makes it possible to deliver the world’s most impactful projects and programs as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success. Our capabilities include program, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions. We are majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with our partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with the premier program, project and cost management offering in markets around the world. Turner & Townsend is seeking an Associate Director, Estimating with deep expertise in data center construction to lead estimating efforts across mega-scale data center campuses. This role provides leadership across electrical and mechanical estimating functions, manages estimating teams, and serves as a senior client-facing leader on multi‑billion‑dollar programs. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading MEP estimating strategy, partnering closely with client, design, construction, and program leadership, and ensuring accurate, value‑driven cost planning aligned with client objectives. The role will oversee a large data center program with direct reports embedded across multiple project teams. This position is preferred to be based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a hybrid work schedule from Turner & Townsend’s San Francisco office. Remote candidates will be considered for the right individual, based on experience and program needs.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in data center construction or comparable large‑scale industrial programs (e.g., semiconductor, battery, advanced manufacturing).
• Experience supporting or leading multi‑billion‑dollar data center campuses with multiple buildings.
• Deep expertise in MEP systems on large, complex construction projects.
• Proven experience leading estimating or cost management teams.
• Minimum 8+ years of relevant cost management or estimating experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, or a related discipline.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including senior client engagement.

Nice To Haves

• Construction consultancy background.
• Experience across pre‑construction and post‑contract MEP cost management.
• Strong understanding of procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.
• RICS accredited or actively working toward accreditation.
• Experience operating in client‑facing leadership roles on complex, fast‑paced programs.

Responsibilities

• Act as the day-to-day senior client interface for MEP estimating and cost planning.
• Provide direction, leadership, and oversight of MEP estimating teams across multiple campuses.
• Lead, mentor, and develop estimating and cost management professionals.
• Partner closely with client, design, and program leadership to align estimating, scheduling, and delivery strategy.
• Lead estimate development and cost planning for MEP systems on multi‑billion‑dollar data center programs.
• Produce and present detailed MEP cost plans at all design milestones.
• Review and collaborate with design teams and general contractors in the development of MEP estimates.
• Reconcile design and scope changes and validate contractor MEP pricing for accuracy.
• Coordinate all sources of MEP cost information to support informed and defensible cost decisions.
• Lead change order estimating, negotiation, and valuation for MEP systems.
• Manage MEP cost variance analysis, commitment tracking, and contingency management.
• Ensure robust change control processes are followed throughout the project lifecycle.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and lead commercial negotiations on behalf of the client.
• Ensure final accounts are negotiated and agreed in a timely manner.
• Produce and present monthly MEP cost reports and executive summaries to senior client stakeholders.
• Prepare funding data, benchmarking information, and as-built cost records.
• Ensure effective MEP cost auditing and validation processes are in place.
• Utilize internal systems to track margins, forecasting, resourcing, and financial performance.
• Provide commercial and estimating input into design optioneering and value engineering exercises.
• Drive engineering priorities based on MEP cost and program impact.
• Coordinate and lead value engineering workshops with designers, contractors, and client stakeholders.
• Work proactively with minimal supervision to identify and resolve cost and schedule risks related to MEP systems.
• Promote Turner & Townsend’s values, purpose, and one‑business culture.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role and must be adhered to where applicable.

Benefits

• employees may be eligible for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.
• We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.
• We promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees