Associate Director - Quantity Surveyor / Cost Manager - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend • Nashville, TN

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Associate Director–level Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to join our team and provide expert cost management leadership on a large‑scale, mission‑critical data center construction program. This role sits within a high‑security, highly complex construction environment and supports a long‑term program involving significant capital investment, extensive campus‑scale infrastructure, and multiple construction phases. The Associate Director will play a key client‑facing leadership role, delivering strategic commercial oversight and ensuring best‑in‑class cost management outcomes across the full project lifecycle. This position requires exceptional communication skills, strong commercial judgment, and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. You will lead cost management delivery while embedding Turner & Townsend’s values, purpose, and commitment to excellence.

Requirements

• 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 campus‑scale infrastructure.
• 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).
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Highly analytical, organized, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced construction environment.

Nice To Haves

• RICS accreditation or equivalent (or progress toward) highly desirable.

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.
• Coordinate closely 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 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.

Benefits

• A great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.
• Support for success in work and life.
• Healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director