Cost Estimator Lead - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend•San Francisco, CA

1d•Onsite

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 experienced Cost Estimator Lead to support a high‑profile client’s large‑scale, multi‑building data center campus programs. The role focuses on developing detailed civil, structural, and architectural (CSA) estimates for complex, innovative core‑and‑shell facilities. This position requires advanced estimating expertise, the ability to operate effectively in fast‑paced and evolving environments, and proven experience supporting multi‑phase delivery across major capital construction programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related construction field.
10 - 15 years of experience in construction estimating/cost management, including work on large‑scale programs.
Proven expertise in conceptual estimating, quantity takeoff, and cost fundamentals across CSA scopes
Strong knowledge of construction procurement strategies and commercial contract structures.
Demonstrated experience contributing to value engineering, feasibility analysis, and design/cost optimization.
Excellent written, verbal, and client‑facing presentation skills; ability to distill complexity and support decision‑making.
Highly organized with the ability to prioritize across multiple concurrent projects in fast‑paced environments.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Nice To Haves

Data center or mission‑critical experience strongly preferred, including multi‑building campuses, greenfield developments, and major expansions.
MEP familiarity is a plus.
hands‑on experience with CostX (2D/3D takeoff, assemblies, workbooks) is advantageous
familiarity with AutoCAD or Navisworks preferred.
Professional accreditation (e.g., RICS) or active progress toward certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop and manage cost plans and detailed estimates from concept through detailed design across multiple geographies; lead estimate reviews with internal and external teams.
Present milestone cost updates (concept, schematic, DD, CD) and clearly communicate basis of estimate, assumptions, inclusions/exclusions, and risks.
Lead quantity takeoffs and cost checks for complex, multi‑package CSA scopes; ensure alignment between scope, drawings/models, and estimate.
Provide program‑level estimating for defined scopes, synthesizing inputs across multiple projects/campuses to support portfolio‑level decisions.
Review contractor pricing (bids, pay applications, change orders); perform comparative assessments and prepare recommendations.
Drive benchmarking and cost modeling; build, maintain, and apply historical cost data and metrics; support life‑cycle cost (LCC) analyses.
Facilitate value engineering (VE); develop cost/benefit options and support feasibility and early‑stage cost modeling.
Support procurement and preconstruction, including prequalification, bid list development, bid analysis, tender reporting, and contract documentation.
Partner with cost management, procurement, and project controls to align estimating outputs with budgets, commercial strategy, and program‑level planning.
Assess design evolutions and produce timely estimate updates at appropriate accuracy levels.
Mentor and coordinate support staff; contribute to training materials, templates, and internal/external estimating tools.
Prepare leadership‑ready content for client preconstruction and estimating presentations.
SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role and must be adhered to where applicable.