Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend • Chicago, IL

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries. They work with clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, transforming together to deliver outcomes that improve people’s lives. Their capabilities include program, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions. Turner & Townsend is majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm. The company is seeking a Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to join their data center team and support a major new data center construction program. This role will support one of the largest construction programs in Michigan’s history, involving multiple large-scale facilities and significant regional development activity. This position could be based in the Ann Arbor area with a hybrid work schedule, providing ongoing engagement with project teams and periodic on-site coordination. This role will provide full-lifecycle cost management across a major, multi-building campus program, coordinating estimating, procurement, cost control, reporting, and final account closeout on a high-value, complex construction portfolio.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, or field related to construction.
• Minimum 3–5 years of relevant cost management experience in the construction industry.
• Experience supporting cost management on medium or large-sized construction projects.
• Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, such as different procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.
• Strong communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• RICS accredited or working towards it is valuable.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Advise the client on procurement and contracting strategies tailored to large-scale data center construction.
• Manage vendor prequalification, evaluate bids and proposals, prepare bid leveling, and make final recommendations.
• Lead and participate in vendor interviews, support contract negotiation, and oversee the appointment process.
• Develop detailed construction cost estimates for large data center facilities, including structure, fit-out, MEP, sitework, and associated costs.
• Review and refine estimates prepared by junior team members, ensuring accuracy and alignment with benchmark data.
• Present estimates, value engineering options, and risk assessments to the client.
• Engage with contractors and suppliers to validate cost inputs and challenge assumptions where needed.
• Establish and maintain the cost reporting schedule for the program.
• Prepare, review, and present cost reports, cash flow forecasts, and budget updates.
• Maintain and update the commercial risk register and support regular cost review meetings with the broader project team.
• Benchmark performance and costs against similar data center commissions.
• Review and assess contractor payment applications, collaborating closely with project managers to determine entitlement.
• Evaluate change order requests, negotiate cost impacts, and prepare recommendations for client approval.
• Use dispute avoidance and resolution procedures to support smooth financial administration and mitigate potential conflicts.
• Manage and monitor invoicing processes for accuracy and compliance.
• Lead the final accounting process, post-contract audits, and financial closeout activities.
• Conduct post-contract reviews with the client and prepare lessons-learned documentation.
• Develop and refine procedures governing handover and closeout of major construction packages.
• Utilize key tools, including bid analysis sheets, change control forms, takeoff software, and cost-estimating systems to support all cost management functions.
• 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 people to succeed both in work and life.
• A healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.

What This Job Offers

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