Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Construction Management

Turner & Townsend•Chicago, IL

1d•$100,000 - $130,000

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to join its Chicago team and deliver cost management services on complex construction projects and programs. The team supports commercial real estate, corporate occupier, data center, mission-critical, and other public and private sector developments. The role involves managing internal and external stakeholder relationships and ensuring effective cost management throughout the project lifecycle, with a focus on proactive cost control, commercial insight, and strong client partnership. The successful candidate will contribute to project outcomes through procurement and estimating, cost reporting and control, invoicing, final accounting, post-contract reviews, and project handover. The role may also include applicable SOX control responsibilities. On-site presence and requirements may change depending on client needs. The base salary range is $100,000–$130,000 USD. Employees may also be eligible for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package. Turner & Townsend promotes a healthy, productive, and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance and is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

RICS accreditation or working toward RICS accreditation.
Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Advise clients on procurement strategies; manage vendor prequalification; assess proposals, bids, and bid-levelling documents; make recommendations; chair bid interviews; and manage appointments.
Manage project estimating services, including developing estimates for construction, fees, direct work, and other costs; reviewing estimates prepared by junior team members; presenting estimates, value engineering recommendations, and risk assessments to clients; reviewing costs with vendors; and using benchmark data to validate estimates.
Manage cost reporting by establishing reporting schedules, reviewing and presenting cost reports and forecasts, reviewing budgets and spend forecasts with clients, maintaining commercial risk registers, and hosting periodic project team and vendor meetings.
Manage cost control, including reviewing payment application assessments, liaising with project managers on contractor entitlements, reviewing vendor change order requests and advising clients, and using dispute prevention, management, and resolution procedures for payment requisitions, change orders, and contractual disputes.
Manage and monitor the invoicing process.
Benchmark performance against other successful commissions.
Manage final accounting, post-contract audits, and account closeouts.
Conduct post-contract reviews with clients, document lessons learned, and apply lessons to create a training manual.
Develop procedures governing project handover.
Perform duties using or preparing Bid Analysis Sheets, Change Control Forms, cost estimating software, and take-off software.
Adhere to applicable SOX control responsibilities.