Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor – Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend•Chicago, IL

3h•$140,000•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 programmes as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success. Our capabilities include programme, 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 programme, project and cost management offering in markets around the world. Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to support day‑to‑day cost management delivery on a large, multi‑phase $4B data center development program located approximately one hour from St. Louis, Missouri. In this client‑facing role, you will support cost planning, change management, procurement, reporting, and commercial governance across multiple phases. The ideal candidate is collaborative, proactive, and comfortable working independently while engaging confidently with client representatives, designers, and contractors. Travel Requirement Candidates may be based remotely, with preference for Chicago, IL or Indianapolis, IN for ease of in‑person client interaction. Regular travel to the project site near St. Louis, MO is required. On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's needs. Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change. We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance. Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community. Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/ Turner & Townsend does not accept any speculative or unsolicited CV’s that have been sent to our internal recruitment team or hiring managers from agencies outside of our preferred supplier list or that have not followed due process. Any speculative or unsolicited CV’s will be treated as a direct application. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. #LI-MB1 Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects: Twitter Instagram LinkedIn It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time. Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.

Requirements

Ability to travel to the St. Louis, MO project area as needed.
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or related field.
A minimum of 4+ years of cost management or project controls experience on medium‑to‑large construction projects.
Strong knowledge of procurement, commercial management, contracts, change management, and risk.
Demonstrated experience with estimating, cost planning, budgeting, and cost reporting.
Strong client‑facing communication, negotiation, and analytical skills.
Proficiency with industry‑standard cost management tools and software.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple workstreams in a fast‑paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Data center or mission‑critical / industrial construction experience strongly preferred.
Consultancy experience preferred.
RICS accreditation (or working toward it) strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as a day‑to‑day client interface, ensuring delivery of high‑quality cost management services.
Coordinate with design teams, GC/CM partners, and trade contractors across assigned scopes.
Prepare and present cost updates, summaries, and recommendations to stakeholders.
Develop and update cost plans and estimates at key design milestones.
Review and reconcile contractor and design team estimates; validate quantities and scope alignment.
Provide cost input for optioneering and value engineering (VE) discussions.
Support procurement activities, including reviewing contractor pricing and assisting in negotiations.
Manage change order evaluations, negotiations, and approvals.
Maintain cost control logs, including commitments, contingency, trends, and risk registers.
Ensure robust cost validation, auditing, and adherence to change control processes.
Produce timely monthly cost reports, forecasts, and variance analyses.
Prepare funding data and support VE and risk workshops with stakeholders.
Implement and maintain Turner & Townsend Business Management Systems (BMS) and tools.
Support and mentor junior cost management staff as needed.
Contribute to continuous improvement of internal tools, templates, and benchmarking materials.
Build strong working relationships with clients and contractors; support broader account growth where appropriate.
SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.