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. 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 a Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to support cost management on a large‑scale, mission‑critical hyperscale data center development now moving through early planning and pre‑construction stages. This program involves a multi‑hundred‑acre campus with multiple phases expected to progress over several years, representing substantial long‑term investment in new-build data center capacity. In this role, you will support cost planning, budgeting, and financial controls across the full lifecycle of a major greenfield development. The campus is entering an active development phase, and this position will play a key role in establishing cost governance, building baseline budgets, and helping drive value and cost certainty as design and procurement strategies advance. To be successful in this role, you must have strong communication skills and be comfortable operating in a client‑facing environment. The project site is located approximately 25 miles south of Naperville, in Grundy County. This role offers a hybrid schedule with an expected presence on‑site 2–3 days per week, depending on project phase and client requirements.

Requirements

Able to work onsite in Grundy County 2–3 times per week, depending on project phase and client requirements (site ~25 miles south of Naperville).
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
3–5+ years of experience in cost management or project controls, ideally within large‑scale, mission‑critical environments (e.g., data centers, high‑tech, industrial) is required.
Strong understanding of estimating, budgeting, financial reporting, and cost control systems.
Experience with MEP systems and large‑scale budget management is highly valued.
Familiarity with procurement strategies and commercial management of contractor/vendor contracts.
Strong communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
Analytical and problem‑solving abilities with close attention to detail.
Proficiency with industry‑standard cost management tools and software.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a construction consultancy environment is preferred.
Progress toward RICS accreditation is advantageous.

Responsibilities

Support cost management across all project phases, ensuring alignment with scope, budget, and schedule.
Prepare and maintain detailed cost plans and estimates, using industry benchmarks and technical documentation.
Assist in producing monthly cost reports, executive summaries, and financial updates for stakeholders.
Help manage the change control process, including review of change orders and cost variances.
Participate in contractor and subcontractor pricing reviews, scope validation, and procurement strategy development.
Collaborate with design teams, general contractors, and vendors to validate cost estimates and perform quantity takeoffs.
Contribute to cost risk analysis and scenario planning for multi‑phase programs.
Monitor market trends and provide input on escalation, labor availability, and material pricing.
Assist in developing strategies for cost optimization and value engineering.
Coordinate with scheduling teams to align cost forecasts with project timelines.
Support continuous improvement in cost management practices and standardization.
Build and maintain strong working relationships with clients, vendors, and project teams.
SOX control responsibilities may apply and must be adhered to where applicable.