Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor – Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to support day‑to-day cost management delivery on a large, multi‑phase data center development program. 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.

Requirements

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.