Cost Manager - Life Sciences Construction

Turner & Townsend • Radnor, PA

3d

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking a Cost Manager/Quantity Surveyor to provide cost management services on complex Life Sciences construction projects. The role supports a portfolio of technically sophisticated developments, including pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, biotechnology laboratories, research and development centers, cleanrooms, GMP-regulated environments, and other advanced facilities.

The Cost Manager provides commercial and cost management expertise throughout the project lifecycle, helping project teams achieve cost certainty, manage risk, and deliver successful outcomes. The role works with clients, project stakeholders, design teams, contractors, and vendors to develop and maintain cost plans, oversee procurement and change management, and support effective financial control across multiple project phases. The successful candidate is expected to deliver strong client service and demonstrate analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, or a construction-related field.
• Three to five 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 it.
• 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 vendor appointments.
• Manage estimating services across the full project, including developing estimates for construction, fees, direct work, and other costs; reviewing estimates prepared by junior team members; presenting estimates and value-engineering recommendations to clients; conducting risk assessments; validating and challenging vendor costs; and using project benchmark data to review estimates.
• Manage cost reporting by establishing reporting schedules, reviewing and presenting cost reports and forecasts, reviewing project budgets and spend forecasts with clients, maintaining commercial risk registers, and hosting periodic meetings with project teams and vendors.
• Manage cost control, including reviewing payment application assessments prepared by junior team members, liaising with project managers on contractor entitlements, reviewing vendor change-order requests and making recommendations, and applying 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 client reviews, document lessons learned, and apply lessons to create a training manual.
• Develop procedures governing project handover.
• Carry out responsibilities using or preparing Bid Analysis Sheets, Change Control Forms, cost estimating software, and take-off software.
• Adhere to applicable SOX control responsibilities.

Benefits

• Flexible working environment that supports work-life balance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level