Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Commercial Construction

Turner & Townsend • San Jose, CA

8h • $130,000 - $160,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager and/or Quantity Surveyor to serve as the primary client contact, ensuring client objectives are met by delivering a valuable cost management service for a portfolio of complex capital projects. These projects involve large-scale campus developments, workplace environments, and technically complex facilities managed through multi-phase programs, requiring robust commercial oversight and coordination among diverse stakeholders. Success in this role depends on strong communication skills and comfort in a client-facing capacity. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, driven, and capable of working both independently and collaboratively. This position involves providing leadership and direction, reinforcing Turner & Townsend's purpose, values, and vision.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in cost management or quantity surveying within the construction industry.
• Experience delivering cost management services on medium to large-scale, complex construction or program-based projects.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of estimating, cost planning, procurement, and change management processes.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Nice To Haves

• RICS accreditation or working toward certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Estimating and negotiating change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
• Provide estimate and cost planning to include producing and presenting the final cost plan.
• Review and participate with the design services team and general contractor in the development of cost estimates.
• Reconcile changes and assist the general contractor to ensure that their data is accurate.
• Communicate and meet with the general contractor, owner, or project manager to gather status information and prepare cost estimate updates.
• Prepare written comments to the general contractor’s submissions, including executive summaries for client reporting.
• Coordinate all sources of cost information including subcontractors, suppliers, and design teams to support accurate cost analysis.
• Inform and help drive engineering and design priorities based on cost impact.
• Work proactively with minimal supervision to resolve scheduling and cost-related issues.
• Manage cost checks and carry out valuations on larger, complex projects, ensuring timely and accurate reporting.
• Participate effectively in post-contract cost variances and change control processes.
• Manage cost impact, contingency tracking, and commitment tracking logs across multiple concurrent project phases.
• Prepare funding data presentations and coordinate value engineering sessions with stakeholders.
• Develop cost plans and estimates through the design phase, delivering updated cost plans at key milestones.
• Provide commercial input to design optioneering and value engineering exercises.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and lead negotiations on behalf of the client to drive fair and competitive outcomes.
• Perform quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure that post-contract cost variances and change control processes are managed effectively.
• Ensure that cost auditing and valuation processes are robust and consistently applied.
• Produce monthly cost reports for presentation to the client.
• Ensure final accounts are negotiated and agreed upon in a timely manner.
• Compile built cost data for benchmarking and future program planning.
• Identify, coach, and mentor team members to support development and performance.
• Demonstrate excellence in leadership and service delivery aligned with client expectations.
• Manage financial performance utilizing internal systems to track margin, fee forecasts, and resource planning.
• Implement and maintain Business Management Systems and delivery methodologies to ensure consistent best practice.
• Act as a role model fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Benefits

• A great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.
• Support for work-life balance through a healthy, productive, and flexible working environment.
• Equal opportunity employer.
• Celebration of diversity and commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
• Confidentiality of all information according to EEO guidelines.

What This Job Offers

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