Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Edu & Gov Construction

Turner & Townsend•Wide Ruins, AZ

17d•$150,000 - $185,000

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager to serve as the day-to-day client interface and deliver value-added cost management services on complex education and government capital projects. The role requires strong communication and stakeholder management skills, comfort in a client-facing environment, and the ability to work independently while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. The successful candidate will provide leadership and direction and promote Turner & Townsend’s purpose, values, and vision. The role focuses on cost management across the project lifecycle, from planning and programming through design, procurement, construction, and closeout. Relevant experience includes education, civic, public sector, institutional, government, or other large-scale community infrastructure projects. Experience with public sector clients, funding requirements, budget governance, and stakeholder-driven decision-making is highly preferred. The position also includes financial management of commissions, mentoring colleagues, supporting consistent delivery through company systems and methodologies, and acting as a role model for a culture focused on positive outcomes for people, clients, stakeholders, and society. On-site presence and requirements may change depending on client needs. The base salary range is $150,000–$185,000 USD; employees may also be eligible for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, or a construction-related field.
Minimum 5–7 years of relevant experience in a cost management role in the construction industry.
Experience leading cost management on medium- or large-sized construction projects of medium to high complexity.
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
Demonstrated experience delivering cost management services on education, civic, public sector, institutional, government, or large-scale community infrastructure projects.
Strong understanding of project costs from planning and programming through design, procurement, construction, and closeout.
Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, including procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.

Nice To Haves

RICS accredited or working toward RICS accreditation.
Construction consultancy experience.
Experience working with public sector clients, funding requirements, budget governance, and stakeholder-driven decision-making processes.

Responsibilities

Estimate and negotiate change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
Provide estimating and cost planning, including producing and presenting the final cost plan.
Review and participate with the design services team and general contractor in developing cost estimates.
Reconcile changes and help ensure the general contractor’s data is accurate.
Meet with or communicate with the general contractor and project owner or manager to gather status information for cost estimate updates.
Prepare written comments on general contractor submissions, including the executive summary.
Coordinate cost information from sources including NPA, subcontractors, and A/E quantities for cost discussions.
Inform and drive engineering priorities based on cost impact.
Work proactively with minimal supervision to resolve scheduling issues.
Manage cost checks and valuations on larger projects, ensuring timely and accurate processes.
Manage post-contract cost variances and change control processes.
Manage cost impact, contingency, and commitment-tracking logs.
Prepare funding data presentations and coordinate value engineering sessions with stakeholders.
Develop cost plans and estimates through the design phase and deliver updates at appropriate design 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 achieve fair contract prices.
Perform quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management throughout the project lifecycle.
Manage cost auditing and valuation work and maintain a robust cost validation process.
Produce monthly cost reports for presentation to the client.
Negotiate and agree final accounts in a timely manner.
Compile built cost estimate records for benchmarking.
Identify, coach, and mentor talent, and celebrate others’ success.
Provide leadership and service delivery on commissions in accordance with the conditions of appointment.
Use internal software to track commission margin levels, monthly fee and resource forecasts, and financial reports.
Implement and maintain internal Business Management Systems, delivery methodologies, and tools to support consistent best-practice delivery.
Model a one-business culture that balances outcomes for employees, clients, stakeholders, and society.
Adhere to applicable SOX control responsibilities.