Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Construction Management

Turner & Townsend • Houston, TX

11d

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to join its Houston cost management team, supporting a diverse portfolio of construction projects across multiple sectors. This client-facing role delivers value-added cost management services, builds stakeholder relationships, and supports successful project outcomes while providing leadership aligned with the company’s values and vision.

The role requires strong communication skills and the ability to work across stakeholders and projects. The successful candidate will be self-motivated, able to work independently and collaboratively, and provide leadership and direction. Responsibilities span cost planning and estimating, procurement and commercial advice, change and cost control, reporting, financial management, and mentoring. On-site presence and requirements may change depending on client needs.

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 construction-industry cost management role.
• Experience supporting cost management on medium- or large-sized construction projects, including commercial interiors, high-rise assets, or campus-style developments.
• Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, including procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a client-facing environment across multiple stakeholders and projects.

Nice To Haves

• RICS accredited or working toward RICS accreditation.
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Estimate and negotiate change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
• Provide cost estimates and cost planning, including producing and presenting final cost plans.
• Review and participate with the design services team and general contractor in developing cost estimates.
• Reconcile changes and assist the general contractor in ensuring its data is accurate.
• Communicate or meet 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 executive summaries.
• Coordinate cost information from sources including NPA, subcontractors, suppliers, and A/Es for cost discussions.
• Inform and drive engineering priorities based on cost impact.
• Proactively resolve scheduling issues with minimal supervision.
• Manage cost checks and valuations on larger projects, completing them accurately and on time.
• Participate in post-contract cost variance and change-control processes.
• Manage cost impacts, contingency, and commitment-tracking logs.
• Prepare funding-data presentations and coordinate value-engineering sessions with stakeholders.
• Develop cost plans and estimates through design and deliver updated plans at appropriate design milestones.
• Provide commercial input to design optioneering and value-engineering exercises.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and lead client-side negotiations to achieve fair contract prices.
• Perform quantity surveying, cost control, 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 appointment conditions.
• Track commission margins and monthly fee and resource forecasts using internal software, and prepare financial reports.
• Implement and maintain internal Business Management Systems, delivery methodologies, and tools to ensure consistent best-practice delivery.
• Model and promote a one-business culture that balances the needs of people, clients, stakeholders, and society.
• Adhere to applicable SOX control responsibilities.

Benefits

• Flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.
• Opportunity for each person to have a voice and affect change.

What This Job Offers

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