Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Commercial Real Estate

Turner & Townsend•New York, NY

8h•$130,000 - $160,000

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to provide cost management services across a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate construction projects for multiple clients. The role acts as a trusted advisor to clients and project teams, delivering cost planning, commercial management, procurement support, cost control, and financial reporting throughout the project lifecycle. The position requires experience managing concurrent projects and stakeholders while delivering strong client service. The successful candidate will bring commercial acumen, client-facing skills, and the ability to build lasting relationships, lead project teams, and apply cost management best practices across multiple assignments. This collaborative leader will balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution, mentor junior team members, and contribute to the growth and success of Turner & Townsend through client service, operational excellence, and team leadership. On-site presence and requirements may change depending on client needs. The base salary range is $130,000–$160,000 USD. Employees may also be eligible for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package. The company describes its work environment as flexible and supportive of work-life balance.

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.
Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, including procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.
Excellent communication skills.

Nice To Haves

RICS accredited or working toward RICS accreditation.
Construction consultancy experience.

Responsibilities

Estimate and negotiate change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
Provide 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 the accuracy of its data.
Communicate or meet with the general contractor and the owner's project 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, and quantities from architects and engineers 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, 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 client-side negotiations to achieve fair contract prices.
Perform quantity surveying, cost control, and change management activities 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, helping team members realize their potential and celebrating their 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, company delivery methodologies, and tools to support 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.