Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction
Turner & Townsend•San Francisco, CA
•$130,000 - $175,000•Onsite
About The Position
Turner & Townsend are looking for a Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to join our San Francisco team, supporting a major hyperscale data center program with a global tech client. The ideal candidate will be driven, client-focused, and aligned with Turner & Townsend’s purpose and values while operating in a fast-paced, technically complex environment.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field
- Minimum 6+ years of experience in cost management, quantity surveying, or estimating within the construction industry
- Experience supporting mission-critical or large-scale infrastructure projects (data center experience strongly preferred)
- Strong understanding of construction delivery methods (e.g., DBB, DB, CMAR) and commercial management processes
- Proven experience managing costs across multiple project phases, from pre-construction through closeout
- Consultancy experience is highly preferred
- Professional accreditation (RICS or working toward) is advantageous
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to operate in a client-facing role
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a high level of accountability and attention to detail
- Willingness to travel as needed to support project requirements
Nice To Haves
- Professional accreditation (RICS or working toward) is advantageous
Responsibilities
- Advise the client on commercial strategy, including vendor prequalification, bid evaluation, bid leveling, and final recommendation
- Lead and manage the procurement process, including attending and chairing bid interviews and supporting contractor appointments
- Develop and manage detailed project estimates across all phases (construction, fees, direct costs, and related expenses), ensuring accuracy and alignment with program objectives
- Review estimates prepared by junior team members and present findings, value engineering options, and risk assessments to stakeholders
- Engage directly with contractors and vendors to validate, challenge, and benchmark costs against market data and similar data center projects
- Establish and maintain robust cost reporting processes, including forecasting, budget tracking, and variance analysis for large-scale capital programs
- Develop and manage commercial risk registers and facilitate regular cost and risk review meetings with the project team
- Oversee cost control processes, including payment applications, change order evaluation, and contractor entitlement recommendations
- Manage commercial aspects of contracts, including dispute avoidance and resolution, with a proactive and solutions-driven approach
- Monitor invoicing and financial workflows to ensure accuracy and compliance with governance requirements
- Lead final account negotiations, project closeout, and post-contract audits
- Contribute to continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and supporting the development of best practices across the data center sector
- Utilize cost management systems, estimating tools, and benchmarking data to support high-quality project delivery
- SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.
Benefits
- promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
