Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Commercial Construction

Turner & Townsend•Detroit, MI

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager and/or Quantity Surveyor to serve as the primary client contact for delivering high-quality cost management services on large-scale construction programs in the Detroit area. The role involves managing complex, multi-phase developments, including new builds, expansions, and renovations within active sites. This requires strong commercial oversight and coordination among various stakeholders. The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills, be comfortable in client-facing situations, and be self-motivated, driven, and capable of independent work while contributing to a team.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering or field related to construction.
Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience working in a cost management role in the construction industry.
Experience of leading cost management on medium or large sized construction projects of medium to high complexity.
Understanding of procurement strategies, cost planning, and change management principles.
Excellent communication skills.

Nice To Haves

RICS accredited or working towards it is preferred.
Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead estimating and negotiating change orders throughout the construction lifecycle, ensuring alignment between scope, budget, and contract terms.
Provide comprehensive cost planning and estimating services, including the development, review, and presentation of detailed cost plans at key project milestones.
Partner with design teams and general contractors to develop, validate, and refine cost estimates, ensuring accuracy and alignment with project objectives.
Reconcile project changes and proactively review contractor data to ensure completeness, consistency, and commercial accuracy.
Act as a key liaison with project stakeholders to gather updates, track progress, and support the preparation of cost reports and forecasts.
Prepare clear written commentary and executive summaries on contractor submissions, highlighting risks, variances, and key decision points.
Coordinate and consolidate cost inputs from subcontractors, suppliers, and design teams to support informed commercial decision-making.
Track and manage cost impacts, including contingency utilization, change control processes, and cost variance analysis across multiple workstreams.
Perform detailed cost checks and valuations on complex projects, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
Support procurement activities by reviewing contractor and subcontractor pricing, evaluating bids, and leading commercial negotiations.
Provide input into value engineering and design optimization initiatives to improve cost efficiency while maintaining project intent.
Produce monthly cost reports, including budget updates, forecasts, and funding analyses for client presentation.
Ensure cost auditing, validation, and final account closeout processes are executed effectively and in accordance with best practices.
Maintain and contribute to benchmarking data and cost records to support future project planning and continuous improvement.
Mentor and support junior team members, fostering development and ensuring consistency in service delivery.
Manage financial performance across commissions, including fee forecasting, margin tracking, and adherence to internal systems and controls.
SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.