Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Life Sciences Construction

Turner & Townsend•Columbus, OH

47d•$160,000 - $170,000•Onsite

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager to join their Life Sciences team in Columbus, Ohio. This role focuses on supporting large-scale capital projects in advanced manufacturing, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, laboratory, and other highly regulated life sciences environments. The successful candidate will act as a primary client contact, delivering strategic cost management services throughout the project lifecycle. Key responsibilities include ensuring projects are managed with commercial accuracy, cost certainty, and effective change management, while collaborating with clients, consultants, contractors, and stakeholders. The role requires strong communication and stakeholder management skills, comfort in client-facing situations, and the ability to work independently on complex projects while contributing to a team. This position offers the chance to lead significant life sciences projects and promote Turner & Townsend's values.

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.
Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, such as different procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.
Excellent communication skills.
Excellent stakeholder management skills.
Comfortable operating in a client-facing environment.
Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and capable of managing complex projects independently.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Estimating and negotiating change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
Provide estimate and cost planning to include producing and presenting the final cost plan.
Review and participate with the design services team and general contractor in the development of cost estimates.
Reconcile changes and assist the general contractor to ensure that their data is accurate.
Communicate or meet with the general contractor and owner of project manager to gather status information to prepare a cost estimate update.
Prepare written comments to the general contractor’s submissions, including the executive summary.
Coordinate all sources of cost information for cost discussions and suppliers direct from NPA, subs, quantities from A/Es.
Inform and drive engineering priorities based on cost impact.
Work proactively with minimal supervision to resolve scheduling issues.
Manage cost checks and carry out valuations on larger projects. Complete timely, accurate cost checking and valuation processes.
Participate effectively with post-contract cost variances and the change of control processes.
Manage Cost impact / contingency management and commitment tracking logs.
Prepare funding data presentations and coordinate VE sessions with stakeholders.
Developing cost plans and estimates through the design phase, delivering updated cost plans at appropriate design milestones.
Providing commercial input to design optioneering and input into value engineering exercises.
Reviewing contractor and subcontractor pricing and leading negotiations on behalf of the client to drive fair contract prices.
Performing quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
Ensuring that post-contract cost variances and change control processes are managed effectively.
Ensuring that cost auditing and valuation work is managed effectively and that a robust process for cost validation is in place.
Carrying out the production of monthly cost reports for presentation to the client.
Ensuring that final accounts are negotiated and agreed upon in a timely manner.
Compiling built cost estimate records for benchmarking purposes.
Identify, coach and mentor talent to realize their potential and celebrate the success of others.
Display excellence in leadership and service delivery on commissions is in line with the conditions of appointment.
Financial Management - Utilize internal software to track ongoing margin levels and monthly fee/resource forecasts for each commission and financial reports.
Implement and maintain the use of internal Business Management Systems and company delivery methodologies and tools in the office to ensure consistent delivery of best practice for Clients and the company.
Be a role model that drives a one business culture that achieves great outcomes by striking the right balance for our people, clients, stakeholders, and society.
SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.