Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend•Columbus, OH

1d•$100,000 - $160,000•Onsite

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Senior Quantity Surveyor to act as the key, day‑to‑day client interface on a major multi‑site, multi‑phase data center construction program. With several large campuses under development and long‑term investment across the area, this role is critical in ensuring strong commercial governance, accurate cost management, and high‑quality delivery across all phases of construction. The successful candidate will be confident operating in a client‑facing environment, able to lead commercial processes independently, and skilled at mentoring junior team members. You will provide leadership, direction, and best‑practice cost controls while representing Turner & Townsend’s purpose, values, and vision.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
A minimum of 6 years of cost management experience in the construction industry.
Experience leading cost management on medium to large‑scale construction projects; mission‑critical or data center experience preferred.
Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred.
Strong understanding of procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.
Experience leading cost reporting, change management, and commercial governance on complex projects.
Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder‑management skills.
Self‑motivated, proactive, and able to work independently while leading and supporting teams.

Nice To Haves

RICS accreditation (or progress toward accreditation) preferred.

Responsibilities

Advise the client on procurement strategies for large‑scale data center construction packages.
Lead vendor prequalification; evaluate proposals; prepare bid leveling documents; make final recommendations; chair or participate in bid interviews; and manage the full appointment process through contract award.
Provide commercial input into design optioneering and value-engineering exercises.
Lead full‑project estimating, including construction costs, fees, and direct costs.
Produce and present full cost plans, estimates, and value-engineering packages at key design milestones.
Review and reconcile estimates prepared by junior team members, including quantities, assumptions, and pricing.
Meet with general contractors and trade partners to validate, challenge, and benchmark costs; inform design and engineering priorities based on commercial impact.
Establish reporting schedules and oversee cost reports, forecasts, and budget tracking across multiple project phases.
Review budget status and spend forecasts with the client; maintain the commercial risk register.
Host regular cost and commercial review meetings with the project team and vendors.
Prepare written comments, executive‑level summaries, funding data, and support contingency management and value-engineering sessions.
Review and validate payment application assessments completed by junior staff.
Guide project managers on contractor entitlements, commercial positions, and contract administration.
Manage cost checks and valuations on large data center packages.
Review, negotiate, and make recommendations on vendor change orders; oversee the full change‑control process.
Support dispute avoidance and resolution regarding cost, payment, and contractual issues.
Ensure strong processes for cost validation, cost audits, approval workflows, and maintenance of commitment/exposure tracking logs.
Manage and monitor invoicing processes.
Lead final accounting, post‑contract audits, and project close‑out activities.
Compile benchmarking data and built‑cost records for future data center commissions.
Conduct lessons‑learned sessions, create handover documentation, and contribute to training materials.
Coach and mentor junior team members; support talent development and continuous improvement across the team.
Use bid analysis sheets, cost estimating platforms, take‑off tools, and change‑control systems.
Utilize internal business systems for forecasting, fee management, financial reporting, and overall delivery governance.
Support consistent use of Turner & Townsend methodologies, business management systems, and best‑practice frameworks.
SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.