Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor – Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend•Chicago, IL

2h•$165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Senior Quantity Surveyor to lead cost management services on a major, mission‑critical hyperscale data center development progressing through early planning and pre‑construction. This multi‑hundred‑acre greenfield campus will be delivered across multiple phases over several years and represents a significant long‑term capital investment in new‑build data center capacity. As the senior member of the cost team, you will serve as a key day‑to‑day client interface, driving cost governance, commercial rigor, and strategic decision‑making. You will lead the development of baseline budgets, oversee financial controls across the project lifecycle, and guide value, risk, and procurement strategies as the program enters an active development phase. Success in this role requires strong leadership, polished communication skills, and confidence operating in a highly client‑facing environment. The project site is located approximately 40 miles southwest of Chicago, in Grundy County. This position follows a hybrid model with on‑site presence 2–3 days per week, depending on project phase and client requirements.

Requirements

Able to work onsite in Grundy County 2–3 times per week, depending on project phase and client requirements (site ~40 miles southwest of Chicago).
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
Data center construction experience is required.
5–7+ years of cost management or project controls experience within mission‑critical, high‑tech, industrial, or large‑scale capital projects.
Demonstrated expertise in estimating, budgeting, financial reporting, and cost control systems.
Strong understanding of MEP systems and campus‑scale infrastructure typical of hyperscale data centers.
Expertise in procurement strategies and commercial management of contractor/vendor contracts.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities with meticulous attention to detail.
Proficiency in industry‑standard cost management and project controls software.

Nice To Haves

Strong preference for experience within a construction consultancy environment.
RICS accreditation (or progress toward accreditation) is advantageous.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary client‑facing cost lead, ensuring objectives are met and service excellence is delivered.
Present cost updates, commercial positions, and recommendations at senior and executive levels.
Mentor and support junior team members, fostering a collaborative, high‑performance culture.
Develop and maintain detailed cost plans and estimates during planning, design, and delivery phases.
Produce and present monthly cost reports, executive summaries, and budget updates.
Integrate cost, schedule, and scope to ensure holistic program control and predictability.
Lead procurement strategy development, contractor/subcontractor pricing reviews, scope validation, and commercial negotiations.
Manage and reconcile change orders, claims, post‑contract variations, and final accounts.
Ensure compliance with commercial governance, internal controls, and cost assurance processes.
Drive value engineering and cost optimization strategies across multiple stages of design.
Support cost risk analysis, scenario planning, contingency management, and commitment tracking.
Monitor and communicate market trends, escalation, labor availability, and material pricing impacts.
Ensure adherence to Turner & Townsend delivery methodologies and Business Management Systems.
Support benchmarking efforts by compiling cost data and maintaining built‑cost records.
Support implementation of Earned Value Management (EVM) where applicable.
SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role and must be adhered to where applicable.