Senior Cost Manager- Life Sciences

Turner & Townsend•Philadelphia, PA

14h

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor to support the successful delivery of complex life sciences construction projects, including manufacturing, laboratory, R&D, and related capital projects. The role provides value-added cost management services and serves as a key day-to-day client interface, helping ensure client objectives are achieved. The position requires strong communication and stakeholder management skills and comfort working in a client-facing environment. The successful candidate will work independently with minimal supervision and collaborate with multidisciplinary project teams, while providing leadership and direction and promoting Turner & Townsend’s purpose, values, and vision. The role covers cost planning and estimating from design through construction, commercial advice and value engineering, contractor pricing and negotiations, quantity surveying, cost controls, change management, valuations, cost reporting, and final account agreement. It also includes client and project financial management, mentoring talent, and implementing the company’s business management systems and delivery methodologies. On-site presence and requirements may change according to client needs. The company promotes a healthy, productive, and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, or a construction-related field.
Minimum 5–7 years of relevant experience in a construction-industry cost management role.
Experience leading cost management on medium- or large-sized construction projects of medium to high complexity.
Good knowledge of construction-industry technical matters, including procurement routes, value management, and value engineering.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary project teams.
Comfort working in a client-facing environment.

Nice To Haves

RICS accreditation or working toward RICS accreditation.
Construction consultancy experience.

Responsibilities

Estimate and negotiate change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
Provide estimating and cost planning services, including producing and presenting the final cost plan.
Review and participate with the design services team and general contractor in developing cost estimates.
Reconcile changes and help ensure general contractor data is accurate.
Meet with or communicate with the general contractor and project owner or project manager to gather status information and prepare cost estimate updates.
Prepare written comments on general contractor submissions, including executive summaries.
Coordinate cost information from sources including NPA, subcontractors, quantities, and architects/engineers.
Inform and drive engineering priorities based on cost impact.
Resolve scheduling issues proactively with minimal supervision.
Manage cost checks and valuations on larger projects, completing them accurately and on time.
Manage post-contract cost variances and change control processes effectively.
Manage cost impact, contingency, and commitment-tracking logs.
Prepare funding data presentations and coordinate value-engineering sessions with stakeholders.
Develop and update cost plans and estimates through the design phase at appropriate design milestones.
Provide commercial input to design optioneering and value-engineering exercises.
Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and lead client-side negotiations to achieve fair contract prices.
Perform quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management throughout the project lifecycle.
Ensure cost auditing and valuation work is managed effectively and that robust cost-validation processes are in place.
Produce monthly cost reports for presentation to the client.
Negotiate and agree final accounts in a timely manner.
Compile built-cost estimate records for benchmarking.
Identify, coach, and mentor talent, and celebrate others’ success.
Provide leadership and service delivery on commissions in accordance with the conditions of appointment.
Use internal software to track commission margin levels and monthly fee and resource forecasts, and prepare financial reports.
Implement and maintain internal Business Management Systems, delivery methodologies, and tools to support consistent best-practice delivery.
Adhere to applicable SOX control responsibilities.
Model and promote a one-business culture that balances the needs of people, clients, stakeholders, and society.