Senior Cost Manager - Life Sciences Construction

Turner & Townsend•Wilson, NC

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager and/or Quantity Surveyor to serve as a key day-to-day client interface, ensuring client objectives are achieved through value-added cost management services. The role supports a major pharmaceutical and consumer health manufacturing expansion program involving the redevelopment and expansion of a large-scale manufacturing campus. The position delivers cost management services across the full project lifecycle, from planning and design through construction and closeout. The successful candidate will be an effective client-facing professional who can work independently and collaboratively, provide leadership and direction, and promote Turner & Townsend’s purpose, values, and vision. The role includes estimating, cost planning, cost control, change management, commercial negotiation, cost reporting, and project account finalization. It also involves maintaining cost validation and auditing processes, managing commission financial performance, using company systems and methodologies, and supporting consistent service delivery. On-site presence and requirements may change according to client needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related construction field.
Minimum 5–7 years of relevant experience in a construction-industry cost management role.
Experience leading cost management services on medium- to large-scale construction projects of moderate to high complexity.
Strong understanding of construction industry technical matters, including procurement strategies, value management, and value engineering.
Demonstrated experience managing project budgets, cost controls, change management, and commercial negotiations.
Excellent client-facing, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced project environment and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and resolve project and scheduling issues.

Nice To Haves

RICS accreditation or active progress toward accreditation.
Experience leading cost management services on large-scale industrial, pharmaceutical, life sciences, manufacturing, or consumer products capital projects.
Experience supporting greenfield, brownfield, expansion, or facility modernization programs.
Construction consultancy experience.

Responsibilities

Estimate and negotiate change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
Provide estimating and cost-planning services, including producing and presenting final cost plans.
Review and participate with the design services team and general contractor in developing cost estimates.
Reconcile changes and assist the general contractor in ensuring cost data is accurate.
Meet and communicate with the general contractor, owner, and project manager to gather status information and prepare cost estimate updates.
Prepare written comments on contractor submissions, including executive summaries.
Coordinate cost information for discussions, including supplier and subcontractor information, NPA data, quantities, and architect/engineer information.
Inform and drive engineering priorities based on cost impacts.
Work proactively with minimal supervision to resolve project and scheduling issues.
Manage cost checks and valuations on larger projects, ensuring timely and accurate cost validation.
Participate in post-contract cost variance management and change control processes.
Manage cost impact assessments, contingency management, and commitment tracking logs.
Prepare funding presentations and coordinate value engineering sessions with stakeholders.
Develop and update cost plans and estimates throughout design at key milestones.
Provide commercial input into design optioneering and value engineering exercises.
Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and lead client-side negotiations to secure fair and competitive contract pricing.
Perform quantity surveying, cost controls, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
Maintain robust cost auditing, valuation, and validation processes.
Produce and present monthly cost reports to the client.
Negotiate and finalize project accounts in a timely manner.
Compile and maintain built-cost benchmarking data.
Identify, coach, and mentor talent, and celebrate others’ success.
Demonstrate leadership and service delivery in line with project and client expectations.
Use internal systems to manage commission financial performance, including fee forecasts, resource forecasting, and reporting.
Implement and maintain Turner & Townsend business management systems, methodologies, and tools.
Promote a one-business culture that balances positive outcomes for people, clients, stakeholders, and society.
Adhere to applicable SOX control responsibilities.