Cost Manager – Commercial Real Estate Construction

Turner & Townsend

. Provide cost management services throughout the project lifecycle for commercial real estate construction projects .

Posted 9/25/2026full-timeRemote • San Francisco • California • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $120,000 - $150,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide cost management services throughout the project lifecycle for commercial real estate construction projects
Advise clients on procurement strategies and manage vendor prequalification, proposals, bids, bid leveling, bid interviews, and appointments
Develop, review, and present project estimates, budgets, value engineering recommendations, and risk assessments
Meet with vendors to review, validate, and challenge costs using benchmark data
Establish cost reporting schedules and review and present cost reports and forecasts
Maintain commercial risk registers and host meetings with project teams and vendors
Manage cost control, payment application assessments, contractor entitlements, change orders, payment requisitions, and contractual disputes
Manage and monitor invoicing processes
Benchmark performance against successful commissions
Manage final accounting, post-contract audits, and account closeouts
Conduct post-contract reviews, document lessons learned, and develop training materials
Develop project handover procedures
Develop and maintain parametric and hybrid cost models for estimating, benchmarking, and scenario analysis
Prepare detailed cost estimates and budgets for new builds, remodels, and tenant improvements
Align cost plans with schedules to manage cash flow, accruals, and forecasting
Support AI-enabled cost modeling tools and scalable cost intelligence platforms
Implement process improvements and collaborate with technical teams on digital cost management solutions
Partner with clients and project teams to align scope, cost, and delivery strategy
Communicate cost and risk insights to senior stakeholders
Contribute to enterprise cost strategies, capital planning, and long-range forecasting
Mentor team members and drive continuous improvement

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, or a construction-related field
Minimum 3–5 years of relevant experience in a cost management role in the construction industry
RICS accreditation or working toward it is valuable
Experience supporting cost management on medium or large-sized construction projects
Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred
Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, including procurement routes, value management, and value engineering
Strong communication skills
Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary project teams
Client-focused, proactive approach
Strong analytical and stakeholder management skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities
Knowledge of bid analysis sheets, change control forms, cost estimating software, and take-off software
Ability to comply with client financial policies, contract requirements, and applicable SOX controls

Benefits

Comp & perks

Bonuses may be available in addition to base salary
Comprehensive benefits package
Healthy, productive, and flexible working environment
Work-life balance support
Equal opportunity and inclusive workplace
Confidential handling of candidate information