Senior Cost Manager – Quantity Surveyor – Construction

Turner & Townsend

. Act as the key day-to-day client interface for cost management services .

Posted 9/24/2026full-timeRemote • San Francisco • California • United StatesSenior💰 $140,000 - $170,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in cost management for construction projects, including estimating, budgeting, and financial risk management. Proficient in developing cost models and providing data-driven recommendations while effectively communicating complex insights to stakeholders.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Cost ManagementConstruction Consultancy ExperienceRICS AccreditationCost EstimatingValue Engineering

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Cost EstimationBudgetingChange Order ManagementFinancial Risk AnalysisCost AuditingParametric Cost ModelingHybrid Cost ModelingCost Variance ManagementForecastingProcurement Strategy

Soft Skills

Excellent CommunicationLeadershipTeam CollaborationClient-Facing ExperienceMentoring

Tools & Technologies

AI-Enabled Cost Modeling ToolsDigital Cost Intelligence PlatformsBusiness Management Systems

Certifications & Qualifications

RICS Accreditation

Industry Keywords

Construction ManagementCost Management ServicesValue ManagementFinancial ReportingConstruction Industry Technical Matters

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Act as the key day-to-day client interface for cost management services
Provide leadership and direction while promoting Turner & Townsend’s purpose, values, and vision
Estimate and negotiate change orders throughout the construction lifecycle
Produce, present, and update cost plans and estimates at design milestones
Review design services and general contractor cost estimates
Reconcile changes and verify contractor data accuracy
Gather project status information and prepare cost estimate updates
Review contractor submissions and prepare written comments and executive summaries
Coordinate cost information from project stakeholders, suppliers, subcontractors, and architects/engineers
Inform engineering priorities based on cost impact
Manage cost checks, valuations, cost auditing, and cost validation processes
Manage cost variances, change control, contingency, commitments, and financial risks
Prepare funding presentations and coordinate value engineering sessions
Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and lead client-side negotiations
Produce monthly cost reports and negotiate final accounts
Compile built-cost estimate records for benchmarking
Track commission margins, fee/resource forecasts, and financial reports using internal software
Maintain business management systems, delivery methodologies, and tools
Develop cost models for rapid estimating, benchmarking, and scenario analysis
Align cost plans with schedules for cash flow, accruals, and forecasting
Support AI-enabled cost modeling and scalable cost intelligence platforms
Collaborate with technical teams to translate workflows into digital solutions
Partner with clients and project teams on scope, cost, and delivery strategy
Provide value engineering and data-driven recommendations
Contribute to enterprise cost strategies, capital planning, and long-range forecasting
Identify, coach, and mentor talent 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 5–7 years of relevant experience in a construction industry cost management role
Experience leading cost management on medium or large, medium- to high-complexity construction projects
Construction consultancy experience strongly preferred
Good knowledge of procurement routes, value management, and value engineering
Excellent communication skills
RICS accreditation or progression toward it preferred
Client-facing experience
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Knowledge of construction industry technical matters
Ability to develop and maintain parametric and hybrid cost models
Experience preparing cost estimates and budgets for workplace construction projects
Knowledge of bid review, procurement strategy, cost analysis, financial risk, budget adherence, forecasting, change orders, and SOX controls
Ability to support AI-enabled cost modeling tools and digital cost intelligence platforms
Ability to communicate complex cost and risk insights to senior stakeholders

Benefits

Comp & perks

Bonuses may be available
Comprehensive benefits package
Healthy, productive, and flexible working environment
Work-life balance support
Equal opportunity and inclusive workplace
Confidential handling of applicant information