Cost Manager Quantity Surveyor Data Center Construction

Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor – Data Center Construction

Full-time

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries.

Working with our clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people’s lives. Working in partnership makes it possible to deliver the world’s most impactful projects and programs as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success.

Our capabilities include program, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions.

We are majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with our partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with the premier program, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.

Turner & Townsend is seeking a skilled Cost Manager or Quantity Surveyor to support cost management for large-scale, mission‑critical data center programs in the Chicago metropolitan area. These projects involve multi‑phase construction of advanced facilities designed to expand cloud and AI infrastructure, with significant investment in MEP systems and high‑performance environments.

You will assist with cost planning and control from concept through final account, working closely with senior team members, contractors, and stakeholders to deliver high‑value outcomes. The ideal candidate has experience in estimating, procurement, and financial management, with exposure to complex construction budgets for multi‑building campuses.

To be successful in this role you must have great communication skills and be comfortable operating in a client‑facing role.

• Support cost management across all project phases, ensuring alignment with scope, budget, and schedule.
• Prepare and maintain detailed cost plans and estimates, leveraging industry benchmarks and technical documentation.
• Assist in producing monthly cost reports, executive summaries, and financial updates for stakeholders.
• Help manage change control processes, including review of change orders and cost variances.
• Participate in contractor and subcontractor pricing reviews, scope validation, and procurement strategy development.
• Collaborate with design teams, general contractors, and vendors to validate cost estimates and perform quantity surveying.
• Contribute to cost risk analysis and scenario planning for multi‑phase programs.
• Monitor market trends and provide input on escalation, labor availability, and material pricing.
• Assist in developing strategies for cost optimization and value engineering.
• Coordinate with scheduling teams to align cost forecasts with project timelines.
• Support continuous improvement in cost management practices and standardization.
• Track and report on cash flow forecasts and commitments to ensure financial accuracy.
• Review and validate invoices against contract terms and approved budgets.
• Maintain accurate cost databases and benchmarking information for future projects.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with clients, vendors, and project teams.

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
• 3–6+ years of experience in cost management or project controls, ideally within large-scale, mission‑critical environments (e.g., data centers, high‑tech, industrial).
• Experience in construction consultancy is preferred.
• Solid understanding of budgeting, financial reporting, and cost control systems.
• Familiarity with procurement strategies and commercial management of contractor/vendor contracts.
• Progress toward RICS accreditation is advantageous.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
• Analytical and problem‑solving abilities with attention to detail.
• Proficiency in industry‑standard cost management tools and software.

The salary range for this full‑time role is $100K-$135K per year.

* On‑site presence and requirements may change depending on our…