Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor – Construction Management

Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager or Quantity Surveyor to join our San Francisco Bay Area team. In this hybrid role, you’ll help lead the commercial delivery of high-impact construction projects for well-known clients, providing strategic cost guidance from early design through close-out. You’ll work closely with a collaborative team that values local insight, strong relationships, and a hands-on approach to solving complex project challenges.


Responsibilities:

• Estimating and negotiating change orders throughout the construction lifecycle.
• Provide cost planning and estimating, including producing and presenting the final cost plan.
• Review and participate with the design services team and general contractor in the development of cost estimates.
• Reconcile changes and assist the general contractor to ensure that their data is accurate.
• Communicate and meet with the general contractor and client project team to gather status information and prepare cost estimate updates.
• Prepare written comments on contractor submissions, including executive summaries.
• Coordinate all sources of cost information, including subcontractors, suppliers, and design teams.
• Inform and help drive engineering and construction priorities based on cost impact.
• Work proactively with minimal supervision to resolve cost and scheduling challenges in phased and fast-track environments.
• Manage cost checks and carry out valuations on large, complex projects delivered within active facilities. Complete timely and accurate cost checking and valuation processes.
• Participate effectively in post-contract cost variance and change control processes.
• Manage cost impacts, including contingency tracking and commitment tracking logs across multiple project phases.
• Prepare funding data presentations and coordinate value engineering sessions with stakeholders.
• Develop cost plans and estimates through the design phase, delivering updates at key project milestones.
• Provide commercial input into design optioneering and value engineering exercises.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing and lead negotiations to ensure commercially sound outcomes.
• Perform quantity surveying, cost control, and change management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure cost auditing, validation, and reporting processes are robust and consistently applied.
• Produce monthly cost reports for client presentation.
• Ensure final accounts are negotiated and agreed upon in a timely manner.
• Compile built cost data and maintain benchmarking records for future project use.
• Identify, coach, and mentor team members to support development and performance.
• Demonstrate excellence in leadership and service delivery aligned with project and client expectations.
• Manage financial performance using internal systems for margin tracking, fee forecasts, and reporting.
• Implement and maintain Business Management Systems and delivery methodologies to ensure consistent best practices.
• Act as a role model fostering a collaborative, high-performing team environment.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable. 

 

• Must be available to work from our San Francisco office at least three days per week.
• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Proven experience in cost management across all phases of construction from pre-construction estimating through project close-out.
• Strong background in cost planning, budgeting, and financial control on large-scale or complex projects.
• Skilled in reviewing and validating contractor estimates, bids, and change orders.
• Experience with various procurement strategies and contract types.
• Familiarity with sectors such as commercial, data centers, high-tech manufacturing, or mission-critical environments.
• Ability to build strong relationships with local stakeholders and navigate regional construction practices.
• RICS accreditation (or working toward it) is a plus.
• Proficient in cost management tools and Excel-based reporting.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

*On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's needs* 

The salary range for this full-time role is $130K-$160K per year. Ranges are determined by role and level and represent a good faith effort to provide a fair and equitable salary. This range is a reflection of base salary only, not of a total compensation package.  Please note Turner & Townsend reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range, depending on candidate’s experience and qualifications.

Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change. 

We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this, we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.  

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community. 

Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/ and https://www.heery.com/ 

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. 

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It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time. 

Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.