Senior Cost Manager / Quantity Surveyor - Commercial Construction

Turner & Townsend are looking for an experienced Senior Cost Manager and/or Quantity Surveyor to act as the key day-to-day client interface, delivering high-quality cost management services across large-scale construction programs in the greater Detroit area.

These projects involve complex, multi-phase developments, including ground-up builds, phased expansions, and renovation of existing facilities within active environments, requiring strong commercial oversight and coordination across diverse stakeholder groups.

To be successful in this role you must have strong communication skills and be comfortable in a client-facing environment. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, driven, and able to work independently while contributing to a high-performing team.


Responsibilities:

• Lead estimating and negotiating change orders throughout the construction lifecycle, ensuring alignment between scope, budget, and contract terms.
• Provide comprehensive cost planning and estimating services, including the development, review, and presentation of detailed cost plans at key project milestones.
• Partner with design teams and general contractors to develop, validate, and refine cost estimates, ensuring accuracy and alignment with project objectives.
• Reconcile project changes and proactively review contractor data to ensure completeness, consistency, and commercial accuracy.
• Act as a key liaison with project stakeholders to gather updates, track progress, and support the preparation of cost reports and forecasts.
• Prepare clear written commentary and executive summaries on contractor submissions, highlighting risks, variances, and key decision points.
• Coordinate and consolidate cost inputs from subcontractors, suppliers, and design teams to support informed commercial decision-making.
• Track and manage cost impacts, including contingency utilization, change control processes, and cost variance analysis across multiple workstreams.
• Perform detailed cost checks and valuations on complex projects, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Support procurement activities by reviewing contractor and subcontractor pricing, evaluating bids, and leading commercial negotiations.
• Provide input into value engineering and design optimization initiatives to improve cost efficiency while maintaining project intent.
• Produce monthly cost reports, including budget updates, forecasts, and funding analyses for client presentation.
• Ensure cost auditing, validation, and final account closeout processes are executed effectively and in accordance with best practices.
• Maintain and contribute to benchmarking data and cost records to support future project planning and continuous improvement.
• Mentor and support junior team members, fostering development and ensuring consistency in service delivery.
• Manage financial performance across commissions, including fee forecasting, margin tracking, and adherence to internal systems and controls.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

 

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, cost management, quantity surveying, engineering or field related to construction.
• Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience working in a cost management role in the construction industry.
• RICS accredited or working towards it is preferred.
• Experience of leading cost management on medium or large sized construction projects of medium to high complexity. 
• Construction consultancy experience is strongly preferred.
• Understanding of procurement strategies, cost planning, and change management principles.
• Excellent communication skills.

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

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.