(MEP/CSA) Senior Cost Manager - Data Centre

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 programmes as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success.

Our capabilities include programme, 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 programme, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.

Please visit our website: www.turnerandtownsend.com

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager to lead cost management activities across complex and fast‑paced data centre construction projects. In this role, you will take ownership of pre‑ and post‑contract commercial management, drive cost control strategies, and provide advisory support to clients throughout the project lifecycle.

You will lead project teams, oversee tendering and procurement processes, manage commercial risks, and ensure strong financial governance across multiple data‑centre‑related scopes (CSA, MEP, critical systems). This role requires excellent stakeholder management and a solid understanding of the cost drivers unique to mission‑critical environments.

 

Leadership & Team Coordination

• Lead cost management delivery across one or multiple data centre projects.
• Oversee and mentor Cost Managers and Assistant Cost Managers in day‑to‑day tasks.
• Maintain a collaborative, high‑performing team environment and support capability building.

Pre‑Contract / Tendering Support

• Lead the preparation of detailed cost estimates, cost plans, and budgets during concept, schematic, and detailed design stages.
• Review design information, identify cost risks, and challenge scope gaps or assumptions.
• Manage tender documentation, bid queries, tender analyses, commercial evaluations, and contract recommendations.
• Support procurement strategies for long‑lead equipment, specialist trades, and mission‑critical systems.

Post‑Contract Cost Control

• Oversee monthly cost reporting, cashflow forecasting, and financial performance tracking.
• Lead the change management process, ensuring variations are properly assessed, justified, and approved.
• Manage ongoing commercial negotiations with contractors and suppliers.
• Ensure adherence to contract terms, valuation processes, and financial controls.

Stakeholder & Client Engagement

• Serve as the primary commercial point of contact for clients, design consultants, and contractors.
• Facilitate project meetings and provide commercial recommendations to support decision‑making.
• Ensure clear communication of risk, cost status, and procurement issues to stakeholders.

Governance, Reporting & Quality

• Maintain clean audit‑ready cost documentation throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support value engineering initiatives to identify cost‑efficient solutions without compromising reliability or quality.
• Contribute to cost benchmarking, lessons learned, and continuous improvement within the team.
• Uphold internal governance standards, templates, and reporting requirements.

• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Cost Management, Construction, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years - 15 years of cost management experience, with strong exposure to data centre, industrial, or mission‑critical projects.
• Demonstrated experience in both pre‑contract (estimating, tendering, procurement) and post‑contract (cost control, reporting) functions.
• Solid understanding of key cost drivers in data centres, including MEP‑intensive systems and high‑specification technical spaces.
• Strong stakeholder‑management, communication, and leadership skills.
• Proficiency in CostX or similar estimating software.
• Business‑level English and native proficiency in the local language.

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/

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