Cost Estimator Lead - Data Center Construction

About Turner & Townsend

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries. We partner with clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy, and natural resources to deliver impactful projects. Majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., we offer comprehensive capabilities in program, project, cost, asset, and commercial management, alongside net zero and digital solutions.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Cost Estimator Lead to support a high-profile client's major data center campus program. This role focuses on developing detailed Civil, Structural, and Architectural (CSA) estimates for complex core-and-shell facilities. You will require advanced estimating expertise, the ability to thrive in fast-paced, evolving environments, and proven experience supporting multi-phase delivery across large capital construction programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and management of cost plans and detailed CSA estimates from concept through detailed design across multiple geographies.
• Provide program-level estimating leadership to support portfolio-level decision-making.
• Present milestone cost updates, clearly communicating the basis of estimate, assumptions, risks, and opportunities.
• Lead quantity takeoffs and cost checks for complex CSA scopes, ensuring alignment between scope, drawings/models, and estimates.
• Coordinate estimating activities across multiple teams and projects, ensuring consistency and accuracy.
• Review contractor pricing, including bids, pay applications, and change orders, providing recommendations to clients.
• Lead change evaluation and pricing analysis to support commercial decision-making.
• Drive benchmarking and cost modeling, building and maintaining historical cost data and metrics.
• Facilitate and lead value engineering (VE) efforts and support feasibility studies.
• Support procurement and preconstruction activities, including prequalification, bid analysis, and tender reporting.
• Partner with cost management, procurement, and project controls teams to align estimating outputs with budgets and program strategy.
• Assess design development and program changes, producing timely estimate updates.
• Lead, mentor, and coordinate estimating staff, contributing to team development and estimating tools.
• Prepare leadership-ready and client-facing estimating materials for executive presentations.
• Promote Turner & Townsend’s values and collaborative culture.
• Adhere to SOX control responsibilities where applicable.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, or a related construction field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in construction estimating or cost management on large-scale capital programs.
• Data center or mission-critical construction experience strongly preferred (multi-building campuses, greenfield developments, or major expansions).
• Proven expertise in conceptual estimating, quantity takeoff, and cost fundamentals across CSA scopes; familiarity with MEP systems is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience leading estimating teams and coordinating across multiple projects or programs.
• Strong knowledge of construction procurement strategies and commercial contract structures.
• Experience contributing to value engineering, feasibility analysis, and design/cost optimization.
• Excellent written, verbal, and client-facing presentation skills.
• Highly organized with the ability to prioritize in fast-paced environments.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with CostX (2D/3D takeoff, assemblies, workbooks) strongly preferred; familiarity with AutoCAD or Navisworks is advantageous.

Preferred:

• Professional accreditation (e.g., RICS) or active progress toward certification.
• Consultancy experience on large, complex construction programs.

Work Environment & Location

• Preferred location: San Francisco Bay Area, with a hybrid work schedule from the San Francisco office.
• Remote candidates will be considered based on experience and program needs.
• On-site presence requirements may change based on client needs.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary Range: $190,000 - $195,000 per year.
• Final compensation determined by experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity.
• Eligible for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.

Company Culture & Values

We provide a great place to work, promoting a healthy, productive, and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all sectors of the community.