Cost & Commercial Management Lead

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 23,000 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.  

At Turner & Townsend we are seeking an experienced Cost Management Lead to support the successful delivery of complex real estate, development and construction programmes within our Real Estate Sector in the Netherlands.

Working within a friendly, professional, and highly successful team; you will have an opportunity to progress your career and work on large and complex Investor related Major Real Estate Programmes.

As a Cost Management Lead, you will have experience in playing pivotal roles in EUR 500m+ major capital programmes, across complex construction environments.

The Cost Management Lead will provide leadership across all aspects of cost management, commercial management, cost planning and financial governance throughout the project lifecycle. The role is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective cost controls, cost forecasting processes and reporting frameworks to support informed decision-making and successful project outcomes.

Working closely with clients, project teams, consultants, contractors and other project controls disciplines, the Cost Management Lead will act as the trusted advisor on all cost and commercial matters, ensuring robust financial management from project inception through to completion. Based on the feedback received, the role should be positioned as the clear owner of cost management activities rather than solely a reporting or coordination role.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Management Leadership

• Lead all aspects of cost management across projects and programmes.
• Establish and maintain cost management standards, governance procedures and reporting frameworks.
• Provide strategic commercial and cost advice throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support the development and implementation of project controls and commercial management processes.
• Ensure consistency and best practice in cost planning, estimating and commercial management.

Cost Planning & Estimating

• Prepare, review and manage cost estimates, cost plans and budgets through all project stages.
• Develop order-of-magnitude estimates, benchmark studies and detailed cost plans.
• Undertake cost measurement and quantity take-offs where appropriate.
• Review and challenge estimates prepared by consultants, contractors and third parties.
• Provide cost advice to support investment decisions, option appraisals and value engineering initiatives.
• Maintain alignment between project scope, programme objectives and approved budgets.

Cost Control & Forecasting

• Establish cost baselines and implement robust cost control procedures.
• Monitor project costs, commitments and forecasts against approved budgets.
• Lead cost forecasting activities and provide accurate projections of final outturn costs.
• Identify cost risks, cost trends and emerging financial issues.
• Develop mitigation measures and corrective actions where required.
• Manage cost impacts arising from scope changes and commercial decisions.
• Facilitate the production of the Master Development Cost Report and Tracker.
• Coordinate Project Cost Reports and Provide overall Development Analysis’s.
• Assist the Client in production of Key Development Benchmarking.

Commercial Management

• Support procurement activities, commercial evaluations and tender assessments.
• Review contractor pricing, variations, claims and change proposals.
• Monitor commercial performance throughout project delivery.
• Support contract administration and commercial governance activities.
• Provide commercial recommendations to senior stakeholders and project leadership teams.
• Promote value-for-money and commercial best practice across projects.

Reporting & Assurance

• Develop and maintain comprehensive cost reporting and performance dashboards.
• Produce accurate and timely reports for client and leadership teams.
• Monitor project financial performance using key performance indicators and benchmarking data.
• Conduct cost assurance reviews and periodic health checks.
• Ensure cost information, assumptions and forecasts are transparent, auditable and evidence-based.
• Collaborate with schedule, risk and project management teams to provide integrated project controls reporting.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for cost and commercial matters.
• Build strong relationships with clients, project managers, consultants and contractors.
• Facilitate cost reviews, budget workshops and commercial discussions.
• Present cost performance, risks and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Mentor and support junior cost management professionals where applicable.

Essential

• Minimum 10 years of experience in cost management, quantity surveying, commercial management or project controls within the real estate, construction or infrastructure sectors.
• Proven experience delivering cost management services on large and complex capital projects.
• Strong expertise in estimating, cost planning, budgeting and forecasting.
• Experience preparing and reviewing quantity take-offs and cost estimates.
• Experience in contractor commercial management, change control and cost reporting.
• Strong understanding of procurement, contract administration and project delivery processes.
• Advanced Excel and commercial reporting capabilities.
• Excellent analytical, financial and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable

• Professional qualification such as MRICS or equivalent.
• Experience operating within large-scale development or construction programmes.
• Experience implementing cost governance and project controls frameworks.
• Knowledge of benchmarking techniques and cost intelligence methodologies.
• Experience supporting executive-level decision-making through commercial analysis and reporting.
• Understanding of integrated cost, schedule and risk management practices.

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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