Senior Cost Manager/Quantity Surveyor - Construction Management - job 1 of 2

As a Senior Cost Manager/Quantity Surveyor at Turner & Townsend, your responsibilities will include overseeing monthly cost reports, coordinating with architects and general contractors on cost estimates, negotiating change orders, preparing cash flow forecasts, and validating pay applications. You'll play a critical link between the client and the project teams, ensuring that financial aspects align with overall project goals.

To be considered for the Senior Cost Manager/Quantity Surveyor position at Turner & Townsend, candidates should ideally have a college degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field, and a minimum of 3 years of experience in the construction industry. Proficiency in Microsoft applications and knowledge of estimating software will be beneficial. RICS accreditation, although valued, is not required.

Essential skills for a Senior Cost Manager/Quantity Surveyor at Turner & Townsend include strong analytical skills, advanced proficiency in spreadsheets, excellent communication abilities, and a proactive work ethic. You should also be a team player capable of developing good working relationships with diverse project teams while managing your tasks effectively.

Turner & Townsend values the well-being of its employees, offering a healthy and productive work environment. We promote flexibility and respect for work-life balance, ensuring that our team members can succeed both professionally and personally. You’ll find that we support each other in achieving our goals and maintaining life outside of work.

At Turner & Townsend, career advancement opportunities are abundant for Senior Cost Managers/Quantity Surveyors. We encourage continuous professional development through training, mentorship, and exposure to exciting projects. With our expansive global presence, talented individuals can explore diverse roles across different sectors and regions.

When answering this question, share specific examples of your responsibilities involving cost reporting. Highlight your experience in preparing reports, addressing challenges you faced, and how you ensured accuracy and timely submissions to clients. Demonstrating a clear understanding of the importance of cost management will impress the interviewers.

Discuss your negotiation strategies, whether through effective communication, relationship-building, or data-driven approaches. Provide an example of a successful negotiation that resulted in a favorable outcome for all parties involved. This shows your tactical mindset and interpersonal skills.

Mention specific tools or software you have used in the past, such as spreadsheets, estimating software, or project management applications. Elaborate on why you prefer these tools and how they enhance your efficiency and accuracy in cost estimation, thereby showcasing your technical expertise.

Use this opportunity to illustrate your problem-solving skills. Share details of a challenging project, the specific obstacles you faced, and the strategies you employed to overcome them. Emphasize the positive outcome and what you learned from the experience.

Explain your communication methods and tools to maintain clarity and transparency with stakeholders. Discuss how you tailor your communication style based on the audience or use regular updates and meetings to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Discuss the value of teamwork in construction, such as fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and enhancing problem-solving capabilities. Share an example of how teamwork contributed to a project’s success and how you promote a collaborative environment.

Talk about your strategies for prioritization, such as using project management tools, setting deadlines, and focusing on high-impact tasks. Providing an example of a time when you successfully managed competing priorities can strengthen your response.

Outline the techniques you apply in cash flow forecasting. This may include analyzing past financial data, collaborating with stakeholders, and considering market trends. A clear example demonstrating your analytical skills will enhance your answer's impact.

Share your passion for construction and numbers, and why this industry excites you. Reflect on experiences that have fueled your motivation, whether it’s the satisfaction of seeing a completed project or the opportunity to solve complex challenges.

Discuss your conflict resolution skills and your approach to addressing disputes formally or informally. Use an example to illustrate how you managed a previous dispute and reached a resolution, showcasing your diplomacy and analytical skills.