About this role
Company Description
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
Job Description
We're looking for a detail-oriented and analytical Cost Manager - Pre Contract to join our growing infrastructure team in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In this role, you will be instrumental in managing project costs during the pre-contract phase for large-scale infrastructure projects, ensuring that all projects are delivered within scope, on budget, and aligned with client expectations. You will work collaboratively with clients, stakeholders, and internal teams to develop comprehensive cost strategies tailored to infrastructure complexities and provide transparent, data-driven recommendations that drive project success.
- Manage pre-contract cost management responsibilities for infrastructure projects, including cost planning, estimating, budget development, and tender documentation using industry-standard methods of measurement
- Conduct thorough cost analysis and risk assessments for infrastructure-specific elements, including Preliminaries, Overheads, material costs, and site-specific requirements; develop appropriate contingency budgets to mitigate project uncertainties
- Provide cost-effective solutions and value engineering recommendations to optimize infrastructure project budgets without compromising quality or compliance standards
- Prepare clear, comprehensive reports on infrastructure project costs, highlighting deviations from budget and recommending corrective actions; collaborate with clients, engineers, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure transparent communication throughout the pre-contract phase
- Utilize cost planning software and measurement tools (such as CostX) to enhance accuracy and efficiency in infrastructure cost modeling
- Analyze local cost benchmarks, market conditions, and infrastructure-specific cost drivers to inform cost strategies and ensure compliance with industry standards, client requirements, and regulatory guidelines
Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related field
- Professional accreditation (MRICS, AIQS, or equivalent) preferred
Experience:
- 5–10 years in cost management with focus on pre-contract activities
- Proven track record managing project costs independently and collaboratively
- Client-facing experience with demonstrated stakeholder coordination abilities
- Familiarity with local cost benchmarks and market conditions in the UAE or similar regions
Technical Skills:
- Proficiency in cost planning, estimating, and tender documentation
- Strong knowledge of methods of measurement
- Competency with cost measurement software (CostX or similar)
- Ability to analyse and present cost data, strategies, and reports to clients and senior stakeholders
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools
Core Competencies:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with meticulous attention to detail
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams
- Transparent and collaborative working style with a goal-oriented mindset
- Understanding of value engineering principles, risk assessment, and contingency budget management
Additional Information
Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects:
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.
Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects: