Associate Director - Cost Management

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.

Job Description

Who are you?

You are an expert Associate Director in Cost Management with a minimum of 15+ years post-graduate experience looking for the next step or are currently undertaking a similar role in a similar environment.

As an Associate Director in Cost Management, you will lead the delivery of high‑quality cost management services across all project stages. You will own cost deliverables, provide clear commercial and risk advice, manage change and procurement processes, and interface closely with clients, and project teams. You will also contribute to business development, knowledge management, and the mentoring of junior team members.

As an Associate Director in Cost Management, you will be involved in:

Strategic Cost Advisory

• Serve as a senior advisor to clients on project cost, commercial strategy, governance, procurement, and delivery approaches.
• Provide independent recommendations regarding cost management best practices, market trends, procurement strategies, and commercial frameworks.
• Advise clients on cost and risk implications associated with various project delivery models, including Progressive Design-Build (PDB), Design-Build, EPC, Alliance, and EPCM.
• Facilitate executive discussions regarding project affordability, value optimization, risk allocation, and commercial decision-making.
• Provide strategic guidance on industry practices, market trends, and emerging approaches to cost management and project delivery.

Pre-Contract Services

• Lead the development and review of conceptual, Class 5 through Class 1 estimates.
• Oversee quantity-based, parametric, benchmark-driven, and detailed estimating activities.
• Prepare detailed cost plans, elemental cost analyses, and budget validations from concept through final investment decision.
• Conduct estimate validation, constructability, and cost challenge workshops with project stakeholders.
• Assess estimate maturity and alignment with project scope development.
• Support business cases, investment approvals, and funding submissions through robust cost development and assurance.

Progressive Design-Build & Collaborative Cost Development

• Support clients throughout Progressive Design-Build procurement and project development phases.
• Lead collaborative estimate development, validation workshops, and open-book cost reviews involving owners, designers, contractors, and key stakeholders.
• Establish and facilitate a structured Collaborative Cost Validation Framework to ensure transparency, alignment, and confidence in project budgets throughout design development and project execution.
• Facilitate target value design exercises, cost alignment workshops, and commercial discussions between project participants.
• Review and challenge assumptions related to quantities, productivity, labour rates, equipment pricing, construction methodologies, risk allowances, contingency levels, escalation, and contractor pricing while maintaining a collaborative and partnership-oriented environment.
• Support target price development and validation processes under collaborative contracting arrangements.

Cost Management, Forecasting & Financial Controls

• Lead the preparation of detailed cost plans, estimates, elemental analyses, and budget validations throughout the project lifecycle, from concept development through project closeout.
• Develop and maintain project cost models, cash flow forecasts, cost reports, dashboards, and financial performance metrics.
• Monitor project budgets and perform cost forecasting, earned value assessments, and cost-to-complete analyses.
• Track contingencies, allowances, escalation provisions, and management reserves to support effective project governance.
• Manage contractor and subcontractor cost submissions, estimate updates, project forecasts, and budget reconciliations.
• Provide independent forecasting and financial analysis to support executive and governance decision-making.

Cost Assurance & Independent Review

• Develop and execute cost assurance methodologies and governance frameworks for major capital projects and programs.
• Conduct independent estimate reviews, cost reconciliations, and validation exercises to assess estimate completeness, accuracy, and reasonableness.
• Perform statistical and risk-based sampling of quantities, labour rates, equipment pricing, production assumptions, indirect costs, subcontractor quotations, and contingency allocations.
• Validate contractor estimates, change orders, claims, and forecast updates.
• Assess compliance with approved estimating methodologies, governance requirements, and funding obligations.
• Identify cost risks, opportunities, and corrective actions while providing recommendations to improve forecast reliability and cost certainty.

Contingency & Risk Management

• Lead contingency planning, development, validation, and management processes throughout all project phases.
• Support qualitative and quantitative risk assessments and evaluate contingency adequacy based on project maturity and risk exposure.
• Monitor contingency utilization and provide recommendations regarding contingency drawdown requests.
• Lead risk-adjusted forecasting and cost-to-complete reviews.
• Identify emerging risks and opportunities and implement proactive mitigation strategies.
• Provide early warning indicators and recommendations to support informed project decision-making.

Procurement & Contract Advisory

• Develop procurement and contracting strategies aligned with project objectives, market conditions, and delivery model requirements.
• Lead the preparation of tender and bidding documentation, including scope packages, commercial requirements, evaluation criteria, and pricing structures.
• Manage procurement processes including bidder communications, RFI responses, tender clarifications, bid evaluations, and commercial assessments.
• Support negotiations and provide recommendations for contract award.
• Advise clients on Canadian contract forms and delivery models, including CCDC contracts, Progressive Design-Build agreements, and collaborative contracting structures.
• Provide guidance regarding commercial risk allocation, contractor engagement strategies, and procurement best practices.
• Review and assess contractor claims, change requests, and commercial disputes while supporting dispute avoidance efforts through proactive commercial engagement.

Value Engineering & Cost Optimization

• Lead value engineering studies and option analyses to optimize project scope, budget, and overall value.
• Provide whole-life cost and total cost of ownership assessments to support strategic investment decisions.
• Conduct benchmarking and escalation analyses using internal and external cost intelligence databases.
• Develop recommendations that balance capital cost, operational performance, schedule objectives, and risk exposure.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and lessons learned programs to improve cost performance across projects.

Post-Contract Services

• Provide ongoing commercial and cost advisory services during project execution.
• Lead change management reviews, cost forecasting, and performance assessments.
• Validate commercial impacts arising from scope growth, project risks, and design evolution.
• Review contractor estimates for changes, claims, variations, and compensation events.
• Support dispute avoidance and resolution through objective commercial analysis and transparent stakeholder engagement.
• Conduct independent assessments of project cost performance and forecast accuracy.

Client Advisory & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary day-to-day point of contact for clients, lenders, consultants, designers, contractors, and project stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Provide consulting services related to project controls, cost governance, commercial management, procurement, funding assurance, and organizational capability development.
• Deliver market intelligence regarding labour availability, material pricing trends, contractor capacity, escalation pressures, and procurement strategies.
• Present clear, data-driven cost, commercial, schedule, and risk insights to executive stakeholders, governance committees, and project teams.
• Facilitate cost workshops, estimate reviews, Collaborative Cost Validation Framework sessions, value engineering workshops, and lessons-learned briefings.
• Prepare executive reports, presentations, recommendations, and decision-support materials to support governance and investment decisions.

Leadership & Business Development

• Lead multidisciplinary teams delivering cost management, commercial advisory, and project assurance services.
• Support proposal development, client relationship management, and business growth initiatives.
• Contribute to the development of methodologies, tools, frameworks, and best practices.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, industry partners, and stakeholders.
• Knowledge management – Ensuring that key information and learning generated from each commission is input into the Turner & Townsend internal database. Ensure commissions are delivered to agreed scope, schedule, and quality standards; align delivery with conditions of appointment and project governance
• Staff management– Input into performance review process of consultants and graduate consultants. Mentor junior team members, support capability building, and contribute to internal training initiatives.
• Business Development – Identify opportunities with existing and new clients. Help develop long‑term, trusted‑advisor relationships& support growth by developing new business opportunities with existing and new Turner & Townsend clients.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Finance, Commerce, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in cost management, estimating, project controls, commercial management, project assurance, or capital project advisory services.
• Significant experience supporting major capital projects exceeding $500M in value.
• Extensive experience providing both pre-contract and post-contract advisory services.
• Demonstrated expertise in cost estimating, cost assurance, benchmarking, forecasting, contingency management, procurement, and commercial advisory.
• Strong consulting and client-facing experience, including executive stakeholder engagement.
• Experience leading independent estimate reviews, cost assurance programs, and governance initiatives.
• Strong understanding of project controls, commercial management, and project delivery principles.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian construction markets and contract forms (e.g., CCDC); demonstrated expertise in change control, forecasting, and cost reporting.
• Proficiency with cost management and productivity tools (e.g., CostX or equivalent, Excel, and data visualization such as Power BI).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present to executive‑level stakeholders.
• Fluency in English and French
• Ability to work in client office (downtown Montreal) for at least 2 times a week.

Preferred

• Direct experience supporting Progressive Design-Build (PDB) projects.
• Experience within the Hydro, Power Generation, Transmission & Distribution, Renewable Energy, or broader Energy sectors.
• Experience on major infrastructure, transportation, mining, industrial, or utility megaprojects.
• Professional certifications such as P.Eng., PMP, CCP, CEP, PQS, MRICS, or equivalent.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking & Executive Advisory
• Cost Management & Estimating Leadership
• Progressive Design-Build Expertise
• Collaborative Cost Validation
• Cost Assurance & Governance
• Commercial & Contract Management
• Procurement & Tendering
• Contingency & Risk Management
• Loan Monitoring & Project Assurance
• Value Engineering & Cost Optimization
• Stakeholder Engagement & Facilitation
• Negotiation & Commercial Acumen
• Leadership & Team Development
• Business Development & Client Relationship Management

Additional Information

What's in it for you...

• 100% covered health and dental benefits for you and your dependents (including paramedical services)
• Health spending account, to top up expenses not covered in the benefits program
• RRSP option with company matching
• Annual learning and development budget
• Access to a range of online learning tools, and support for career development and growth
• Coverage of one professional membership or license fee per year, if directly related to your role
• We believe in work-life balance, so you can recharge and take care of what matters most with vacation, flex and sick days
• A flexible, hybrid work approach that allows colleagues to find balance between their professional and personal lives
• Commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture that promotes a sense of belonging

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.

Turner & Townsend does not accept any speculative or unsolicited CV’s that have been sent to our internal recruitment team or hiring managers from agencies outside of our preferred supplier list. Any speculative or unsolicited CV’s will be treated as a direct application.

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