Cost Manager - Pre Contract

About the role

Turner & Townsend is looking for a detail-oriented, analytical Cost Manager - Pre Contract to join its growing infrastructure team in Abu Dhabi. The role manages project costs during the pre-contract phase of large-scale infrastructure projects, working with clients, stakeholders and internal teams to deliver projects within scope, on budget and in line with client expectations.

Key responsibilities

• Manage pre-contract cost management for infrastructure projects, including cost planning, estimating, budget development and tender documentation using industry-standard methods of measurement
• Analyse costs and risks for infrastructure elements such as Preliminaries, Overheads, material costs and site-specific requirements, and prepare contingency budgets
• Provide cost-effective solutions and value engineering recommendations to optimise budgets without compromising quality or compliance
• Prepare clear reports on project costs, highlight budget deviations and recommend corrective actions
• Use cost planning software and measurement tools such as CostX to model costs accurately
• Analyse local cost benchmarks, market conditions and cost drivers to inform cost strategies

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Civil Engineering or a related field
• Professional accreditation (MRICS, AIQS or equivalent) preferred
• 5-10 years of cost management experience focused on pre-contract activities
• Proven track record managing project costs independently and collaboratively
• Client-facing experience with stakeholder coordination
• Familiarity with local cost benchmarks and market conditions in the UAE or similar regions

Required skills

• Proficiency in cost planning, estimating and tender documentation
• Strong knowledge of methods of measurement
• Competency with cost measurement software such as CostX
• Ability to analyse and present cost data, strategies and reports to clients and senior stakeholders
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools