What are the responsibilities and job description for the Project Controls Lead (Cost) - Data Center Construction position at Turner & Townsend?
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 programs as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success.
Our capabilities include program, 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 program, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.
Job Description
Turner & Townsend is seeking an experienced Lead Project Controls Manager to oversee cost, schedule, and risk management for a prestigious technology client’s rapidly expanding data center infrastructure program. This leadership role offers a unique opportunity to shape the delivery of mission-critical projects by driving governance, accuracy, and efficiency across a multi-billion-dollar, sustainability-focused campus development.
As a senior member of the team, you will provide strategic direction, mentor junior staff, and collaborate with global construction teams and cross-functional stakeholders (Analytics, Procurement, Finance) to ensure financial health, accurate forecasting, and risk mitigation across new builds and retrofit projects.
Responsibilities:
- Lead project controls activities across multiple sites, ensuring consistency and compliance with program standards.
- Mentor and coach junior team members; foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Act as the primary point of contact for project controls, providing guidance to project managers and stakeholders.
- Provide preconstruction support during project approval phases, including historical cost analysis, budget baselining, and development of annual contractor purchase orders.
- Align cost and schedule for phased campus builds, including utility planning and long-lead equipment strategies.
- Manage internal project budgets and schedule of values for monthly financial reporting across multiple projects.
- Oversee external project budgets via platforms for commitment management, change management, and document control.
- Facilitate change order routing and review, including content analysis and executive approvals.
- Maintain and update risk registers (internal and contractor), including contingency evaluations.
- Support development of scenario analyses for phasing strategies and risk exposure.
- Lead monthly forecasting and cash flow analysis, identify variances, and prepare executive-level reports.
- Conduct monthly project financial health reviews using dashboards, budget software, schedule comparisons, and productivity reports.
- Prepare and deliver clear presentations on project health, risks, and performance to leadership.
- Collaborate with site Schedulers to ensure alignment between financial forecasts and schedule updates (Primavera P6).
- Partner daily with project managers, contractors, suppliers, and internal teams (Analytics, Procurement, Finance).
- Drive programmatic initiatives, training, and process alignment to ensure consistency across sites.
- SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Cost Management, Quantity Surveying, or related field.
- 8 years of experience in construction project controls on large, multi-project programs, with at least 2 years in a leadership capacity.
- Proven expertise in forecasting, change management, and risk analysis on large-scale construction projects.
- Strong ability to interpret schedules, compare baseline vs. progress, and connect schedule impacts to cost forecasts.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Proficiency with Primavera P6, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and cost control tools (e.g., eBuilder, Procore, or similar).
- Experience with Unifier is a plus.
- Familiarity with data center construction or mission-critical infrastructure strongly preferred.
Additional Information
*On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's needs.
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/ and https://www.heery.com/
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
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