Assistant Cost Manager

Turner & Townsend, a global professional services firm with more than 22,000 people across more than 60 countries, is looking for an Assistant Cost Manager to join its Abu Dhabi team. The company partners with clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources to turn challenges into opportunities and deliver outcomes that matter. This onsite, full-time role sits in Abu Dhabi and is a great fit for someone starting out in cost management who enjoys working with project teams and turning cost data into practical guidance.

In this position you’ll support pre-contract cost management across a variety of construction projects from the initial concept through design development. You’ll learn from senior colleagues and collaborate with project stakeholders to grow your technical, commercial and client-management skills while contributing meaningfully to project success.

Below is a closer look at how you’ll contribute on a typical day, and what you’ll need to bring to the team.

Daily rhythm in the Abu Dhabi office

You’ll help build feasibility studies, develop cost plans through different design stages, and flag potential cost implications early on. The work couples technical cost planning with commercial awareness, so you’ll be involved in value engineering and cost-optimisation discussions to keep plans aligned with the project’s viability and budget. You’ll prepare cost reports and financial summaries that inform investment decisions and client approvals.

On the procurement and tender side, you’ll assist with tender documentation, bills of quantities, and procurement packages, while supporting strategy development and commercial assessments. You’ll review contractor and supplier quotations for completeness and align them with the project’s commercial objectives, helping shape recommendations for contract awards in collaboration with senior teammates.

Client and stakeholder engagement will see you participating in meetings, workshops and cost review sessions to gather requirements and ensure alignment on cost objectives. You’ll help prepare presentations and commercial recommendations for client approval, and you’ll maintain accurate cost records, manage procurement documentation, and support cost-management systems and governance processes. You’ll also contribute to building cost databases and benchmarking information for future reference and organizational learning.

What you’ll bring to the role

Here's what Turner & Townsend expects from applicants. The section below is designed to reflect the core capabilities and experiences that will help you succeed in this role.

• A bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Cost Management, Construction Management, Building Surveying, Civil Engineering, Architecture or a related field
• Between one and three years of professional experience in quantity surveying, cost management or construction consultancy, with exposure to both pre-contract and post-contract work
• A solid grasp of cost management principles, including cost planning, budgeting, cost control and procurement, plus strong numerical, analytical and communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and the ability to manage multiple priorities

• Experience with cost management software and project management tools
• Professional certification or membership in a relevant quantity surveying or cost management body
• Knowledge of UAE construction industry practices and regulations

Compensation and practical details

This is a full-time, onsite position in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The specific salary and benefits aren’t listed in the description, so you’ll learn about those details as part of the interview process.

Guidance to help you stand out

Lead your resume with your degree field and clearly state your total relevant experience (1–3 years) in cost management or quantity surveying, including any exposure to both pre-contract and post-contract work.

When you describe your experience, frame a concrete example that shows how you contributed to a cost plan or tender evaluation and, if possible, quantify the impact (for example, cost savings, accuracy improvements, or faster reporting).

Be ready to discuss a real cost report or cost plan you produced, including how you identified cost implications, how you worked with design teams to address them, and how you communicated results to stakeholders.

Ask a thoughtful question about how the team in Abu Dhabi manages cost databases and benchmarking, or how UAE-specific regulations influence their cost-management approach and value engineering decisions.