Senior / Lead Cost Manager (Pre - Contract)

Turner & Townsend, a global professional services firm with more than 22,000 people across more than 60 countries, is looking for a Senior Cost Manager to join the Dubai team. The company serves clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, turning complexity into opportunity and delivering programmes that improve lives. Turner & Townsend is majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., and the two organisations work together to provide premier programme, project and cost management offerings worldwide. This on-site, full-time role sits in Dubai, AE, and is well suited to someone who enjoys shaping cost plans early, partnering with clients, and guiding teams through challenging projects.

The right candidate thrives in a pre-contract-focused role within the real estate sector, particularly commercial real estate. If you like turning early-stage estimates into solid, well-controlled budgets and you’re comfortable with client-facing collaboration and mentoring peers, you’ll fit in well with this team.

Shaping cost plans from the early stages

In this position you’ll take the lead on pre-contract cost management, advising on cost-effective avenues and exploring value engineering to optimise spend. You’ll run risk assessments and keep contingency budgets under control, while generating regular project reports that flag any variances from the budget. A key part of the job is reviewing and analysing project costs, from preliminaries and overheads to materials, and ensuring compliance with industry standards, client requirements, and regulatory bodies. You’ll also share your knowledge by mentoring junior cost managers and coordinating with clients and other stakeholders to keep the project moving smoothly and in line with agreed targets.

The day-to-day duties require a blend of technical precision and relationship management: you’ll need strong cost planning, estimating and tender documentation skills, and you must be able to present cost strategies and reports clearly to clients and senior stakeholders. A solid grasp of measurement practices such as NRM, POMI and CESMM will help you interpret and communicate costs effectively, and familiarity with CostX or similar measurement software will be a plus as you guide the project team toward informed decisions.

Must-have requirements

You should bring at least a decade of cost management experience with a clear emphasis on pre-contract work, and you must be able to lead and manage multiple projects independently while communicating clearly in both speech and writing. The role expects experience in client-facing settings and a track record of coordinating with a range of stakeholders, plus a solid understanding of local cost benchmarks and proven UAE market experience. A university degree in quantity surveying, construction management, civil engineering or a related field is essential, and while professional accreditation (for example MRICS or AIQS) is not required, it is highly preferred. You’ll need proficiency in cost planning, estimating and tender documentation, the ability to present cost strategies and reports to clients and senior leaders, and familiarity with multiple methods of measurement (NRM, POMI, CESMM) as well as experience using CostX or similar software. Leadership skills are important too, including the ability to steer cost management activities across several projects, plus strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities and a willingness to mentor junior staff and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams.

Education and technical requirements are complemented by a hands-on approach to cost control, a track record of managing Pre-Contract costs, and comfort in speaking with clients and coordinating with stakeholders to keep projects aligned with budget and schedule.

Nice-to-have

While not mandatory, professional credentials such as MRICS or AIQS are valued, as are additional accreditations or certifications that strengthen your expertise. Extra experience beyond the UAE market, or broader exposure to different client environments and international projects, can also help you stand out.

Pay, benefits and practical details

The role is full-time and based on site in Dubai, AE. Turner & Townsend describes the position as a senior leadership opportunity with a focus on pre-contract cost management; specifics on salary and benefits aren’t disclosed in the posting, but the job requires UAE market experience and leads cost management across multiple projects. The arrangement is on-site, and the strength of the candidate’s local knowledge and client-facing skills will be key. There are no stated travel requirements in the description, and there are no licensing details beyond the education and accreditation notes already mentioned.

Social updates and company culture can be explored through Turner & Townsend’s channels: Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Turner & Townsend does not charge candidates any recruitment fee, and no agency will ask for payment during the recruitment process. Any agency submissions should be invited in writing by the Recruitment Team.

Advice for applicants

Lead with your UAE market experience and your long track record in pre-contract cost management on your resume, and highlight how you’ve steered large projects to stay within budget from the earliest stages.

In interviews, be ready to prove your ability to manage multiple projects independently and to mentor junior cost managers. Share concrete examples of collaborating with clients and other stakeholders to resolve cost issues and keep projects on track.

Demonstrate your technical fluency in cost planning, estimating and tender documentation, and talk through how you apply cost strategies in real projects. Be prepared to discuss your knowledge of measurement methods like NRM, POMI and CESMM, and your experience using CostX or similar tools.

End with a smart question about how Turner & Townsend integrates value engineering and early-cost decisions into project delivery, and how success is measured for the pre-contract phase in their real estate portfolio.