Cost Intelligence & Benchmarking Manager in London

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. Our capabilities include programme, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions.

Turner & Townsend is one of the leading consultancy providers to the Infrastructure sector and has a thriving Estimating and Cost Intelligence team making the difference for a large number of clients both in the UK and Overseas. As a pillar of our ambitious growth strategy, the Cost Intelligence and Benchmarking capability exists to capture, manage and utilise our data for both our internal customers and to provide competitive advantage both internally and for our clients.

Reporting to the Director of Cost Intelligence & Benchmarking, we are looking for a talented, and self-starting individual to join the Cost Intelligence & Benchmarking team in order to support in the successful development and delivery of the Infrastructure Cost Intelligence & Benchmarking Strategy in line with the Turner & Townsend Corporate Vision to 2030 and beyond.

The successful candidate will have a working understanding of both Project Commercial Management and Project Controls. They should also demonstrate a sound understanding of data; how it may be used and its importance as a decision-making tool internally and for our clients. Ideally, the candidate will have a part mathematical, part data/computer scientist, part engineering mindset as well as proven experience working on major infrastructure projects. Experience in the Aviation and Rail sectors would be an advantage.

This role requires significant autonomous problem-solving ability and an understanding of how contemporary integrated information systems work is key. It is important that the successful candidate is able to articulate, in easily understandable language, the narrative behind the data to internal customers and clients.

Working primarily within the Infrastructure Estimating and Cost Intelligence function and with the UK Commercial community, the successful candidate will help oversee all aspects of Cost Intelligence & Benchmarking development. Typically, this will likely include (but not be limited to) the following:

• Working with our Digital team to transform the tools that underpin our Cost Intelligence & Benchmarking services
• Growing our capability by building a strong Cost Intelligence & Benchmarking network and community of practice
• Data mining or extracting usable data from data sources as well as processing, cleansing, and validating its integrity
• Supporting the achievement of Estimating & Cost Intelligence team objectives
• Staying abreast of developments within the knowledge, data and information management discipline
• Acting as an ambassador for the Cost Intelligence & Benchmarking team
• Acting as a professional role model for less experienced staff
• Enhancing data collection procedures to include all relevant information for developing our data toolset

This is a South East-based role, although there may be flexibility for the right candidate. We operate a flexible-working arrangement, which typically requires 3 days working in a client/Turner & Townsend office.

Qualifications:

• Degree-qualified (or equivalent) in Estimating, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline, with significant, demonstrable experience in cost intelligence & benchmarking
• Proven track record in developing and leading cost benchmarking frameworks, including data governance, normalisation, and comparative analysis across programmes
• Desirable membership of ACostE / APM / ICEAA / RICS
• Experience working on major programmes and complex projects, providing benchmarking, performance analysis, and cost intelligence at portfolio or enterprise level
• Strong understanding of market trends, cost drivers, and industry intelligence, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for senior stakeholders
• Use of AI to capture, interrogate, normalise and utilise large volumes of cost data

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.