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 programmes as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success.
Our capabilities include programme, 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 programme, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.
Please visit our website: www.turnerandtownsend.com
Job Description
The Estimating Director is responsible for leading the development, management, and assurance of cost and estimating processes across the major rail programme. Operating within the Programme Management Office (PMO), the role ensures robust cost planning, consistent estimating methodologies, and effective cost control aligned with programme governance.
The role acts as the central point for cost and estimating standards, ensuring alignment across delivery partners and integration with schedule, risk, baseline management, and performance reporting. It supports informed decision-making by providing accurate cost forecasts, scenario analysis, and commercial insight.
Key Responsibilities
- Cost Management & Control
- Lead programme-level cost management processes, including:
- Budget development and control
- Cost forecasting and variance analysis
- Management of contingency and risk allowances
- Monitor cost performance across all projects and work packages.
- Ensure alignment between approved budgets, committed costs, and forecast outturn positions.
- Provide clear reporting on cost performance to support governance and decision-making.
- Estimating Strategy & Assurance
- Define and implement consistent estimating methodologies and standards across the programme.
- Oversee the development and review of estimates at various stages (concept, design, procurement, delivery).
- Ensure estimates are:
- Robust and evidence-based
- Aligned with scope, schedule, and risk assumptions
- Lead independent estimate reviews, benchmarking, and assurance activities.
- Cost Forecasting & Analysis
- Lead development of cost forecasts at programme and project levels.
- Provide scenario analysis and “what-if” modelling to support decision-making.
- Identify cost risks, trends, and pressures early, and support mitigation planning.
- Support funding reviews, business case updates, and affordability assessments.
- Stakeholder Coordination
- Work closely with:
- Commercial teams
- Project managers
- Planning/scheduling teams
- Risk and assurance functions
- Ensure alignment of cost assumptions and data across all stakeholders.
- Act as the PMO focal point for cost and estimating governance.
- Governance & Compliance
- Ensure cost and estimating processes align with:
- Programme governance requirements
- Public infrastructure and funding frameworks (e.g. TII, Department of Transport)
- Support stage gate approvals, reviews, and audit processes.
- Maintain auditability and transparency of all cost and estimating outputs.
- Continuous Improvement & Best Practice
- Drive continuous improvement in cost and estimating processes, tools, and methodologies.
- Introduce benchmarking, lessons learned, and industry best practices.
- Support capability development across the programme in cost management disciplines.
- Minimum 15 years relevant experience in a senior role.
- Degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Finance or related field
- Extensive experience in cost management and estimating in large programmes
- Infrastructure or public sector programme experience preferred
- Strong cost analysis, forecasting, and modelling skills
- Stakeholder management and communication
- Professional certifications such as RICS, PMP, or equivalent preferred
What we offer you:
- Full time, permanent
- Competitive remuneration and attractive range of benefits
- 8% Pension
- 25 days Annual leave (23 days + 2 company days)
- Opportunity to work on impactful and innovative projects
- Career development opportunities both in Ireland and globally
- Opportunity to work with a diverse group of talented and collaborative colleagues
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/
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SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.
Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects:
It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.
Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.
Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects:
It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.
Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.
Skills Required
- Minimum 15 years relevant experience in a senior role
- Degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Finance or related field
- Extensive experience in cost management and estimating in large programmes
- Infrastructure or public sector programme experience
- Strong cost analysis, forecasting, and modelling skills
- Stakeholder management and communication
- Professional certifications such as RICS, PMP, or equivalent
What We Do
Working in partnership makes it possible to deliver the world’s most impactful projects and programmes. Together with our clients, we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources.
