MEP cost manager Dubai opportunity: Lead Cost Manager / Associate Director – MEP (Commercial) at Turner & Townsend, full-time in the Real Estate team. You’ll steer pre- and post-contract delivery on complex, MEP-heavy projects, covering estimating, cost planning, BoQs, tendering, procurement (single-stage, two-stage, design & build), FIDIC administration, change control, valuations, and final accounts. In this client-facing leadership role, you’ll present robust estimate, cost, procurement, and tender reports, negotiate with contractors, and mentor a high-performing team. Ideal for consultancy-trained quantity surveyors with 7+ years and proven UAE experience; CostX knowledge and BIM familiarity preferred. Shape outcomes and elevate value.
Table of Contents
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Job Overview
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About Turner & Townsend
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Available Jobs (Related Roles)
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Job Description
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Key Responsibilities
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Why This Role?
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Requirements
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How to Apply
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FAQs
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Final Tips and Internal Resources
Job Overview
Job Title: Lead Cost Manager / Associate Director – MEP (Commercial)
Company: Turner & Townsend
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Employment Type: Full-time
Start Date: Upon selection and company onboarding timelines
Looking for MEP cost manager Dubai opportunities that put you at the center of high-impact real estate delivery? Turner & Townsend is hiring a Lead Cost Manager / Associate Director – MEP (Commercial) to drive pre- and post-contract excellence on complex projects. This is a senior role for an experienced professional who thrives on client-facing leadership, rigorous cost control, and turning complexity into success across the UAE market.

About Turner & Townsend
Turner & Townsend is a global professional services powerhouse with more than 22,000 people in over 60 countries, majority owned by CBRE Group, Inc. The firm partners with clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy, and natural resources to deliver measurable outcomes—spanning programme, project, cost, asset and commercial management, as well as controls, procurement & supply chain, net zero, and digital solutions. The company’s reputation rests on trusted client relationships, technical excellence, and a culture that champions innovation and value creation.
Available Jobs (Related Roles)
If this Associate Director MEP Dubai role isn’t a direct fit, consider these related keywords and career paths often aligned with Turner & Townsend’s UAE practice and client portfolio:
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Senior Cost Manager – Real Estate (MEP or Multi-Discipline)
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Commercial Manager – Major Projects (Real Estate)
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Senior Quantity Surveyor (MEP) – Pre- and Post-Contract
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MEP Project Controls Lead – Cost & Change
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BIM/CostX Specialist – Digital Cost Management
Job Description
This MEP cost manager Dubai opportunity is built for a seasoned cost consultancy professional who will lead the commercial success of projects with significant MEP scope across sectors in the UAE. You’ll:
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Own the cost management lifecycle from feasibility and estimating through tendering, contract administration, change management, and final account.
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Act as a trusted, client-facing advisor capable of presenting robust reports, offering procurement strategies, and negotiating with contractors.
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Champion quality, accuracy, and timeliness in all pre- and post-contract deliverables while mentoring team members and coordinating with multidisciplinary stakeholders.
Ideal for a Lead Cost Manager or Associate Director with deep MEP knowledge, a consultancy mindset, and proven UAE market experience under FIDIC and varied procurement routes (single stage, two stage, design & build).
Key Responsibilities
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Estimating & Cost Planning: Produce and present detailed cost plans, benchmarks, and feasibility assessments for MEP systems on major real estate assets.
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Bills of Quantities & Tender Docs: Prepare full BoQs, preambles, preliminaries, and clear tender documentation that de-risks ambiguity.
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Tendering & Procurement: Lead PQ stages, curate tender lists, respond to tender queries, run tender analyses, and compile comprehensive tender reports.
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Contract Administration: Apply FIDIC and standard form contracts, ensuring procedural rigor in valuations, certifications, EOT and variation assessments.
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Change & Risk Control: Implement robust change management and cost variance processes; maintain live, auditable records and clear approvals.
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Cost Assurance: Conduct regular cost checks and valuations; drive accuracy and forecast reliability across the cost curve.
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Reporting & Advisory: Produce high-quality estimate reports, cost reports, procurement strategies, post-contract and ad-hoc reports; present with confidence to executives.
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Negotiation & Final Accounts: Negotiate with contractors, agree final accounts, and secure outcomes aligned to budget, value, and program.
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Team Leadership: Where appropriate, lead and mentor a cost management team to deliver all the above with consistency and excellence.
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Stakeholder Interface: Engage proactively with clients, contractors, designers, and project managers to keep commercial priorities front and center.
Why This Role?
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Market-Leading Platform: Join a global consultancy backed by CBRE, unlocking access to marquee clients and transformational assets.
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Senior Impact: You’ll be the Associate Director MEP Dubai voice at the table—shaping procurement strategy, risk posture, and value engineering decisions.
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Breadth of Sector Exposure: Real estate projects with significant MEP components across commercial, mixed-use, hospitality, and more.
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Growth & Mentorship: Influence team capability, digital adoption (BIM, CostX), and quality standards—while building your leadership brand.
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Client-Facing Credibility: Drive trusted advisor relationships through data-driven reporting, transparent governance, and decisive commercial leadership.
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Future-Ready Delivery: Lean into digital cost management and net-zero considerations to elevate outcomes and differentiate your portfolio.
Requirements
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Education: Degree in Quantity Surveying or closely related discipline.
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Experience: Minimum 7+ years in cost management/quantity surveying roles with a consultancy, focused on real estate and MEP.
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UAE Experience: Prior UAE experience is essential, including local market norms for procurement, contracting, and approvals.
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Contract Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of FIDIC and administration of contract procedures.
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Pre-Contract Expertise: Feasibility, estimating, measurement of building works, tender documentation, and report writing.
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Post-Contract Expertise: Interim applications, change management, variation valuation, and EOT claims.
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Software: Knowledge of CostX preferred; BIM exposure advantageous.
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Consultancy Mindset: Polished client-facing presence, confident presentations, and the ability to challenge constructively.
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Communication: Excellent written and verbal skills; ability to produce concise, insight-led reports.
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Eligibility: Based in or able to relocate to Dubai; meet UAE work authorization/visa requirements per company policy.
How to Apply
Apply directly via the official Turner & Townsend SmartRecruiters posting for Lead Cost Manager / Associate Director – MEP (Commercial) in Dubai.
Move quickly—senior MEP cost manager Dubai positions with strong client exposure are highly competitive.
FAQs
1) What sector does this role primarily support?
Projects with significant MEP components across the real estate sector, with potential crossover into allied markets.
2) Do I need prior UAE experience?
Yes. Prior UAE experience is essential due to local procurement norms, contract administration practices, and client expectations in Dubai.
3) Which contracts and procurement routes are key?
You should be confident with FIDIC contracts and experienced in single-stage, two-stage, and design & build procurement.
4) Which tools will give me an edge?
Proficiency in CostX is preferred and BIM familiarity is valued—both will strengthen your digital cost management credentials.
5) What kind of reporting is expected at Associate Director level?
High-quality estimate, cost, procurement, tender, and post-contract reports—delivered clearly and regularly to senior client stakeholders, with data-led insights and actionable recommendations.