Position: Cost Director – Quantity Surveying & Advisory
Location: Toronto, ON (Greater Toronto Area)
Company: Global Property & Construction Consultancy
Sector: Real Estate, Commercial, Mission-Critical, Infrastructure & P3s
About the Business
We are representing a leading, privately held international property and cost consultancy. With an established global headcount of over 2,000 professionals across 70+ offices, our client combines the financial backing and prestige of a global powerhouse with the agility, speed, and autonomy of a partner-led practice.
Unlike traditional, publicly traded multi-nationals bound by rigid matrix management and bureaucratic red tape, our client operates under an entrepreneurial, partner-led model. In Ontario, the business is rapidly expanding its footprint, delivering commercial advisory, cost planning, loan monitoring, and independent certification on landmark infrastructure, commercial, tech, and public-private partnership (P3) schemes.
To lead the next phase of expansion, they are seeking an ambitious, highly networked Cost Director to take the helm of their Toronto practice.
The Role Mandate
As the Cost Director, you will serve as the commercial leader for the Greater Toronto Area practice. This is an entrepreneurial practice-building role that balances high-level client advisory with strategic business development, team leadership, and P&L accountability.
You will have the autonomy to leverage your network, win new commissions, scale local delivery capacity, and shape the strategic direction of the practice across Ontario.
Key Responsibilities:
- Practice Leadership & BD: Drive business development initiatives, secure new client relationships, and win competitive tenders across commercial real estate, mission-critical, infrastructure, and institutional sectors.
- Client Advisory: Serve as the trusted lead advisor for key developers, public sector entities, financial institutions, and multi-national corporations.
- Full Lifecycle Cost Governance: Oversee pre- and post-contract cost management, Class A–D feasibility estimating, procurement strategy, change order reviews, value engineering, and lender/loan monitoring operations.
- Team Scaling & Mentoring: Recruit, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of quantity surveyors and cost consultants, fostering an agile and performance-driven culture.
- Commercial & Operational Governance: Oversee commission performance, project margins, resource allocation, and practice profitability.
Candidate Requirements
- Qualifications: Professional Quantity Surveyor (PQS) designation via CIQS and/or Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) designation. A degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or equivalent.
- Experience: 10+ years of progressive cost management experience within a reputable consultancy or contractor environment, with a track record at Director or Senior Leadership level.
- Local GTA Network: Proven, deep-rooted connections across the Ontario real estate, development, financial institution, or public infrastructure communities.
- Commercial Drive: Demonstrated capability to win work, prepare RFP submissions, and cultivate long-standing client relationships.
- Sector Breadth: Diverse project exposure spanning commercial fit-outs, industrial, high-density residential, institutional, mission-critical/data centers, or major civil infrastructure/P3 schemes.
What’s on Offer?
- True Autonomy: The freedom to run and build a practice without being constrained by corporate multi-national bureaucracy.
- Direct Executive Upside: A total reward structure directly linked to local office performance and practice growth, including a clear pathway toward private equity/profit-share participation.
- Prestige Portfolio: Immediate leadership over high-profile regional projects and major institutional/lender monitoring portfolios.
- Executive Compensation: Competitive base salary, annual executive performance bonus, pension matching, comprehensive health benefits, allowance, and paid professional dues.
