Quantity Surveyor Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Quantity Surveyor, or a Surveyor, manages the cost of construction projects. Their duties include determining client needs, calculating costs and timelines and monitoring construction progress.

 

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Quantity Surveyor duties and responsibilities

Quantity Surveyors make sure their projects progress efficiently, affordably and safely by assisting in Cost Value Reconciliation (CVR) process and preparing Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS). Some Quantity Surveyors provide specialised advice in construction areas, such as Life Cycle Costing (LCC) for continuous economic appraisal of the project. Their primary duties usually include:

  • Meeting clients to determine their needs and discuss any areas that need revising for price or feasibility
  • Calculating material quantities and costs, labour costs and an achievable project timeframe
  • Negotiating labour contracts and schedules
  • Advising clients and crew on legal matters and disputes
  • Monitoring subcontractors, safety practices, construction progress and material needs, including any changes which may impact costs
  • Preparing labour and supplier accounts for payment
  • Writing reports detailing costs and progress for clients

 

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Quantity Surveyor Job Description Examples:

 

Example 1

Reference

Ste/1521

Job Type



Industry

House building

Location

Manchester

Senior Quantity Surveyor
Stewart Milne Group (the Group) is one of the UK’s largest independent housebuilders. The business was established in Aberdeen in 1975 and currently consists of two regional Homes divisions (Homes Scotland and Homes North West England).
The Group has offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Glasgow (Uddingston).
The Senior Quantity Surveyor will report to the Commercial Manager, providing support and advice across all aspects of the commercial role, and will have a good knowledge of the construction process. They should be able to communicate well and provide sound commercial advice and recommendations to the development team across all disciplines. The commercial team aims to maximise profitability whilst minimising risk.
Accountabilities

  • Coordinate and manage all financial activities of assigned developments, monitoring performance against contract programmes and reporting any issues to Contracts Managers and Directors.
  • Build and maintain close working relationships with other disciplines within the organisation, particularly the finance, construction and technical teams.
  • Take ownership to ensure customer enquiries are dealt with promptly.
  • Manage and coordinate available resources to meet agreed targets.
  • Be aware of current Health & Safety procedures and ensure they are always adhered to.
  • Gain information from subcontractors and suppliers, including es, rates and payment details. Alongside CIS and insurance documents and negotiate competitive costs to present to the Commercial Manager.
  • Prepare monthly contract review evaluation reports/schedules and cost flow forecasts for submission to the Commercial leadership team.
  • Attend meetings related to the commercial team, pre-contract, design, site progress and others relevant to the role.
  • Possess good negotiation and dispute resolution skills to minimise liability risk and resolve the conflict between drawn information, specifications and work on-site.
  • Have a good understanding of contract law and apply this knowledge practically.
  • Have a commercial approach which proactively identifies & regularly proposes savings within the business.

    Essential Technical Expertise

  • Financial and Commercial awareness
  • Effective cost control
  • Accurate and on-time reporting
  • Excellent negotiation skills
  • IT skills (Cost systems & Microsoft office)
  • Work well as part of a team
  • Work under own initiative with minimal supervision
  • Have a comprehensive and current understanding of the building industry with specialisms in commercial departments

    Salary and Benefits
    Stewart Milne Group is proud to develop our employees, offering career development and promotion opportunities across the Group.

  • Competitive Salary
  • Generous Annual Leave (32 days)
  • Life Assurance
  • Private Health & Private Medical Insurance
  • Bonus Scheme
  • Pension Scheme
  • Staff House Discount
  • Flexible Benefits Package

    If this sounds like the right step for your career, please email [website]

    Job Type:
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    Example 2

    Intermediate Civils Quantity Surveyor Required.
    My client is a very established civil engineering and groundworks contractor based in Hemel Hempstead. They are proud to have worked on some of the most important rail and engineering projects in the UK including Docklands Light railway 3 car extension, Thameslink Farringdon, Olympic Park Wembley, the London Bridge redevelopment, Euston HS2 and Crossrail projects.
    They are currently recruiting for an Intermediate Quantity Surveyor in Hemel Hempstead. The successful candidate will have at least 2 years civils or groundworks experience within commercial and civils sectors.

    Key responsibilities and Duties include:
    Price/forecast the cost of the different materials needed for the project.
    Prepare tender documents, contracts, budgets, bills of quantities and other documentation.
    Track changes to the design and/or construction work and adjust budget projections accordingly.
    Procure or agree the services of contractors and/or subcontractors who work on the construction of the project.
    Measure and value the work done on site.
    Pay subcontractors.
    Liaise with the client and other construction professionals, such as site managers, project managers and site engineers.
    Select and/or source construction materials
    Write detailed reports as required.
    Full time positions on a permanent basis with full benefits. Company car, pension, performance based bonus. Company days out. Opportunity to join a young dynamic team in a fast growing company.

    Candidates must be based in the UK and have a track record of UK Contracts.

    Please apply and a member of the JMR team will contact you asap.

    Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

    Salary: £40,000.00-£50,000.00 per year

    Additional pay:
  • Performance bonus
    Benefits:
  • Discounted or free food
  • On-site parking
    Schedule:
  • Day shift
  • Monday to Friday

    Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Hemel Hempstead: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

    Education:
  • Bachelor's (required)

    Experience:
  • surveying: 5 years (required)
  • Groundworks QS: 2 years (required)

    Licence/Certification:
  • Driving Licence (required)
  • CSCS (preferred)

    Work Kingdom (required)
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    What does a Quantity Surveyor do?

    Quantity Surveyors develop project budgets and schedules and make sure they’re on track. They also ensure projects run according to health and safety principles, which is important for ensuring that the projects operate legally and without injuries. In addition, Quantity Surveyors help clients manage their cash flow effectively. They help them keep their costs low without compromising on project quality or workplace safety. They also help clients know projected construction timelines so they can plan their finances and contingencies better.

     

    Quantity Surveyor skills and qualifications

    Quantity Surveyors use technical and soft skills to help clients receive the best value in their construction projects. They are systematic, organised and have a meticulous work ethic for interpreting architectural drawings and construction plans and making accurate calculations. Construction firms typically hire Quantity Surveyors with the following skills:

    • Verbal and written communication, including active listening for determining client needs, communicating them to the construction crew and preparing reports
    • Mathematics for calculating material quantities and construction costs
    • Customer service for client satisfaction
    • Analytical thinking and problem-solving
    • Understanding of engineering science, construction and technology
    • Understanding of current building, health and safety regulations
    • Computer literacy and confidence using office and electronic project management programs

     

    Quantity Surveyor experience requirements

    Many employers prefer Quantity Surveyors with at least three years of experience in a similar role. However, people can become Quantity Surveyors without this experience. Working in similar positions, such as Assistant Quantity Surveyor, Surveying Technician or Surveying Assistant can equip candidates with many transferrable skills. Some employers also consider skilled people who’ve worked in construction or property maintenance.

     

    Quantity Surveyor education and training requirements

    Most Quantity Surveyors have a Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) offers a postgraduate conversion course that can help interested applicants get the qualifications they need. Degrees in construction, structural engineering and civil engineering are also valuable. People can even take the conversion course after completing a degree in maths, geography, land studies or economics. Candidates interested in quantity surveying who haven’t taken their A levels could get a surveying technician advanced apprenticeship or construction quantity surveyor degree apprenticeship instead.

     

    Quantity Surveyor salary expectations

    According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Quantity Surveyor is £46,290 per year. Salaries may vary depending on experience, education, location and employer.

     

    Job description samples for similar positions

    If a Quantity Surveyor job description does not suit your needs, you can consider the following samples for similar positions:

     

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    Quantity Surveyor job description FAQs

     

    What is the difference between a Quantity Surveyor and a Building Surveyor?

    Quantity Surveyors oversee the financial aspects of construction. Their advice makes sure new construction projects are of good value for money for their clients. Building Surveyors provide technical advice about construction projects instead. They may work with new projects, but they usually assess existing structures, such as heritage buildings.

     

    What qualities do successful Quantity Surveyors have?

    Quantity Surveyors are logical people who pay attention to the details. Their thorough nature helps them identify cost savings for their clients. They can also recognise potentially expensive challenges on a construction site and solve them for the best financial outcomes. They are personable people who are comfortable talking to a range of clients and construction workers. They work well to deadlines and have good initiative and self-motivation, which helps them work efficiently on their own.

     

    What should you look for in a Quantity Surveyor CV?

    Try to find qualifications such as Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying or bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with an apprenticeship or industry experience in a Quantity Surveyor role. Check for candidates who are members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). As these candidates have passed through the Assessment of Professional Competence program, they are usually well qualified for your position. For experienced candidates, you can look for any specialisations such as funding, facilities management or subcontracting.

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