Medway Council Partnership

A Quantity Surveyor (QS) is a professional in the construction industry who specializes in construction costs and contracts. They are responsible for managing all aspects of the contractual and financial side of construction projects, including conducting financial feasibility studies, cost estimation, cost planning and management, analyzing terms and conditions in the contract, predicting potential risks in the project, forecasting the costs of different materials needed for the project, preparing tender documents, contracts, budgets and other documentation, taking note of changes made and adjusting the budget accordingly, tender management including preparation of bills of quantities, contract conditions and assembly of tender documents, contract management and contractual advice, valuation of construction work, claims and dispute management, lifecycle costing analysis, and reinstatement cost assessment for insurance purposes. A key part of the role will be to liaise with a range of other teams working on the project, helping it to stay on track.

To work as a quantity surveyor, you will usually need a degree in quantity surveying or commercial management accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). If your undergraduate degree is in a different subject, you can take a RICS-accredited postgraduate conversion course.

The cost consultant provides estimates and advice regarding the cost of construction works. The cost consultant's role might include: Helping determine the client's requirements and undertaking feasibility studies. Benchmarking requirements against similar projects. Assessing and comparing options.