| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Construction and Projects |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Contracts and QS Manager |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 2 to 6 years in quantity surveying or billing |
Quantity Surveyor job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Quantity Surveyor
Department: Construction and Projects
Reports to: Contracts and QS Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Quantity Surveyor measures and values construction work so the project is billed and paid correctly. They take off quantities from drawings, prepare and update the bill of quantities, measure work done on site, and value it against agreed rates. They support tendering, contractor billing and cost control under the contracts manager. A good Quantity Surveyor keeps measurements accurate and defensible, values work fairly against the contract, catches over-claims and wastage, and gives the project a reliable picture of quantities and cost.
Key responsibilities
- Take off quantities from drawings and prepare the bill of quantities for the project works.
- Measure work executed on site jointly with contractors and record it accurately.
- Value measured work against agreed rates and prepare the basis for billing.
- Check contractor bills against measurement and the contract before certification.
- Prepare rate analysis for new items and non-tendered work.
- Reconcile material issued against work done and identify wastage or excess.
- Support tendering with quantities, rate comparisons and technical rate checks for the team.
- Track quantities executed against the budget and flag variances early.
- Maintain measurement books, records and supporting drawings for audit.
- Assist in assessing variations and extra items with quantities and rates.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or diploma in civil engineering
- Knowledge of quantity surveying and measurement
- A quantity surveying course is an advantage
- 2 to 6 years in quantity surveying or billing
KRAs and KPIs for a Quantity Surveyor
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Measurement accuracy | Measurements accurate and defensible with billing disputes minimised |
| Billing support | Contractor bills checked against measurement within the billing cycle |
| Quantity control | Executed quantities tracked against budget with variances flagged early |
| Reconciliation | Material reconciliation done with wastage and excess recovered |
| Rate analysis | Rate analysis for new items prepared correctly and on time |
| Records | Measurement books and records kept complete and audit-ready |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: AutoCAD, MS Excel, BOQ and estimation software, Measurement books, ERP for billing.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Contracts and QS Manager, Senior Quantity Surveyor, Commercial Manager
Interview questions for a Quantity Surveyor
- How do you take off quantities for a reinforced concrete slab from drawings?
- How do you measure and value work jointly with a contractor on site?
- How do you check a contractor bill against your measurements?
- How do you prepare a rate analysis for a non-tendered item?
- How do you reconcile material issued against the work actually done?
- How do you keep measurements defensible when a contractor disputes them?
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What does a Quantity Surveyor do?
A Quantity Surveyor measures and values construction work so a project is billed and paid correctly. They take off quantities from drawings, prepare the bill of quantities, measure work on site, and value it against agreed rates. They check contractor bills, prepare rate analysis, reconcile materials, and keep accurate measurement records for cost control and audit.
What is the difference between a Quantity Surveyor and a Billing Engineer?
The roles overlap. A Quantity Surveyor focuses on measuring and valuing work and controlling quantities and cost across the contract. A Billing Engineer focuses on preparing the running account bills from those measurements. On many sites the same person does both, but the surveyor role is broader in measurement and cost control.
What qualifications does a Quantity Surveyor need?
A bachelor's degree or diploma in civil engineering with knowledge of quantity surveying and measurement is the usual base, and a dedicated quantity surveying course is an advantage. Employers value accurate take-off and measurement, sound rate analysis, careful bill checking, and the ability to defend measurements when a contractor disputes them.