A quantity surveyor (QS) is a construction professional concerned with the cost, procurement and contractual management of building and civil engineering projects.
Quantity surveyors work either client side, sometimes as a professional quantity surveyor (PQS) or cost consultant, or contractor side, where the role is often called contractor’s QS or commercial manager. Client side, the QS advises on budgets, prepares cost plans and tender documents, evaluates tenders, values work and agrees the final account. Contractor side, the QS prices or supports tenders, places and manages subcontracts, submits applications for payment, prepares cost value reconciliations and manages change and claims. Many quantity surveyors are chartered members of RICS (MRICS). Core skills include:
- measurement and estimating
- knowledge of standard contracts, especially JCT and NEC
- negotiation, cost reporting and commercial judgement
Related terms: quantity surveying, cost consultant, commercial manager, RICS.
