Quantity Surveyor

A Quantity Surveyor (QS) is a professional working within the construction industry concerned with building costs.

The profession is one that provides a qualification gained following formal education, specific training and experience that provides a general set of skills that are then applied to a diverse variety of problems^. Predominantly these relate to costs and contracts on construction projects.

The Quantity Surveyor usually reports to Project Manager or Project Director and provides advice in the decision-making process throughout the management of a project from initial inception to final completion. The Quantity Surveyor handles estimating and cost control, the tendering process and, after contract award, the commercial interface. Quantity Surveyors should be able to carry out

•  Estimating and measurement of construction works prior to tender,
•  Producing the bill of quantities;
•  Produce tender documentation and manage the tender process; 
• Clarify and evaluate tenders; 
• Manage the resultant contract through monthly valuations, variations control, contract administration and assessment of claims.

Quantity Surveyors are also trained in techniques of cost control. Those Quantity Surveyors who emphasise the cost discipline often use the term "Construction Cost Consultant". They ensure that projects are designed and constructed in such a manner as to secure value for money, cost certainty and programme dates.

Others emphasis contracts management. Trained to draft, interpret and administer complex contracts, those Quantity Surveyors who operate in the broader field of project management often adopt other titles such as "Contracts manager" or "Construction surveyor".
A number of Quantity Surveyors work in procurement in the oil & gas industry, process and power industries, and civil engineering. Their preferred title, in countries where the Quantity Surveyor profession is less known, is "Contracts engineer".
Some Quantity Surveyors specialize in project management and running multi-disciplinary projects, the Quantity Surveyor background being a good foundation for understanding the complexities of modern large-scale projects.