Chief Quantity Surveyor – Engineering Contracts

About the role

The Chief Quantity Surveyor will lead the commercial and contractual management of engineering contracts, ensuring projects stay within approved budgets while delivering value through whole‑life cost principles. You will guide senior stakeholders on legal, contractual and cost‑planning matters and drive continuous improvement across tendering and contract administration processes.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and update cost‑planning strategies, estimates and whole‑life value analyses for engineering contracts.
• Advise management on legal and contractual issues, define evaluation approaches and make award recommendations.
• Interview, select and mentor Consultant QS/Senior QS personnel and validate their performance.
• Manage day‑to‑day commercial management, contract administration and financial control to keep projects within budget.
• Prepare, evaluate and negotiate tenders; produce evaluation reports and recommend award decisions.
• Review BOQs, contract conditions and advise consultants on tender submissions.
• Issue tender notices, award letters and compile contract documents for in‑house projects.
• Approve interim payment certificates, final statements and manage variation valuations and contractual claims.
• Review bank guarantee releases and financial payment requests for contractual compliance.
• Prepare quantum analysis reports, draft routine contractual correspondence and resolve commercial issues with internal departments.
• Evaluate supplier performance, recommend corrective actions and participate in project‑receipt committees.
• Conduct value‑engineering and life‑cycle cost analyses to support material and design decisions.

Required profile

• Minimum 6 years (72 months) of experience in quantity surveying, contract administration or cost engineering within the construction sector.
• Strong knowledge of engineering contracts, contract law and commercial dispute resolution.
• Proven ability to lead QS teams, mentor senior staff and manage multi‑disciplinary stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical skills with a focus on cost control, value engineering and life‑cycle cost analysis.

Required skills

• Market Research
• Dispute Resolution
• Change Orders and Claims Administration
• Project Management
• Tendering Processes
• Cost Engineering
• Contract Law
• Quantity Surveying
• Financial Control
• Contract Administration