The Emergence of the Quantity Surveyor (QS) Role in Canada

Major projects across buildings and infrastructure rarely move forward without a dedicated commercial team. In recent years, we’re seeing more and more Quantity Surveyors being hired now on buildings projects in Canada. Given the increasing importance of “sweating the petty stuff” at site management level and lessons learned from previous projects, this role helps prevent small issues growing into larger problems that threaten project productivity and profitability.

Jump ahead to:

• The Rising Importance of Quantity Surveyors in Canada
• What does a Quantity Surveyor do?
• Career Pathways for Quantity Surveyor in Canada
• MRICS / CIQS designation

Rising Importance of Quantity Surveyors in Canada

We’ve seen the Canadian construction industry reluctantly admit that there is value in the Quantity Surveyor role. But, initially, some Canadian contractors tried to disguise the role under a Risk Manager or load the commercial workload on the Project Manager (Contracts) which is ultimately the exact same thing. There were also some general contractors that have not been exposed to working with a Quantity Surveyor, and these often did not even realise the benefits of hiring one as a resource for their project.

While Canadians believe they are more collaborative, it’s not always the case. The inability to deal with smaller problems at the time they crop up or when there just isnt enough time or resources, can result in unhealthy conflict. Culturally Canadians tend to shy from hard conversation so healthy conflict from week-to-week and month-to-month can greatly benefit the long term success of the project.

In Canada, traditionally a Quantity Surveyor focused on buildings projects would have to choose between a career in estimating or a Project Manager career path depending on their career goals (pre-construction or project delivery). In recent years, we’ve seen more Canadian contractors join their global counterparts in becoming aware of the value that a Quantity Surveyor can add and develop a strong interest in having their skillset applied to each project / pursuit.

Quantity Surveying is not an educational pathway in Canada but university degrees in quantity surveying remain popular internationally, especially in Ireland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Nigeria, South Africa and India.

The Quantity Surveyor’s Place in a Commercial Team

The commercial team should have strong input to the Project Management team given their expertise on risks to project profitability. A strong commercial team for a project can be comprised of the following but it all varies depending on project size, complexity and contract type:

• Commercial Director
• Commercial Managers (pre and post contract roles focusing on prime or subcontracts)
• Contracts Manager (pre and post contract roles focusing on prime or subcontracts)
• Quantity Surveyor (Often based on site. Pre and post contract roles focusing on prime or subcontracts)

Outpost Recruitment specialize in placing commercial talent so register with us if you would like to connect around opportunities in Canada.

What does a Quantity Surveyor do?

The role of a Quantity Surveyor (QS) is quite broad and benefits any construction project because they manage and control construction project costs, ensuring projects stay within budget and maximize value for money whether it be in the pre-construction or post contract phase. They offer expertise in cost estimation, tender analysis, bidder compliance and selection, contract administration, and cost and progress management throughout the project lifecycle, helping to avoid costly mistakes and ensure projects are completed effectively.

A Quantity Surveyor (QS) can have on-site and off-site activities depending on whether they manage subcontractors or prime contract. They will have a strong understanding of project management, site management, design management and scheduling issues, especially around how they relate to risk.

Here’s a more detailed look at the advantages:

1. Accurate Cost Estimation and Management:

• A Quantity Surveyor provides detailed cost estimates from project inception, helping clients determine affordability and make informed decisions as the project moves through the design phase. Yes, engineers can also estimate but their education if focus
• They manage budgets throughout the project, providing real-time cost information and identifying potential issues.
• This helps prevent cost overruns and ensures the project stays within the allocated budget.

2. Contract Administration and Risk Management:

• Quantity Surveyor’s (QS) handle contract documentation, ensuring fair and competitive tenders.
• They monitor contracts, manage variations, and resolve disputes, minimizing potential risks.
• Their expertise helps clients avoid costly contractual issues and ensures projects are completed on time and within budget.
• A QS will help identify risks and create strategies to mitigate them throughout pursuit stage, to preconstruction, to project delivery

3. Value Engineering and Cost Reduction:

• Quantity Surveyor’s (QS) will identify opportunities to reduce costs while maintaining project quality. A strong QS will have a strong sense of market prices and events allowing them the capability to reduce construction cost through savvy negotiation with suppliers and subcontractors
• They advise on material selection, construction methods, and alternative designs to optimize cost-effectiveness.
• This can lead to significant cost savings and improve the overall project value.

4. Peace of Mind and Expertise:

• Quantity Surveyor’s (QS) act as an independent advisor, providing expert guidance and support throughout the project.
• They ensure projects are completed according to budget and deliver the desired outcomes.
• Their knowledge and experience provide peace of mind for clients, knowing their projects are in experienced hands.

In essence, a Quantity Surveyor’s (QS) acts as a cost strategist and a financial advisor for construction projects, ensuring they are completed efficiently, effectively, and within budget.

Career Paths for a Quantity Surveyor in Canada

Although the Quantity Surveyor title is not that common across Canada, they are still highly sought after due their diverse range of skills.

As a Quantity Surveyor in Canada there are a number of options on offer to ensure a highly successful career:

Join a PQS firm

You have various options whether its be a Cost Consultant (preconstruction), where you will focus more on budget estimations, collaborating with architects and engineers to prepare tender documents or a Project Loan Monitoring Consultant (Post Contract) where you will monitor and report the progress of project construction closely on behalf of the lender (bank), site visits tend to be monthly primarily for valuations and progress meetings.

For more senior Quantity Surveyors, the most likely titles include Senior Cost Consultant, Associate Director or Director. Most Canadian PQS firms tend to split the QS role into pre-construction and post contract roles, so a Quantity Surveyor likely has to make a decision on their preference.

A private quantity surveyor or PQS consultant works directly for or on behalf of the client.

Join a General Contractor or Subcontractor

Depending on your preference, you will either work in the estimating / project pursuits department (pre-construction) as Estimator, Commercial Manager or subcontracts manager, or project coordination / project management (post contract positions)

A contractor’s quantity surveyor represents the construction firm’s interests. You’ll be a hands-on site presence managing subcontractors and dealing with multiple specialists.

Regardless of which role you take, both parties will eventually negotiate and settle the final account together.

Join a Construction Claims / Forensics Consultancy

As a Quantity Surveyor with construction claims management experience or an interest in construction claims, another option would be to focus solely in this area. Most construction projects face challenges and so there is always opportunity to get involved with project forensics and examine where things went wrong, to put together a claim.

MRICS / CIQS designation

RICS – Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is a global designation for Chartered Surveyors meaning MRICS (Member of RICS) is the gold standard globally. CIQS is the Canadian specific designation but tends to hold more importance in the consulting environment. Both MRICS and CIQS designations are recognized and sought by Canadian PQS Consultancies. If you hold the MRICS designation, you automatically gain the CIQS designation.

Required steps for CIQS Chartership

• Relevant experience + RICS-accredited degree
• 5 years of experience + any bachelor’s degree
• 10 years of senior-level experience

Salary Levels for Quantity Surveyor Roles

Graduate / Junior: $60-80k
Intermediate QS: $80-120k
Senior QS: $100-130k
Contracts Manager $120-$160k
Commercial Manager: $140-$200k
Commercial Director: $200-300k