Quantity Surveying & Commercial Assistant

PART-TIME QUANTITY SURVEYING & COMMERCIAL ASSISTANT – UK CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY

Hours: 20 hours per week
Location: Remote
Salary: Up to USD $500 per month (Dependent on Experience)
Performance Reviews: Weekly check-ins and formal monthly reviews
Probation: Initial 3-month probation, followed by a further development/probation period through to a final 6-month review
Long-Term Opportunity: Potential for increased responsibility, salary, hours and progression

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are a growing UK-based construction and property consultancy looking for a capable, organised and commercially minded Quantity Surveying & Commercial Assistant to work directly with the Technical Director.

This is not a standard Virtual Assistant role.

The position will primarily support Quantity Surveying, commercial management and consultancy work, while also helping with tenders, fee proposals, lead tracking, business development and internal systems.

We are looking for someone who can become a long-term member of the business and gradually take ownership of repeatable commercial and administrative workstreams.

The role will start at 20 hours per week.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Quantity Surveying & Commercial Support

– Prepare and update construction cost models
– Assist with project cashflows and forecasts
– Update cost reports and commercial trackers
– Review and organise contractor cost information
– Assist with valuations and variation/change registers
– Carry out cost benchmarking and rate research
– Prepare Excel-based commercial analysis
– Review supporting information and identify missing information
– Prepare first drafts of commercial reports for senior review
– Support tender analysis and procurement activities

Consultancy & Bid Support

– Prepare first drafts of fee proposals
– Review tender documents and extract submission requirements
– Prepare tender compliance checklists
– Track tender opportunities and submission deadlines
– Compile tender submissions
– Maintain project case studies and staff CV information
– Research potential clients and opportunities
– Follow up business development leads
– Assist with professional emails and correspondence

Systems & Business Improvement

– Improve Excel templates
– Develop standard commercial reporting templates
– Document repeatable processes
– Build checklists and procedures
– Maintain project and tender databases
– Organise company information for efficient reuse
– Use technology and AI tools, including ChatGPT, to improve productivity and quality

When project workloads are quieter, you may also assist with structured research, lead generation and property-related commercial analysis.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

You do not need to know everything on Day 1.

However, you should have a good foundation in construction and be comfortable working with numbers, commercial information and detailed documents.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

- Degree, qualification or relevant experience in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Civil Engineering or a related construction discipline.
- Experience with construction costs, estimating, quantity surveying or commercial management.
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
- Ability to read drawings, specifications and construction information.
- Good numerical and analytical ability.
- Very good written and spoken English.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
- Comfortable researching information independently.
- Willing to learn UK construction processes and terminology.
- Comfortable receiving feedback and having work reviewed.
- Reliable internet connection and suitable computer for remote working.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

Experience in any of the following would be an advantage:

– UK Quantity Surveying
– UK construction consultancy
– JCT or NEC contracts
– Cost planning
– Bills of Quantities
– Schedules of works
– Interim valuations
– Variations and change management
– Cost reporting
– Tender analysis
– Procurement
– Final accounts
– Bluebeam
– CostX
– Planswift
– BCIS
– Public-sector construction projects
– Bid or tender preparation

Previous UK experience is desirable but not essential if you have a strong technical foundation and are willing to learn.

THE PERSON WE WANT

Technical ability is important, but attitude is equally important.

We are particularly interested in someone who:

– Takes ownership of tasks
– Asks sensible questions
– Notices when information does not look correct
– Can turn an unclear task into an organised process
– Is comfortable learning new software and systems
– Looks for ways to improve how work is completed
– Understands the importance of accuracy and confidentiality
– Wants to develop professionally rather than simply complete assigned tasks

You will work closely with a Chartered Quantity Surveyor who will initially review and quality-assure your technical outputs.

As your experience develops, you will be given increasing responsibility and ownership of workstreams.

WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

This is a 20-hour-per-week part-time remote position.

There will be flexibility in when work is completed. A work schedule will be agreed but you need to be available at least 4 out of 5 days of the week during the UK working day.

We value accuracy, reliability and output more than being permanently online.

The starting salary is up to USD $500 per month.

REVIEWS, PROBATION & PROGRESSION

- Weekly check-ins will be used to discuss workload, priorities, questions and immediate feedback.
- Formal monthly performance reviews will cover quality, reliability, development areas and increasing responsibility.
- The role will begin with an initial 3-month probation period.
- At the 3-month point, performance, salary, responsibilities and working arrangements will be formally reviewed.
- Subject to satisfactory performance, the role will continue into a further development/probation period.
- A final probation review will take place at the 6-month point.
- Subject to successful completion of probation, the intention is to move the successful candidate into a more established long-term role within the business.

For the right person, there is potential for:

– Increased salary
– Increased hours
– Greater ownership of projects and workstreams
– Progression into a Quantity Surveyor / Senior Quantity Surveyor position
– Helping train future team members
– Involvement across our wider construction and property businesses

We are looking for someone interested in building a long-term working relationship, not just a short-term freelance assignment.

HOW TO APPLY

Please provide the following:

Your CV or resume.
A short introduction explaining why this role interests you.
A video introduction of yourself.
A brief summary of your Quantity Surveying, estimating or commercial construction experience.
Your level of experience with Microsoft Excel.
Any experience you have working on UK, Australian, New Zealand or similar construction projects.
Details of any Quantity Surveying or estimating software you have used.

Please begin your application with the words:

Commercial QS

This helps us identify applicants who have read the full job description.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete a short practical exercise before interview.

Please do not worry if you do not meet every desirable requirement. We are looking for a strong combination of technical potential, analytical ability, reliability and willingness to learn.