Criterion Capital
Quantity Surveyor - Preconstruction
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Criterion Capital is seeking a dynamic and experienced Pre-Construction Quantity Surveyor to join our in-house contracting team and play a key role in preparing development projects for construction.
Working across office-to-hotel conversions, PRS and mixed-use residential developments, and private residential refurbishments, you will provide commercial and cost leadership throughout pre-construction, working closely with the development, design, construction, asset management, and operations teams.
This is a hands-on role for someone who takes ownership, challenges assumptions, and drives projects forward, ensuring projects are commercially robust, appropriately costed, and ready for successful delivery.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead cost planning and commercial management throughout pre-construction, including feasibility estimates, budgets, cost plans, and forecasts.
- Undertake cost benchmarking, elemental analysis, and market testing to support development and investment decisions.
- Review design information and identify cost implications, commercial risks, value engineering, and cost optimization opportunities.
- Develop procurement strategies, package scopes, tender documentation, pricing schedules, and Bills of Quantities.
- Lead tendering activities, including tender analysis, commercial recommendations, and subcontractor/supplier negotiations.
- Maintain strong control of scope, cost, procurement, and commercial risk, including assumptions, exclusions, provisional sums, inflation, and market conditions.
- Challenge consultants, designers, and contractors on cost, buildability, and value, ensuring decisions remain aligned with project objectives.
- Maintain accurate cost plans, procurement trackers, and commercial records, providing clear reporting to senior management.
- Work collaboratively across development, design, construction, asset management, and operations teams.
- Support the transition into Construction, ensuring budgets, procurement information, package values, and commercial risks are clearly handed over.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
About You
- Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Commercial Management, or a related discipline.
- 3+ years' Quantity Surveying experience, with strong pre-construction, estimating, cost planning, or commercial experience.
- Experience within a developer, main contractor, consultancy, or in-house contracting environment.
- Proven experience in cost planning, tender analysis, procurement, value engineering, and negotiation.
- Existing-building, refurbishment, hotel, residential, or PRS experience would be advantageous.
- Strong understanding of construction costs, procurement, design development, buildability, and the UK subcontractor market.
- Strong commercial, analytical, numerical, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with confidence to challenge assumptions and drive solutions.
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel and construction/commercial software such as Procore.
- RICS qualification or progress towards chartership would be advantageous.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
The Person
We are looking for a hands-on commercial professional who takes ownership and is accountable for outcomes.
You will:
- Challenge incomplete or unrealistic cost information and drive practical solutions.
- Identify commercial risks early and resolve issues before they impact projects.
- Maintain firm control of cost, scope, procurement, and risk.
- Understand the impact of design decisions on cost, programme, and buildability.
- Confidently challenge consultants, contractors, and design teams.
- Identify opportunities to save time and cost without compromising quality or project objectives.
- Drive actions to closure and maintain accountability across project teams.
- Operate effectively across development, design, construction, asset management, and operations.
Ultimately, you will ensure projects reach Construction with clear budgets, appropriate procurement strategies, robust cost information, and commercial risks identified and managed.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location