SEO Quantity Surveyor - Job description and Role Criteria

Positions being offered

We have vacancies for two Chartered Quantity Surveyors who hold the RICS designation. The successful candidates will be located at one of our main Hubs Swansea, Cardiff, Birmingham or London. Please note that the Swansea location is scheduled to relocate to Cardiff in 2020/21. The specific date of that relocation is not confirmed as yet. Other locations that may be considered in exceptional circumstances are Newcastle, Leeds and Liverpool.

What We Do?

The Built Environment and Minerals Surveyors Team carry out work for a variety of local and national Government Departments. Our Quantity Surveyors provide professional cost advice which; includes robust cost advice to support cost based valuations for rating; specialist construction costs guidance for capital taxation (such as capital allowances, Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax); independent cost advice for development appraisals; beacon construction costs to support asset valuations and reinstatement cost for insurance purposes.

Part of role is to act as expert witness at Valuation Tribunal and other courts, when necessary, on quantity surveying issues. Whilst experience of acting as an expert witness is desirable it is not essential as bespoke internal training will be provided as necessary.

What we are looking for in you?

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our team who have the drive and the ability to work alone and as part of a team. We are not looking for individuals who necessarily have wide experience in all of the work we undertake but experience some of work areas listed above would be advantageous.

We are seeking candidates who have rounded experience and knowledge of construction economics and the technical aspects of building construction. This needs to be matched with good planning, organisational and analytical skills. Successful candidates must be Chartered Quantity Surveyors, ideally with two years post qualification experience and have the ability to demonstrate through a personal statement and at interview they have the relevant depth of experience to meet the role criteria below.

Successful candidates will be required to travel to meet business needs and this will also require occasional overnight stays to meet business need.

We are seeking individuals who are enthusiastic, possess excellent communication skills and enjoy working within a team-focused approach to delivering results.

What will the Role Involve?

The successful candidates reporting to a technical leader, who will supervise and support you, will be expected to carry out casework for a variety of clients, to a good standard and timeliness, and liaise with customers to ensure that customers are satisfied with the services provided.

Role Criteria

• Full RICS membership and hold the designation Chartered Quantity Surveyor
• Two years post qualification experience is desirable but not essential.
• In-depth technical expertise including full knowledge and understanding of the field of quantity surveying. Able to apply that knowledge to make sound and balanced judgements.
• Ability to interpret and apply general legislation as it impacts on their field of expertise.
• Demonstrates the application of sound technical knowledge and cost analysis methodology together with an understanding of the commercial and economic environment to inform decision making.
• Understands and complies with statutory and non-statutory requirements arising from legislation, case law, codes of practice and professional standards.
• To proactively keep technical knowledge up-to-date and use it to provide advice and guidance to their teams and wider Agency network.
• Supporting technical lead in exercising strong stakeholder management and influencing skills - to use high levels of negotiating, consulting and interpersonal skills to achieve co-operation over mutually acceptable solutions
• Good report writing and presentation skills
• Ability to act as expert witness, when required, in Valuation Tribunals and other courts.
• A good understanding of when to employ escalation procedures for referral to technical lead for drafting
• Awareness of the sensitive issues when thinking through the impact of outcomes.
• The ability to identify potential issues for the future and propose solutions ahead of issues becoming problems.
• The willingness to learn - the VOA is committed to 5 days CPD per annum and will support your development in the role with 1-2-1 hand on training