The posting
Role Overview:
RLB is currently recruiting an Associate Quantity Surveyor (Pre-Contract Services) to join our team in Riyadh, KSA. You will be responsible for delivering high-quality cost management and commercial consultancy services throughout the pre-construction phase of projects. The role supports the development of robust cost plans, estimates, value engineering, cost optimization, procurement strategies, and tender documentation, ensuring clients receive accurate cost advice and value-driven solutions.
The Associate Quantity Surveyor will manage project deliverables, mentor junior team members, contribute to business growth initiatives, and maintain strong client relationships while ensuring compliance with RLB standards and procedures.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leadership & Team Management Lead the delivery of pre-contract quantity surveying and cost management services across multiple projects. Manage and mentor Senior Quantity Surveyors, Quantity Surveyors, and Graduate Quantity Surveyors. Review key deliverables and ensure compliance with RLB standards, methodologies, and quality requirements. Support resource planning and promote technical excellence across project teams.
- Client & Stakeholder Management Act as a key client contact, building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and project stakeholders. Provide strategic cost and commercial advice throughout the design and procurement stages. Lead project meetings, presentations, and workshops, ensuring effective communication and client satisfaction.
- Cost Management & Commercial Advisory Oversee the preparation and review of cost plans, estimates, benchmarking studies, and budget assessments. Lead value engineering and cost optimisation initiatives to support client objectives. Advise clients on project affordability, cost risks, and budget management strategies. Ensure consistency and quality of cost management outputs across assigned projects.
- Procurement & Tendering Advise on procurement strategies and contract approaches. Lead the preparation and review of tender documentation and commercial requirements. Oversee tender evaluations, commercial assessments, and procurement recommendations.
- Commercial Risk Management Identify and manage commercial and cost-related risks throughout project development. Provide advice on market conditions, inflation, escalation, and cost certainty measures. Support the development and implementation of risk mitigation strategies.
- Business Development Support the preparation of proposals, fee submissions, and client presentations. Contribute to the development of existing client relationships and the pursuit of new opportunities. Represent RLB in client engagements and industry-facing activities.
- Financial & Operational Performance Monitor project performance against scope, programme, budget, and quality objectives. Support the commercial success and profitability of assigned commissions. Contribute to continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives.
Person Specification:
The ideal candidate will demonstrate a positive proactive approach to the role, and will be committed to delivering customer service excellence, with good commercial results.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Economics, Commercial Management, or a related discipline.
- Professional membership of MRICS or equivalent professional accreditation.
Experience
- Minimum 10 years' post-degree experience in quantity surveying and cost management within a consultancy environment.
- Demonstrable experience delivering pre-contract cost management services on complex developments.
- Experience across sectors such as mixed-use, residential, hospitality, commercial, healthcare, education, or infrastructure projects.
- Experience within Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC is desirable.
- Experience managing multiple stakeholders across multidisciplinary project teams.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong cost planning, estimating, procurement, and commercial advisory expertise.
- Excellent client-facing presence with proven relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Exceptional communication skills in both written and spoken English, with the ability to confidently present, influence, and advise clients and project teams.
- Strong negotiation, influencing, and conflict-resolution capabilities.
- IT proficient, with the ability to analyse, manage, and present cost data using industry-standard cost management software, particularly RLB's Ross 5D.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a high level of commercial awareness and attention to detail.
- Proven ability to lead project teams, mentor junior team members, and foster a collaborative working environment.
- Sound professional judgement and decision-making capability in complex commercial and project environments.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outputs within a fast-paced project environment.
- A collaborative team player who is outgoing, flexible, enthusiastic, and ambitious.
Desirable
- Experience on large-scale international projects.
- Middle East project experience.
- Familiarity with RLB's Ross 5D cost management platform or similar cost management systems.
Company Overview:
With 200 KSA staff and 4,500 worldwide, Rider Levett Bucknall has a truly global reach, and with such scope can offer a local presence to its clients almost without exception. We are committed to our core services and pride ourselves on our dedication to customer care and leading-edge service provision.
We are an award winning, leading independent firm providing our clients with some of the most comprehensive and forward-thinking advice available.
We offer a range of complementary quantity surveying, project management, building surveying and advisory services from conception, through design and construction and operational performance of facilities to their eventual disposal or reuse.
Our clients have rapid access to the latest industry intelligence and innovations, which serve to enhance value and mitigate risk. We provide expert management of the relationship between value, time and cost from inception to completion. We do this through our global and local team of experts, who possess a passion for both core services and innovation.
We are committed to developing new services and techniques aimed at enhancing our clients' businesses in the long term.
Please note that only candidates who meet the above requirements will be considered for this role. We appreciate your interest in Rider Levett Bucknall and wish you the best of luck in your job search.
