Quantity Surveyor at Orkidstudio

Job description

Are you a skilled manager who is talented in quantity surveying? Are you motivated by working in a dynamic startup environment? Do you have a passion for contributing to community empowerment through your work? Orkidstudio wants YOU.

Orkidstudio is looking to grow its team by bringing on a Quantity Surveyor to create, enhance and ensure successful ongoing cost management for Orkidstudio’s full scope of projects. The successful applicant will be able to work within a dynamic and highly challenging startup environment alongside a talented and committed team driven by social impact and creating high quality, affordable and healthy buildings.

Detailed Job Description:

The Quantity Surveyor shall work closely with the senior management team, advising and supporting both the design team and construction team in the cost management aspects of our projects. The Quantity Surveyor will be responsible for managing the Clerk of Works, Junior Quantity Surveyor and working closely with the Finance team. The Quantity Surveyor will take responsibility for producing and managing the construction budgets by producing accurate bills of quantities in the design stage and overseeing the valuations and final accounts on our site projects.

Competency:

• The ideal candidate will have experience as a quantity surveyor, preferably working with a main contractor within the construction industry;
• Have a detailed knowledge and expertise in taking off, producing bill of quantities, value engineering at design stage, negotiating contract sums, tendering, procurement, management of budgets and forecasts, contract administration, change management, valuations and final accounting;
• Trained in commonly used industry software (MS Office – mandatory, and Quickbooks Online- non-essential) and an aptitude for learning new software;
• Strong leadership skills and confidence creating and implementing cost management systems and ensuring compliance and successful operation across our projects;
• Key managerial skills, developing and motivating teams of all levels;
• Have a problem-solving, strategic and entrepreneurial mindset, able to perform at a high level with complex challenges at pace;

Key Responsibilites:

• Reviewing contracts between us and our clients and the contracts with the respective supply chain;
• Ensuring accounts and book keeping on site are kept to a suitable standard for our finance team;
• Robust cost management throughout the design stages, including cost estimates, bill of quantities and reporting actuals to our finance team;
• Working closely with the design team to value engineer any elements of the design that are over budget.
• Working closely with the construction team to offer advice on the supply chain and undertake tender analysis, process valuations for payment and track actual quantities and budgets against progress;
• Monthly/ Quarterly/ Annual reports on project expenditure to our CFO to show actual performance against planned performance;
• From time to time, providing support on fee/ bid preparation and business/project plans for prospective clients;
• Bridging the gap between Construction Teams and the Finance Team is properly managed so that actual costs are reflective and in line with the construction budgets;
• Advise the construction team on administering the contract and processing variations;
• Be competent in a client facing role, reviewing contracts, negotiating budgets or variations and resolving any disputes;
• Grow and develop the more junior cost management staff at Orkidstudio.

Social Impact:

Value Orkidstudio’s mission and demonstrate commitment to ensuring social impact goals are met across the organisation;
Support to develop innovative and rigorous business for specific social impact ventures or projects being undertaken by Orkidstudio, such as our Women in Construction training program;

Desired Candidate Profile:

• Minimum 6 years’ experience, in quantity surveying or related degree. Experience in a similar level position (Quantity Surveyor within a Main Contractor) will be considered a bonus, as will professional experience in Kenya/ Africa and the construction industry.
• Degree qualified with a strong academic track record.
• Professionally qualified accountant (e.g. RICS or IKQS) and registered with a relevant professional board or body a plus (non-essential).
• Passionate about developing communities and social impact.
• Entrepreneurial, independent and proactive worker, able to perform across several projects, to an exceptionally high standard under pressure.

Practical Details

Location: Nairobi, Kenya. Flexible to travel and work across East Africa.
Salary: Competitive
Benefits: Private Health Insurance (all staff) & Annual Flight Home (International staff only)
Full-time permanent contract, with 6 months probation
21 days annual leave plus Kenyan statutory holidays