Graduate Quantity Surveyor - Cost Planning

AECOM Middle East Ltd; Dubai; On-site; AED 67,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM Middle East Ltd in Dubai invites applications for a Graduate Quantity Surveyor – Cost Planning. This Dubai-based role offers early exposure to cost planning, tender support, and life cycle cost analysis within AECOM's buildings and assets team.

The ADVANCE program builds professional skills through structured learning, project exposure, and mentorship, targeting fresh graduates or final-year students in related fields seeking a career in quantity surveying.

Qualifications

• Recent graduate or final year student in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum GPA of 3.2 and above is required.
• Graduate program adherence and structured learning emphasis.

Responsibilities

• Support quantity surveying staff on pre-contract and post-contract deliverables.
• Develop practical technical knowledge under supervision of senior surveyors.
• Measure quantities for cost plans and related documentation.
• Assist with tender documentation, pricing schedules, and records.
• Support viability studies, early cost estimates, budget reviews, and cost planning.
• Help monitor cost control procedures throughout the project lifecycle.
• Assist with financial input related to claims and variations.
• Prepare, price, and negotiate change orders with stakeholders.
• Analyze tender returns and benchmark costs.
• Maintain cost data libraries and life cycle information.
• Support data management, reporting, and QA procedures.
• Engage in structured learning activities within the ADVANCE program.

Skills

Quantity surveying

Cost planning

Cost estimation

Bills of quantities

Measurement

Tender documentation

Pre-contract

Post-contract

Viability studies

Cost control

Cost reporting

Variation evaluation

Change orders

Claims support

Tender analysis

Market rate testing

Cost data

Life cycle cost

Asset databases

Report formatting

Data management

Quality assurance

Primary research

Graduate development

ADVANCE program

Technical learning

Communication

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Construction Engineering

Civil Engineering

Building assets

Project documentation

Education

Quantity Surveying (QS)

Civil Engineering

Construction Engineering

Job description

Job Snapshot

Role: Graduate Quantity Surveyor - Cost Planning

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Construction

Function: Surveying

Experience: Recent graduate or final year student

Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview

Graduate Quantity Surveyor - Cost Planning in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a Construction opportunity for a recent graduate or final year student who wants to begin a professional career in quantity surveying, cost planning, tender support, cost control, and project commercial services. This graduate role is part of AECOM's ADVANCE program, designed to support the transition from student to professional through structured learning, technical development, project exposure, and supervised work across pre-contract and post-contract deliverables for building assets.

Job Details

Country: United Arab Emirates

City: Dubai

Industry: Construction

Function: Surveying

Salary: 6000-9000

Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer.

Gender: Any

Candidate Nationality: Any

Job Type: Full-time

Role Context

The Graduate Quantity Surveyor - Cost Planning role gives early-career professionals practical exposure to quantity surveying services within AECOM's buildings and assets team. The role supports cost planning, measurement, tender documentation, viability studies, monthly cost reports, change orders, cost data management, and life cycle cost analysis under the supervision of senior project surveyors. Through the ADVANCE graduate program, the successful candidate will develop essential business, personal, technical, and professional skills while contributing to real project deliverables in a multidisciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support quantity surveying staff within the buildings and assets team on pre-contract and post-contract deliverables.
• Work under the supervision of senior project surveyors to develop practical technical knowledge and professional judgement.
• Complete measurement of quantities for input into cost plans, cost estimates, bills of quantities, and related project documentation.
• Assist with the preparation of tender documentation, pricing schedules, measurement records, and supporting commercial information.
• Support viability studies, early cost estimates, budget reviews, and cost planning exercises for building and asset projects.
• Help implement, maintain, and monitor cost control procedures throughout the project lifecycle.
• Assist with providing financial input related to claims, variations, additions, omissions, and commercial adjustments.
• Support the evaluation of variations and incorporate approved changes into monthly cost reports and project cost updates.
• Assist in preparing, pricing, and negotiating change orders with clients, contractors, and project stakeholders.
• Conduct market testing of rates and analyse tender returns to support rates databases, estimates, and commercial benchmarking.
• Help maintain the technical library, including cost data, benchmarks, asset databases, life cycle cost information, and operational cost estimate resources.
• Support report formatting, data management, and quality assurance procedures across core service lines.
• Undertake primary research according to project requirements under supervision.
• Participate in structured learning activities as part of the ADVANCE graduate program.
• Build knowledge of quantity surveying, cost management, tendering, contract administration, and project commercial processes.
• Collaborate with project teams, cost consultants, engineers, architects, and commercial specialists to support integrated project delivery.
• Maintain accurate records, calculations, spreadsheets, research notes, and project files in line with quality procedures.
• Apply strong attention to detail when working with quantities, rates, cost data, tender returns, and project reports.
• Develop communication, teamwork, time management, analytical, and client-facing skills through supervised project work.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of cost planning templates, data processes, reporting standards, and commercial workflows.

Ideal Profile

• Recently graduated or final year student in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Candidates must have graduated within the last 24 months or no later than September 2024 to be eligible for AECOM's Graduate Program.
• Minimum GPA of 3.2 and above is required.
• If holding a Master's Degree, it should have started within 12 months of completing the Bachelor's Degree to meet continuous education requirements.
• Strong motivation to develop technical and professional skills in a multidisciplinary consulting environment.
• Interest in quantity surveying, cost planning, cost estimation, tender documentation, commercial reporting, and construction project delivery.
• Good numerical ability with attention to accuracy in measurements, quantities, rates, and cost data.
• Ability to work under supervision while learning professional standards, commercial procedures, and project delivery methods.
• Excellent communication, teamwork, organisation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage data, format reports, conduct research, and support multiple project tasks.
• Positive attitude toward structured graduate development, feedback, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Professional approach to deadlines, quality assurance, documentation, and project confidentiality.
• Willingness to attend in-person onboarding and participate in graduate orientation activities.

Skills Set

• Quantity surveying
• Cost planning
• Cost estimation
• Bills of quantities
• Measurement of quantities
• Tender documentation
• Pre-contract services
• Post-contract services
• Viability studies
• Cost control
• Monthly cost reports
• Variation evaluationChange orders
• Claims support
• Tender return analysis
• Market rate testing
• Cost data management
• Rate databases
• Life cycle cost analysis
• Operational cost estimates
• Asset databases
• Report formatting
• Data management
• Quality assurance
• Primary research
• Construction Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Building assets
• Commercial support
• Project documentation
• Team collaboration
• Graduate development
• ADVANCE program
• Technical learning
• Communication skills
• Analytical thinking

Why Join Us

This opportunity gives a motivated graduate the chance to start a career in quantity surveying and cost management with a global infrastructure consulting firm in Dubai. The ADVANCE program provides structured professional development over approximately 24 months, helping graduates build technical capability, business awareness, communication skills, and project delivery confidence. The role offers exposure to real building and asset projects, experienced mentors, multidisciplinary teams, cost planning tools, and professional growth opportunities across AECOM's Middle East business.

About the Company

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm delivering planning, design, engineering, advisory, environmental, transportation, water, energy, buildings, program management, and construction management services worldwide. In Dubai and across the Middle East, AECOM supports public and private sector projects through multidisciplinary expertise, digital capability, technical excellence, and sustainable delivery. The company provides graduate development, international project exposure, collaborative teams, and opportunities for early-career professionals who want to help deliver a better world.