Cost Manager/ Quantity Surveyor Dublin/Galway

lda; Dublin; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training support

Mentorship program

Job summary

The Land Development Agency (LDA) is seeking a dynamic Quantity Surveyor/Cost Manager to support its extensive residential development pipeline. You will provide in‑house cost management expertise across Strategic Planning, Land Acquisition, Property Development and Construction Delivery to drive value and viability.

Join a growing agency with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and professional development, including dedicated training and mentorship opportunities within the Cost Management

Qualifications

• Indicative 2–8 years of relevant experience with a contractor, PQS or developer.
• Residential developments experience preferred but not essential.
• A dynamic self-starter with ownership for responsibilities and deliverables.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal, presentation and verbal communication skills.
• Be a team player able to work independently and collaboratively across internal and external teams.
• Proficient in MS Excel and MS Office.
• Degree or higher in Quantity Surveying; Chartered or pursuing chartership.

Responsibilities

• Visit sites in consideration and preparation of Order of Magnitude Cost Estimates and Development Budgets.
• Viability and cost modelling analyses.
• Procurement of project design teams and construction delivery partners.
• Interface with external consultants and build collaborative relationships.
• Contribute to design team workshops with cost, value management and procurement advice.
• Manage project development budgets and post‑contract expenditure.
• Review external QS reports and cost documents with LDA consultants.
• Assist Development Managers and Construction Managers in day‑to‑day project management.
• Involve in supply chain negotiations where appropriate.
• Maintain and enhance cost databases.

Skills

Quantity surveying

Cost management

Excel

Analytical thinking

Interpersonal skills

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying

Chartered or working toward chartership

Tools

MS Excel

MS Office

Job description

About The Land Development Agency

The Land Development Agency (LDA) is the State’s affordable housing delivery body. It delivers affordable homes on State-owned or acquired land and through homebuilder partnerships as part of its Project Tosaigh initiative.

The Land Development Agency’s purpose is to maximise the supply of affordable homes on State and other land in a financially sustainable manner, supporting the creation of thriving communities and delivering ongoing positive social impact.

Currently Sourcing Roles in Dublin, Cork & Galway.

Current Pipeline Snapshot

• 21,000+ homes being assessed & advanced across 40+ sites (direct delivery)
• 5,000+ homes under construction (direct delivery)
• 8,000+ homes targeted delivery through the LDA Project Tosaigh initiative by 2028
• 3,000+ people living in LDA provided affordable homes at present

The above represents the current pace of delivery in the LDA’s target of delivering c. 4,000 homes per year over the coming years. These projects and homes comprise developments relating to low-mid density housing, high-density mixed-use schemes and adaptive reuse of existing and heritage/protected buildings in city centre and sub-urban locations throughout all of Ireland.

Role Purpose

Do you want to further develop your professional career across the full spectrum of residential property development?

Do you want to join a highly motivated team of professionals working towards a common goal?

Do you want to apply your core quantity surveying skills in an innovative and exciting way?

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic quantity surveyor/cost manager with strong commercial and technical acumen to join the Cost Management Team and to support the development of the LDA’s extensive development pipeline, one of the most significant development pipelines in the history of the state.

The role will involve providing in-house cost management expertise and support across multiple business functions including Strategic Planning & Master Planning, Land Acquisition, Property Development, Construction Delivery, Developer Collaboration, Asset Management and Investment.

Sector Expert

• Gain deep insight and hands-on experience of fundamental design & cost economics for residential development developing industry leading expertise.
• Involvement in all stages of the development lifecycle — from concept to delivery to operational management of the schemes.
• Enhance experience of varying procurement models, contract and claims management across LDA portfolio involving D&B, Employer Designed, Early Contractor Involvement, Bespoke Development Partnership agreements, Consultancy Agreements etc.
• Gain key skills in detailed cost and investment modelling and viability analyses at each stage of a development’s lifecycle.

Network

• Work alongside senior leaders of industry from all disciplines including design consultants, main contractors, developers, senior public representatives, planning, legal and sales agents offering a unique holistic view of how major developments evolve and become a reality.
• Contribute and influence strategic planning and commercial decision-making at senior level.
• Regular contributions to industry and national bodies.

Growth

• This is not a standard QS role - Join a rapidly growing organisation and enjoy a varied and evolving remit. You’ll have the freedom to explore areas that interest you, whether that’s design innovation, procurement and contract strategy, technology, modern methods of construction, site acquisition appraisals, investment modelling and sales and asset management.
• Exposure to the full range of property disciplines employed by the agency with open door policy for on-the-job insights.
• Regular training and CDP with dedicated in-house HR Learning & Development team.
• 3rd level training subsistence available and encouraged to enhance and turbo charge career.
• Guided mentorship with dedicated SCSI APC supervisor(s) and counsellor(s) to get you to the next level.

Key Responsibilities

• Visit sites in consideration and preparation of Order of Magnitude Cost Estimates and Development Budgets for early-stage viability analysis.
• Viability and cost modelling analyses.
• Procurement of project design teams and construction delivery partners.
• Interface and liaise closely with external consultants, building effective and collaborative working relationships.
• Contributing to design team workshops offering cost, value management, procurement, contract and affordability advice.
• Management of project development budget and post contract expenditure.
• Liaise closely with all LDA external quantity surveying consultants. Review and assess external QS reports and cost documents.
• Assisting LDA Development Managers and Construction Managers as required in the management of projects on a day-to-day basis.
• Involvement in supply chain (Main Contractor/Developer/Consultant) negotiations where appropriate.
• Maintaining and enhancing current cost databases of construction and development costs.
• Ensuring development budgets and specific project gateway budget approval requests are robust.
• Assist and contribute to enhancement and optimisation of LDA cost management standardised documentation, processes and function.
• Assist in financial claims analyses and appraisal of construction and development soft costs.

Person Specification

• Indicative level of 2 to 8 year’s demonstrable relevant experience with a Contractor, PQS or Developer.
• Previous experience of residential developments preferred but not essential.
• A dynamic self-starter, ability to take ownership for assigned responsibilities and deliverables.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal, presentation and verbal communication skills.
• Be a team player with ability to work independently and collaboratively across both internal and external teams.
• Microsoft Office Suite, with particular emphasis on strong MS Excel abilities.
• Degree or higher in Quantity Surveying.
• Chartered or willingness/in the process of gaining chartership.

What to Expect

Innovation

• Work in a forward-looking environment using market leading platforms and systems to streamline QS and property development workflows.
• Enjoy a collaborative and innovative culture that values fresh thinking and initiative while having opportunity to affect policy change.

The Land Development Agency is an equal opportunities employer.

Please apply within.