Assistant Manager, Quantity Surveyor

myNEWS HOLDINGS BERHAD; Petaling Jaya; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

myNEWS HOLDINGS BERHAD is seeking a Senior Quantity Surveyor to lead cost management for retail fit-out and refurbishment projects across Malaysia.

You will oversee budgeting, CAPEX forecasting, cost control, and commercial governance, delivering timely reports and value-driven outcomes to management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or equivalent.
• 5–7 years of relevant experience in retail fit-out, commercial construction, or multi-site project environments.
• Strong knowledge of construction contracts, cost control, tendering, commercial management, and financial reporting.
• Proven experience managing multiple fast-track projects concurrently.
• Strong commercial, negotiation, analytical, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead project cost management, including budgeting, cost planning, CAPEX forecasting, cost benchmarking, and budget utilisation for retail fit-out and refurbishment projects.
• Monitor project financial performance, cost variances, forecasts, and cost control measures to minimise overruns and manage commercial risks.
• Review and manage progress claims, variation orders, final accounts, EOTs, and contractor payment matters.
• Lead tender documentation, commercial evaluations, contract administration, and preparation of LOAs, work orders, and consultancy agreements.
• Conduct commercial negotiations with contractors, suppliers, and consultants to achieve cost-effective and value-driven outcomes.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities through value engineering, strategic sourcing, and cost standardisation across retail rollout projects.
• Provide commercial advice, risk assessments, and cost recommendations to Management and project stakeholders.
• Prepare monthly cost reports, CAPEX summaries, dashboards, and management presentations covering project performance, cost trends, risks, and outstanding matters.
• Support nationwide retail expansion through cost modelling, feasibility assessments, historical cost analysis, and cost benchmarking.
• Ensure compliance with contractual, corporate governance, audit, and regulatory requirements, including proper maintenance of contract and cost records.
• Lead and coordinate with Project, Operations, Leasing, Legal, Finance, contractors, and consultants to resolve commercial, contractual, and payment-related matters.
• Manage contractor queries, payment tracking, and outstanding claims to ensure timely resolution and maintain project continuity.
• Guide and mentor QS team members, review their work, and drive improvements in cost reporting, tracking systems, SOPs, and digitalisation.
• Maintain up-to-date project, contractor, cost, and payment trackers, proactively highlighting key risks, delays, and issues to Management.
• Act as the key QS representative and provide day-to-day support and decision-making when the Senior Manager is unavailable.

Skills

Budgeting

Cost control

Financial reporting

Tendering

Negotiation

Value engineering

Excel

PowerPoint

Dashboarding

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in QS/Construction Management

Tools

LARK

Claude

Cost reporting tools

Job description

Lead project cost management, including budgeting, cost planning, CAPEX forecasting, cost benchmarking, and budget utilisation for retail fit-out and refurbishment projects.

Monitor project financial performance, cost variances, forecasts, and cost control measures to minimise overruns and manage commercial risks.

Review and manage progress claims, variation orders, final accounts, EOTs, and contractor payment matters.

Lead tender documentation, commercial evaluations, contract administration, and preparation of LOAs, work orders, and consultancy agreements.

Conduct commercial negotiations with contractors, suppliers, and consultants to achieve cost-effective and value-driven outcomes.

Identify cost-saving opportunities through value engineering, strategic sourcing, and cost standardisation across retail rollout projects.

Provide commercial advice, risk assessments, and cost recommendations to Management and project stakeholders.

Prepare monthly cost reports, CAPEX summaries, dashboards, and management presentations covering project performance, cost trends, risks, and outstanding matters.

Support nationwide retail expansion through cost modelling, feasibility assessments, historical cost analysis, and cost benchmarking.

Ensure compliance with contractual, corporate governance, audit, and regulatory requirements, including proper maintenance of contract and cost records.

Lead and coordinate with Project, Operations, Leasing, Legal, Finance, contractors, and consultants to resolve commercial, contractual, and payment-related matters.

Manage contractor queries, payment tracking, and outstanding claims to ensure timely resolution and maintain project continuity.

Guide and mentor QS team members, review their work, and drive improvements in cost reporting, tracking systems, SOPs, and digitalisation.

Maintain up-to-date project, contractor, cost, and payment trackers, proactively highlighting key risks, delays, and issues to Management.

Act as the key QS representative and provide day-to-day support and decision-making when the Senior Manager is unavailable.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or equivalent.

Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience in retail fit-out, commercial construction, or multi-site project environments.

Strong knowledge of construction contracts, cost control, tendering, commercial management, and financial reporting.

Proven experience managing multiple fast-track projects concurrently.

Strong commercial, negotiation, analytical, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and cost reporting tools.

Strong experience preparing management reports, dashboards, and presentations for senior stakeholders.

Able to work independently, exercise sound judgement, and manage tight project timelines.

Good communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple departments.

Knowledge of LARK and Claude is an added advantage.

myNEWS Holding Berhad currently has over 400 retail stores in Malaysia. We are the market leader in press and convenience retailing, specializing in convenience items such as tobacco, reload services, beverages, snacks, confectioneries and printed media. Our outlets are located at easily accessible locations in popular shopping malls, hypermarkets, hospitals, office complexes, hotels and transportation hubs.

Since its inception in 1997, we continuously strive to offer quality products and services. We constantly evolve our stores and offerings for an easy and efficient shopping experience. We operate under brands such as myNEWS.com, newsplus, MAGBIT, THE FRONT PAGE, as well as WHSmith, which is operated under our equal joint venture with WHSmith Travel, one of UK’s leading retailers. What’s more, we are also involved in the operation of WHSmith news and book retailing stores in airports throughout Malaysia, and run a food and beverage outlet named Bison Café. In addition, we have food processing centre which producing fresh food products and selling in our outlets.