Quantity Surveyor / Contract Administrator - Australian Builder (Remote)

About CoSauce

CoSauce builds and runs high-performing teams in South Africa for companies in Australia, New Zealand and North America. We're not an outsourcer, and nobody here is a "B team". Our people work as a direct extension of the client's own team, on the client's systems and in the client's meetings.

We're hiring five intermediate and senior QS / Contract Administrators for a new team in Johannesburg. You'd join as a permanent CoSauce employee, working on live projects in Australia for a leading Australian building company that delivers apartments, aged care, schools and commercial buildings.

Why this role is different

In Australia, the builder's QS doesn't receive a Bill of Quantities and send it out. You work from the design. You measure off the drawings, break the job into trade packages, write the scope of works for each trade, tender it, level the quotes, award the subcontract, and then run it: claims, variations, payment schedules and final accounts.

If you've been doing that kind of first-principles work in South Africa, for a developer-builder, on design & build or turnkey jobs, or as a subcontracts/procurement QS, or you did it abroad in Australia, New Zealand or the UK, this role is built for you.

If most of your experience is pricing or administering a consultant's BOQ, this probably isn't the right fit, and that's fine.

What you'll do

• Measure quantities from architectural and engineering drawings for each trade package
• Write scopes of works and subcontract tender packages for specialist trades (concrete, formwork, façade, services, finishes and more)
• Run subcontractor tenders: issue RFQs, compare and level quotes, recommend awards
• Prepare and administer subcontracts under Australian contract conditions
• Assess monthly progress claims and issue payment schedules on time
• Manage variations, EOTs and contract notices: the formal correspondence that has to go out on deadline
• Track costs against budget and report to the Australian project team
• Work in the client's systems (e.g. Jobpac, Payapps, Aconex, ProcurePro)

The Australian site team handles everything physically on site. You own the commercial side from your desk.

You'll report to a Commercial Manager based in South Africa, and work day to day with the Australian project teams.

What you'll need

• 3+ years as a QS or Contract Administrator on the contractor/builder side, on building projects (residential, aged care, education, commercial or mixed-use)
• Hands-on take-off from drawings. You've built the quantities yourself, not just priced someone else's.
• Experience writing trade scopes and running subcontract packages from tender to final account
• Sizeable named projects: e.g. multi-storey apartments (20–350 units), aged care (60+ beds), or commercial buildings
• A QS degree or diploma (BSc/BTech/Hons QS or equivalent). SACQSP or RICS registration is a plus.
• Clear written English. Most of your work is written correspondence with Australian colleagues and subcontractors.
• Comfortable with a few hours' daily overlap with the Australian team (your morning or afternoon, depending on the project)

Nice to have

• Experience with an Australian, New Zealand or UK builder
• Take-off software: CostX, Cubit, Buildsoft, Bluebeam or similar
• Jobpac, Payapps, Aconex, ProcurePro or Procore
• Australian contracts (AS4000, AS2124) or Security of Payment legislation. JBCC / NEC / FIDIC / JCT also count.
• Senior candidates: experience setting up commercial processes or leading/mentoring a small team.

What we offer

• Permanent employment with CoSauce South Africa: not a contract, not a placement
• Competitive remuneration based on experience. We're hiring at both intermediate and senior level.
• Remote-first, Johannesburg based
• The role may include travel to Australia up to twice a year to spend time with the project teams
• Long-term embedding with one Australian builder. You'll learn Australian commercial practice on real, large projects.
• A growing team: early hires shape how the Johannesburg office runs, with a clear path to Senior CA and Commercial Manager

How to apply

Apply with your CV and a short note answering this question:

Tell us about one trade package you wrote the scope for. What was the project, how did you get the quantities, and who chose the subcontractor?

Strong answers to that one question go straight to a call.