Senior quantity surveyors decide what materials needed to be ordered to determine the cost of constructing a building. They are generally employed through the entire construction process, in which they source materials, control construction costs, and act as a liaison among parties such as the engineers who designed the project and the suppliers of the various materials being purchased. In addition, senior quality surveyors are generally the go-to people for how much of a project has been paid for, and when that money was paid.

These surveyors generally control disbursements and ensure that things are not paid for too soon. A senior quantity surveyor operates as an integral part of large, complex teams, ensuring that every piece of a building comes together on time and within budget.

Senior quantity surveyors must have substantial experience in engineering and construction. They need to hold at least a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as engineering, finance, construction, or architecture. They also need to have considerable project experience under their belt. Most employers also desire that their senior quantity surveyors be certified by an industry-standard agency, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification issued by the Project Management Institute. (Copyright 2018 PayScale.com)