Highways Quantity Surveyor – AR

Carrington Blake Recruitment; Coventry; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Carrington Blake Recruitment is seeking an experienced Highways Quantity Surveyor for Coventry, with a hybrid arrangement requiring two days on site. The role focuses on commercial and contractual management across highway projects, ensuring budgets, timescales and quality standards are met.

The successful candidate will manage costs, forecasts and contractor payments, working with engineers, contractors and stakeholders to optimise value for money on the council's transport programme.

Qualifications

• Experience in cost management, budgeting and forecasting for highways/infrastructure projects.
• Experience with NEC contracts (NEC3/NEC4 desirable) and contract administration.
• Experience handling contractor payments, variations, valuations, and final accounts.

Responsibilities

• Provide commercial and quantity surveying support across highways and transportation capital projects.
• Manage project costs, budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting.
• Prepare detailed cost estimates and provide financial advice to project teams.
• Monitor expenditure and identify cost pressures, risks, and opportunities.
• Assess contractor payments for accuracy and contract compliance.
• Manage variations, change control, and commercial risks.
• Support procurement of contractors and suppliers under public sector rules.
• Ensure value for money and financial control across projects.
• Collaborate with project managers, engineers and stakeholders to aid delivery.
• Provide commercial advice to support decision-making.

Skills

Cost management

Budgeting

Forecasting

Contract management

NEC contracts

Procurement

Stakeholder management

Valuations

Job description

Job Description: Highways Quantity Surveyor (Outside IR35)

Job Title: Highways Quantity Surveyor
Contract Type: Agency Contract – Outside IR35
Location: Coventry (Hybrid – minimum 2 days per week onsite)
Duration: Until 31 July 2027 (linked to externally funded transport projects)
Rate: £60 per hour LTD / £43.47 per hour PAYE

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Highways Quantity Surveyor to provide specialist commercial support to Coventry’s transport capital programme during a period of increased demand and limited internal resource.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing the financial and contractual aspects of highways and transportation projects, ensuring schemes are delivered within budget, timescales, and agreed quality standards.

Working closely with highways engineers, project managers, contractors, and internal stakeholders, you will provide robust commercial management, cost control, and contract support to ensure value for money across the council’s infrastructure programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide commercial and quantity surveying support across highways and transportation capital projects.
• Manage project costs, budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting throughout the project lifecycle.
• Prepare detailed cost estimates and provide accurate financial advice to project teams.
• Monitor expenditure and identify potential cost pressures, risks, and opportunities.
• Assess contractor applications for payment and ensure valuations are accurate and contract compliant.
• Manage variations, compensation events, change control, and commercial risks.
• Support the procurement of contractors and suppliers in line with public sector procedures.
• Ensure projects achieve value for money and remain financially controlled.
• Work collaboratively with project managers, engineers, contractors, and stakeholders to support successful project delivery.
• Provide commercial advice and recommendations to support decision-making.
• Assist with contract administration and ensure compliance with contractual requirements.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Proven experience working as a Quantity Surveyor within highways, transport, infrastructure, or civil engineering projects.
• Strong experience in cost management, budgeting, forecasting, and commercial reporting.
• Experience managing contractor payments, valuations, variations, and final accounts.
• Experience working with NEC contracts (NEC3/NEC4 desirable).
• Experience supporting major capital programmes and infrastructure projects.
• Ability to identify and manage commercial risks effectively.
• Strong understanding of procurement and contract management processes.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to work with engineers, contractors, and project teams.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience working within a local authority highways or transport environment.
• Experience delivering externally funded transport or infrastructure programmes.
• Membership of a relevant professional body such as RICS.
• Experience managing multiple live projects within a busy delivery environment.

Working Arrangements

• Hybrid working arrangement with a requirement to attend Coventry offices 2 days per week.
• Office locations may include:
  • Whitley Depot
  • Eastern Green
  • Friargate

Ideal Candidate Background

The successful candidate will typically come from a background such as:

• Highways Quantity Surveyor
• Senior Quantity Surveyor (Highways)
• Infrastructure Quantity Surveyor
• Civil Engineering Quantity Surveyor
• Commercial Manager (Highways)
• Cost Manager (Infrastructure)

They will have strong commercial expertise within highways or infrastructure projects and be confident managing budgets, contracts, and contractor relationships to support successful project delivery.