Managing Quantity Surveyor

Balfour Beatty plc; Lowestoft; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart working

25 days annual leave (pro rata)

Pension

Volunteering leave

Job summary

Balfour Beatty plc is delivering a flagship flood defence project at the Benacre pumping station in Suffolk. The Managing Quantity Surveyor will lead a small team and take commercial ownership across the full lifecycle, driving cost control, contract administration and value optimisation for the works.

The role requires a proven track record in heavy civils, strong leadership, and expertise in managing large earthworks and M&E subcontractor packages, with a focus on delivering margins and

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Senior Quantity Surveyor or Managing Quantity Surveyor within a major civil engineering, infrastructure or flood defence environment.
• Experience delivering profitable outcomes on large-scale projects.
• Strong leadership to build and motivate commercial teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small team of Quantity Surveyors and provide commercial leadership across the project.
• Own the commercial and contractual management of the Benacre pumping station project and monitor lifecycle costs.
• Manage major subcontract packages (earthworks, M&E) and oversee project commercial activities.
• Develop and implement commercial strategies to deliver objectives and targeted margins.
• Ensure compliance with Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.
• Produce accurate cost forecasts and monitor project expenditure to stay within budget.

Skills

Leadership

Contract administration

Cost control

Risk management

Commercial thinking

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Project governance

Change management

Team mentoring

Education

Quantity Surveying degree

Professional membership (RICS/CIOB/ICE)

CSCS Card

Job description

About the role

Join Balfour Beatty’s Regional Civils team as a Managing Quantity Surveyor and play a leading role in the delivery of a major pumping station project in Benacre, Suffolk. This is a unique opportunity to take commercial ownership of a high-profile flood defence and infrastructure scheme that will help protect local communities, businesses and critical infrastructure for generations to come. The project involves the replacement of the existing pumping station and the construction of new flood management assets as part of a significant investment in the Suffolk coastline.

As Managing Quantity Surveyor, you will be responsible for ensuring robust commercial and contractual control across the project, coordinating the efforts of all parties involved in its successful delivery. Leading a small team of Quantity Surveyors, you will provide commercial leadership throughout the project lifecycle, supporting Project Directors and Managers while offering guidance and expertise on all aspects of commercial management, contract administration, risk management, cost control and value optimisation.

This role is ideal for an experienced commercial professional with a proven track record of leading teams on large-scale civil engineering or infrastructure projects. You'll be part of a collaborative and forward-thinking business, helping to deliver a project that combines engineering excellence, environmental stewardship and lasting community impact.

What you'll be doing

• Leading and managing a small team of Quantity Surveyors, providing guidance, mentoring and commercial leadership across the project.
• Taking overall responsibility for the commercial and contractual management of the Benacre pumping station project, ensuring robust control throughout the project lifecycle.
• Managing the commercial performance of major subcontract packages, including large earthworks and M&E works, whilst maintaining oversight of all project commercial activities.
• Working closely with Project Directors and Managers to develop and implement commercial strategies that deliver project objectives and targeted margins.
• Ensuring all commercial activities are carried out in accordance with Balfour Beatty's Health, Safety and Environmental policies, procedures and standards.
• Producing accurate cost forecasts, monitoring project expenditure and proactively managing costs to ensure successful project delivery within budget.
• Leading the monthly cost and value reporting process, ensuring financial information is accurate, up to date and aligned with company reporting requirements.
• Managing cash flow, applications for payment and valuations, ensuring revenue is secured and payments are received in a timely manner.
• Identifying, pricing and negotiating contract variations, ensuring all change is properly recorded and commercially recovered.
• Maintaining comprehensive commercial records to support change control, compensation events, claims and contractual entitlement.
• Overseeing subcontract procurement activities, including tendering, evaluation, appointment and contract administration.
• Ensuring subcontract agreements appropriately reflect and flow down the obligations and requirements of the main contract.
• Managing subcontractor accounts, valuations and final accounts in accordance with contractual terms and conditions.
• Building and maintaining effective relationships with the client, project partners, subcontractors and internal stakeholders to support successful project delivery.
• Supporting project reviews, risk management activities and commercial governance processes, providing clear commercial insight and recommendations.
• Monitoring project performance against budget, identifying risks and opportunities, and implementing actions to maximise commercial outcomes.
• Ensuring all contractual, financial and commercial interfaces between the client, delivery teams and subcontract supply chain are managed efficiently and effectively.

Who we're looking for

• Proven experience as a Senior Quantity Surveyor or Managing Quantity Surveyor within a major civil engineering, infrastructure or flood defence environment.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to build, develop and motivate high-performing commercial teams while providing guidance and support to Quantity Surveyors and project stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience managing the commercial performance of large-scale projects, delivering profitable outcomes and achieving or exceeding business targets.
• A strong background in heavy civils, with particular experience managing major earthworks packages and complex subcontractor arrangements.
• Excellent commercial and contractual knowledge, with the ability to identify opportunities, manage risk and protect project margins throughout the project lifecycle.
• Experience developing and implementing commercial strategies that support successful project delivery and maximise value for both the business and client.
• A proven track record of managing project cost reporting, forecasting, cash flow, change control and financial performance on major projects.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, communicate and build effective relationships at all levels.
• Experience administering and managing subcontract procurement, contract placement, valuations, variations and final accounts.
• The commercial awareness to assess project profitability, risk exposure, opportunities and cash flow requirements, enabling informed business decisions.
• The ability to work collaboratively with Project Directors, Project Managers and operational teams to drive successful project outcomes.
• Substantial quantity surveying experience gained within a relevant civil engineering or construction environment.
• A valid CSCS Card.
• Membership of, or working towards membership of, a relevant professional institution such as RICS, CIOB, ICE, CIBSE or a similar professional body.
• Degree qualified (or equivalent) in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or a related discipline is desirable.
• A proactive, commercially minded approach with the confidence to lead on complex commercial matters and support the successful delivery of a flagship infrastructure project in Suffolk.

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

- Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
- 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
- Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
- Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About us

With a strong track record of delivery, our civils teams connect communities through infrastructure projects in the highways, public realm, rail, flood and coastal defence, and industrial sectors across England and Wales.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at [e-mail]