Managing Quantity Surveyor - Subcontract Procurement - Grays

-; Colchester; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A major construction company in Colchester is seeking a Managing Quantity Surveyor to lead commercial management on a vast highways project. This role involves significant responsibilities, including managing utility interactions and subcontract administration. Ideal candidates will possess a Quantity Surveying background and strong commercial acumen and must be a member of RICS or working towards it. The position offers competitive salary and benefits, along with opportunities for professional development while contributing to significant infrastructure initiatives.

Benefits

Company car

25 days annual leave

Pension savings schemes

Employee discounts and benefits

Qualifications

• Significant experience in civil engineering and infrastructure projects.
• Proven background in managing utilities on major highways or infrastructure projects.
• Strong commercial acumen required.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial management of utilities scope on a major highways scheme.
• Manage subcontract administration for utility works.
• Prepare and present commercial reports and risk registers.

Skills

Quantity Surveying

Civil Engineering

Utilities Management

Negotiation

Leadership

Education

BSc or MSc in Quantity Surveying

Membership of RICS, ICES or CIOB

Tools

NEC Contracts

Job description

About the role

Our Balfour Beatty Highways business has a terrific opportunity for a Managing Quantity Surveyor to join our £1.2 billion Lower Thames Crossing project, consisting of 43 bridges, including viaducts, 17km of complex Highways construction, complex utility diversions, and a scheme‑wide, industry‑leading approach to carbon reduction.

Balfour Beatty Highways maintain, manage and operate major highway networks across the UK and support local authorities creating communities where people want to live work and play.

The Managing Quantity Surveyor will be tasked to lead the commercial management of the utilities scope on a major highways scheme involving the construction of a new road and extensive utilities interface. For the initial phase of the role, you will work closely with the Senior Commercial Manager in a Subcontract Procurement role, therefore experience in this area is essential.

What you’ll be doing

Governance

• Has a good knowledge of and adheres to the Company’s governance requirements maximises LEAN/digital opportunities.
• Commercial Management and Administration
• Lead commercial and cost management functions for the project, reporting directly to the Senior Commercial Manager.
• Manage subcontract administration for utility works and associated packages.
• Monitor costs, valuations, and change control, with a strong focus on utility interfaces, risk management, and forecasting.
• Collaborate with design, construction, and client teams to identify risks, resolve disputes, and ensure timely approvals with utility companies.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to a team of Quantity Surveyors, ensuring consistent processes and high‑quality commercial outputs.
• Support programme delivery by aligning commercial management with technical and construction activities, especially in complex utility corridors.
• Prepare and present commercial reports, cost/value reconciliations, and risk registers for senior management and client reviews.

Who we’re looking for

Skills

• BSc or MSc in Quantity Surveying
• Membership of RICS, ICES or CIOB (or working towards)
• CSCS Card (Professional Qualified Person)
• Significant experience in civil engineering and infrastructure projects.
• Proven background in managing utilities on major highways or infrastructure projects, including liaison with statutory undertakers.
• Strong commercial acumen with excellent negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.
• Experience with NEC contracts and robust knowledge of change/claims management.
• Ability to lead a team and work collaboratively in a fast‑paced, multi‑stakeholder environment

Still interested? then come and become colleagues with 26,000 staff and join a business which recorded 8.6bn in revenues last year, achieved industry leading customer satisfaction scores and has unrivalled employee engagement statistics.

An excellent range of benefits awaits the successful candidate

• An attractive / negotiated salary
• 42 core base hours per week
• Company car
• 25 days annual leave
• Pension savings schemes
• A whole host of other BB staff employee benefits (discounts, exclusive offers etc)
• Refer a friend bonus scheme
• Scores of other Balfour Beatty opportunities available as well via our balfourbeattycareers.com portal.

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

Balfour Beatty’s Highways business delivers major schemes including motorway upgrade programmes, complex national infrastructure projects and regional investment programme works for National Highways. We have a strong orderbook and a positive pipeline of opportunities, we put the road user, at the heart of everything we do. We work safely, reduce carbon emissions and added social value to the communities within which we work.

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

We are 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]