Quantity Surveyor

Jigsaw Business Group; Chadwell St Mary; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Jigsaw Business Group is seeking a Quantity Surveyor to provide end-to-end commercial management across civil engineering and term maintenance contracts from mobilisation through to final accounts.

You will lead cost planning, CVR, forecasting, change control, procurement, subcontract management, and reporting, working with site teams to maximise value and protect contract margins.

The role requires NEC3/NEC4 contract experience and a Full UK driving licence.

Qualifications

• Experience in civil engineering or maintenance contracts.
• Experience with NEC3/NEC4 contracts and final accounts.
• Strong cost management, forecasting, and reporting capabilities.
• Independent management of multiple contracts or workstreams.

Responsibilities

• Establish commercial systems, cost codes, budgets and reporting structures for new contracts.
• Prepare and submit monthly applications for payment; measure works and agree valuations.
• Identify, negotiate and manage changes/variations and compensation events; assess time and cost impacts.
• Lead CVR processes; forecast cost, value and cash flow; monitor risks and opportunities.
• Procure subcontract packages; manage subcontract accounts, variations and final accounts.
• Maintain accurate commercial records; ensure site data is captured and used for claims and valuations.
• Develop strong client relationships and attend progress meetings; ensure contract requirements and KPIs are met.
• Produce commercial reports for senior management and support board reporting.

Skills

Cost management

Forecasting

Change control

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying or Commercial Management

RICS/CIOB or equivalent accreditation

Tools

Excel

Cost reporting systems

Job description

Quantity Surveyor – Civil Engineering & Term Maintenance Contracts

Reports To: Head of Quantity Surveying

Base: Chadwell St Mary Office

Job Overview

Provide end-to-end commercial management across civil engineering and term maintenance contracts, ensuring robust commercial controls are established from mobilisation through to contract completion. Lead cost management, forecasting, valuations, change control, and final account settlement while working closely with operational teams to maximise value, manage risk, and protect contract margins.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Mobilisation

• Establish commercial systems, cost codes, budgets, and reporting structures for new contracts.
• Align cost capture and financial reporting with client systems, work programmes, and contract requirements.
• Support contract mobilisation activities to ensure effective commercial governance from day one.

Applications & Valuations

• Prepare and submit monthly applications for payment.
• Measure completed works and agree valuations with clients.
• Manage payment certification, cash collection, and retention releases.
• Ensure all contractual entitlements are accurately reflected within applications.

Change Management

• Identify, prepare, and negotiate variations, compensation events, and change requests.
• Assess commercial implications of contract changes, including time and cost impacts.
• Maintain comprehensive records to support recovery of additional costs and extensions of time where applicable.

Cost Management, CVR & Forecasting

• Lead monthly Cost Value Reconciliation (CVR) processes.
• Produce accurate forecasts of cost, value, margin, and cash flow.
• Monitor project risks, opportunities, and contingency allowances.
• Support business planning through scenario forecasting and commercial analysis.

Subcontract Procurement & Management

• Procure subcontract packages in line with company procedures.
• Prepare enquiries, assess quotations, and negotiate commercial terms.
• Manage subcontract accounts, applications, variations, and final accounts.
• Ensure supply chain performance aligns with programme and budget requirements.

Contract Administration & Record Keeping

• Maintain accurate commercial records to support valuations, variations, and claims.
• Work closely with operational teams to ensure site records, labour returns, plant utilisation, and progress data are captured effectively.
• Support dispute avoidance through robust contract administration and documentation.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Develop strong working relationships with client commercial and operational teams.
• Attend progress meetings and commercial reviews.
• Resolve commercial issues promptly and professionally.
• Ensure compliance with contract requirements, KPIs, and audit standards.

Reporting

• Produce accurate commercial reports for senior management.
• Provide visibility of contract performance, risks, opportunities, cash flow, and margin.
• Support monthly board reporting and business review processes.

Key Skills & Competencies

Contract Knowledge

• Strong understanding of NEC3, NEC4, JCT, and bespoke civil engineering or maintenance contracts.
• Experience administering compensation events, early warnings, variations, and final accounts.
• Sound knowledge of contractual risk management and dispute avoidance.

Commercial & Financial Management

• Cost planning and budget control.
• CVR management and earned value analysis.
• Cash flow forecasting and margin improvement.
• Strong understanding of rates, schedules of works, and framework contracts.

Negotiation

• Proven ability to negotiate effectively with clients, suppliers, and subcontractors.
• Commercially astute with a focus on securing best value outcomes.

Analytical & Reporting Skills

• Strong numerical and analytical capability.
• Ability to interpret data and provide meaningful commercial insights.
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills.

Stakeholder Management

• Effective communication across operational, commercial, and client teams.
• Collaborative approach to problem solving and decision making.

Key Behaviours

Accountable

• Takes ownership of commercial performance and contractual obligations.

Detail-Oriented

• Maintains high levels of accuracy in measurement, reporting, and contract administration.

Resilient

• Effectively manages multiple projects, workstreams, and competing priorities.

Collaborative

• Works closely with operational and support teams to achieve successful project outcomes.

Commercially Focused

• Proactively identifies opportunities, manages risks, and protects profitability.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Previous Quantity Surveying experience within civil engineering, highways, utilities, infrastructure, facilities maintenance, or term maintenance contracts.
• Strong experience managing NEC3 and NEC4 contracts.
• Experience administering frameworks, planned maintenance, reactive maintenance, or minor works programmes.
• Ability to independently manage multiple contracts or workstreams.
• Excellent negotiation, cost management, and commercial reporting skills.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable

• RICS, CIOB, ICES, or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Degree-qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or a related discipline.
• Experience working within local authority, highways, utilities, social housing, or infrastructure maintenance frameworks.
• Knowledge of Schedule of Rates (SOR) contracts and framework agreements.

You will need the right to work in the United Kingdom without sponsorship to be considered for this role.