Quantity Surveyor

Mott MacDonald; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Pension contributions matching 4.5–7%

Life assurance up to 4× salary

Annual bonus schemes

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Quantity Surveyor to support high‑value defence projects within secure environments. You will focus on NEC4 contract administration, cost control, forecasting and governance, ensuring compliant delivery aligned with MOD and wider defence objectives.

The role offers opportunities to work on infrastructure, equipment and nuclear programmes across the defence sector, with a strong emphasis on value for money, risk management and collaboration with client and contractor

Qualifications

• Degree qualification or equivalent is essential.
• Experience with NEC4 contracts and governance is required.
• Strong cost control and estimating capability is essential.

Responsibilities

• Administer NEC4 contracts in line with defence project governance requirements.
• Manage variations, change control and compensation events in a compliant manner.
• Maintain cost control, forecasting and reporting across defence programmes.
• Support delivery of infrastructure and equipment-related projects within secure environments.
• Work closely with client and contractor teams to achieve delivery outcomes and value for money.
• Ensure adherence to defence governance, assurance and security requirements.

Skills

Cost control

Estimating

NEC4 experience

Education

Degree qualified

Tools

CEMAR

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location/s: Glasgow, Edinburgh Recruiter contact: Aoife Cullen

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee‑owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit

Mott MacDonald’s Advisory and Programme Delivery (APD) unit delivers both project, programme & commercial management (PPCM) services and advisory solutions across the built environment, defence, energy, water, environmental, transportation, health and care sectors.

We deliver tailored solutions that directly address our clients’ key challenges, combining our world‑leading project expertise with unrivalled programme delivery capabilities and advisory services.

APD delivers services to projects ranging in scale and complexity up to £20bn, through the technical disciplines of programme management, project management, project controls, scheduling, cost management, estimating, infrastructure finance, management consulting, digital consulting and education, health and care management.

Overview of the role

Owing to the continued growth of our defence portfolio, we have a unique opportunity for Quantity Surveyors to join our fast‑growing team.

This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in some of the most complex and challenging defence programmes in the UK, spanning defence infrastructure, defence equipment, and defence nuclear environments.

You will support the delivery of high‑value, security‑critical projects, contributing to programmes that ensurennational capability, resilience, and operational effectiveness.

Defence Sector Focus

Mott MacDonald supports a wide range of defence clients including the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), and Tier 1 delivery partners.

Our work spans

• Major infrastructure upgrades and base redevelopment
• Defence equipment support and facilities integration
• Defence nuclear programmes, including submarine infrastructure and associated facilities
• Long‑term asset management, sustainability, and carbon reduction programmes

We operate in highly regulated, security‑sensitive environments, delivering complex projects that demand rigorous commercial and governance controls.

Key responsibilities and duties include

The Quantity Surveyor will support the successful delivery of client projects within the defence sector.

The role focuses on effective cost management, NEC contract administration, and commercial support to ensure efficient, compliant delivery aligned with MOD and wider defence objectives.

• Administer NEC4 contracts in line with defence project and governance requirements
• Manage variations, change control, and compensation events in a compliant manner
• Maintain cost control, forecasting, and reporting across defence programmes
• Support delivery of infrastructure and equipment‑related projects within secure environments
• Work closely with client and contractor teams to achieve delivery outcomes and value for money
• Ensure adherence to defence governance, assurance, and security requirements

Candidate Specifications

Essential

• Degree qualified (or equivalent)
• NEC4 contract experience
• Working towards or holding MRICS (or equivalent)
• Experience in complex infrastructure or engineering projects within regulated environments
• Experience managing contract cashflow, change, and governance
• Experience using CEMAR
• Strong cost control and estimating capability
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Practical NEC4 ECC and/or PSC contract experience

Desirable

• Experience administering contracts using Thinkproject Contracts
• NEC 4 accreditation
• NEC4 Project Manager Accreditation
• Experience in defence environments (infrastructure, equipment, or nuclear)

Please be advised that offers for this role are conditional upon obtaining the appropriate level of Security Clearance.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well‑being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at [e-mail] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 × your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 × your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long‑term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long‑term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with everyday health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self‑development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.