Quantity Surveyor

City of York Council; York and North Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 101,000; Part time

Job summary

City of York Council invites a commercially astute Quantity Surveyor to join its Building Services Team in York on an interim, hybrid basis. You will lead data-driven commercial governance, manage costs, and ensure robust procurement and contract controls across a busy portfolio of refurbishment and retrofit projects.

The role requires strong analytical ability and stakeholder communication, with experience in social housing projects considered a distinct advantage.

Qualifications

• Degree in Quantity Surveying or closely related construction discipline.
• Significant experience as QS or commercial manager in construction/property.
• Strong procurement and contract management expertise.
• Experience across refurbishments, planned maintenance, asset improvements, or new builds; social housing exposure is a plus.
• Excellent analytical skills for monitoring project finances and providing oversight.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills with MS Office and project/asset software.

Responsibilities

• Establish robust commercial governance with controls and reporting across active projects.
• Improve financial controls including valuation, payment apps, and final accounts for transparency.
• Drive value for money through contractor management and robust commercial challenge.
• Support public programmes including Decent Homes standards and retrofit initiatives.
• Oversee the full commercial lifecycle from cost estimates to procurement and regulatory compliance.
• Identify and mitigate risks via programme assurance reviews and historic issues.

Skills

Quantity surveying

Commercial management

Procurement

Contract management

Social housing experience

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying

Tools

Microsoft Office

Digital project management software

Job description

Are you ready to drive high-impact commercial transformation and protect public value across major property and retrofit programmes? We are currently collaborating with an ambitious local authority client in York to secure an experienced, commercially astute Quantity Surveyor. This is a pivotal interim opportunity to shape a sustainable commercial function and deliver lasting community value across a diverse portfolio of construction and property projects. Working within a collaborative and forward-thinking property and commercial team on a 4-day-a-week basis (with 3 days on-site in York), you will provide specialist quantity surveying and commercial management expertise across our client’s busy Building Services Team.

Key Focus Areas & Responsibilities

• Establish Robust Commercial Governance: Set up and embed rigorous controls, transparent reporting processes, and effective change control mechanisms across all active projects.
• Enhance Financial Controls: Drive continuous improvement in valuation, payment applications, and final account management processes to guarantee absolute financial transparency.
• Drive Value for Money: Strengthen contractor management, introduce rigorous commercial challenge, and ensure high standards of accountability across the board.
• Support Vital Public Programmes: Play a crucial frontline role in delivering Decent Homes standards, statutory compliance works, capital investment schemes, and critical retrofit initiatives.
• End-to-End Delivery: Oversee the full commercial lifecycle, from initial cost estimates and robust tender documentation through to procurement processes, contractor selection, and strict regulatory compliance.
• Risk Mitigation & Assurance: Actively support the identification and mitigation of risks highlighted via programme assurance reviews and historical commercial issues.

What We Are Looking For From You

• Educational Background: A degree in Quantity Surveying or a closely related construction/property discipline.
• Professional Experience: Significant, proven experience operating in a QS or commercial management role within the construction, property, or building services sectors.
• Procurement Expertise: Strong, demonstrable expertise in modern construction procurement processes and robust contract management.
• Sector Knowledge: Experience working across refurbishments, planned maintenance programmes, asset improvements, or new builds. (Direct, hands-on exposure to Social Housing is considered a distinct advantage!)
• Analytical Acumen: Exceptional analytical skills capable of monitoring complex project finances, interpreting technical data, and delivering clear, actionable oversight to multidisciplinary project teams.
• Communication & Tech Literacy: Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, coupled with confidence using Microsoft Office and digital project or asset management software.

The Logistics & Application Process

• Duration: Initially an 8-month interim period.
• Working Pattern: 4 days a week (Hybrid structure with 3 days collaborating on-site with colleagues in York).
• Remuneration: Highly competitive day rate, benchmarked against current market standards and scaled to match your level of experience.

If you possess the right-to-work in the United Kingdom and are eager to step into this high-impact role, we want to hear from you!