Senior Quantity Surveyor

Mott MacDonald; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Mott MacDonald’s Advisory and Programme Delivery unit seeks a Senior Quantity Surveyor to join the defence portfolio in Edinburgh/Glasgow. You will lead commercial strategy, manage risk and provide trusted advice to defence clients on complex programmes encompassing infrastructure, equipment and defence nuclear environments.

You will mentor junior QS staff, lead NEC contracts, and ensure value-for-money while coordinating with MOD-facing teams under strict security and governance requirements.

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified (or equivalent) with significant experience in quantity surveying or commercial roles.
• NEC ECC accreditation with strong NEC3/NEC4 experience; MRICS or close to completion.
• Experience delivering commercial management on complex, high-value programmes in regulated environments.
• Strong cost control, forecasting and valuation across lifecycle stages.
• Experience managing cash flow, governance and commercial risk; experience using CEMAR.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and leadership capability.
• Advanced Microsoft Office capability.
• Hands-on NEC ECC/PSC experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the administration of NEC3/NEC4 contracts across defence programmes.
• Provide senior commercial leadership on infrastructure, equipment, and nuclear-related projects.
• Own cost forecasting, reporting and financial governance at project/programme level.
• Lead valuation of works and ensure robust commercial reporting.
• Act as a trusted commercial advisor to clients and stakeholders, including MOD-facing teams.
• Drive value engineering and commercial efficiency across delivery partners.
• Lead change management, risk mitigation and contract compliance.
• Mentor and support junior QS staff.
• Ensure compliance with defence assurance, security and governance processes.

Skills

NEC ECC leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Cost forecasting

Contract administration

NEC3/NEC4 experience

MS Office proficiency

Education

Degree qualified or equivalent

MRICS accreditation (or close to completion)

Tools

CEMAR

Thinkproject Contracts

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: Edinburgh, Glasgow

Recruiter contact: Aoife Cullen

About the business unit

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

Overview of the role

Due to continued growth in our defence portfolio, we are seeking an experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor to join our team. This senior commercial leadership role supports complex programmes across defence infrastructure, defence equipment delivery, and defence nuclear environments. You will play a pivotal role in delivering robust commercial strategies, managing risk, and acting as a trusted advisor to defence clients, ensuring value‑for‑money outcomes across critical national programmes.

Defence sector focus

• Estate‑wide infrastructure modernisation programmes
• Support to defence equipment programmes and facilities integration
• Specialist defence nuclear infrastructure, including submarine and dockyard facilities
• Complex, multi‑year capital investment programmes

The Senior Quantity Surveyor will take a leading role in commercial delivery across defence programmes. The role focuses on strategic cost management, NEC contract leadership, and client‑facing commercial assurance within complex and secure environments.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Lead the administration of NEC3/NEC4 contracts across defence programmes
• Provide senior commercial leadership on infrastructure, equipment, and nuclear‑related projects
• Own cost forecasting, reporting and financial governance at project/programme level
• Lead valuation of works and ensure robust commercial reporting
• Act as a trusted commercial advisor to clients and stakeholders, including MOD‑facing teams
• Drive value engineering and commercial efficiency across delivery partners
• Lead change management, risk mitigation and contract compliance
• Mentor and support junior QS staff
• Ensure compliance with defence assurance, security and governance processes

Candidate specifications

Essential:

• Degree qualified (or equivalent)
• Significant experience in quantity surveying/commercial roles
• NEC ECC accreditation with strong senior‑level NEC3/NEC4 experience; Chartered (MRICS) or close to completion
• Experience delivering commercial management on complex, high‑value programmes in regulated environments
• Strong capability in cost control, forecasting and valuation across lifecycle stages
• Experience managing cash‑flow, governance and commercial risk; experience using CEMAR
• Strong stakeholder engagement and leadership capability
• Advanced Microsoft Office capability
• Hands‑on NEC ECC/PSC experience

Desirable:

• Experience administering contracts using Thinkproject Contracts
• NEC Project Manager Accreditation
• Experience working within defence environments (infrastructure, equipment, or defence nuclear)
• Experience supporting programme‑level commercial delivery
• Experience mentoring or managing junior team members

Please note that offers for this role are conditional upon obtaining the appropriate level of security clearance.

Benefits

Financial wellbeing

• Matching employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%
• Life assurance equal up to 4× basic salary; option to increase cover to 6× salary
• Income protection scheme with financial benefit and return‑to‑work support
• Flexible benefits including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing
• Annual bonus schemes shared by the business

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues
• Health cash plan for everyday health costs and treatments
• Wellbeing support through Peppy and comprehensive wellbeing programme
• Ability to flex salary to opt into a range of health benefits, many extendable to family

Life‑style and family benefits

• Minimum of 33‑35 days holiday each year (inclusive of public holidays)
• 10 additional paid days for Armed Forces reservists and Cadet Force adult volunteers
• Holiday entitlement increases to 35 days after 5 years’ service
• Employee saving schemes and discounts from retailers
• Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity leave (up to 26 weeks paid maternity, 2 weeks paid paternity)
• Additional days for caring responsibilities; some paid
• Policies supporting military families

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription
• Opportunities to enhance technical and soft skills through mentoring and formal training

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

Mott MacDonald promotes fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We welcome and encourage diverse candidates, including those from under‑represented groups.