Senior Quantity Surveyor

AW Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Pension and company benefits

Central London head office location

Clear progression to senior commercial

Job summary

AW Recruitment is seeking an experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor to lead commercial performance on multiple projects within Defence, Education and Residential sectors. The role is based at the Central London head office with oversight from early procurement to final accounts, ensuring cost control and contractual compliance.

You will mentor junior surveyors, manage procurement strategies, and provide strategic commercial guidance to senior management, while contributing to margin protection and

Qualifications

• Degree in Quantity Surveying or related discipline.
• Proven experience as a Senior Quantity Surveyor in the UK construction sector.
• Experience with NEC/JCT contracts and procurement processes.
• Experience managing multiple projects (Defence, Education, Residential sectors).
• Strong commercial awareness and mentoring ability.

Responsibilities

• Provide commercial leadership across multiple projects with value ranges £5m–£50m.
• Oversee procurement, pre-construction to final accounts and cost reporting.
• Lead subcontractor tendering, negotiations and contract appointments.
• Manage subcontractor accounts, valuations, variations and change control.
• Produce CVRs, cash-flow forecasts and detailed commercial reports.
• Mentor junior Quantity Surveyors and support the commercial team.

Skills

Commercial leadership

Procurement

Subcontractor management

CVRs & forecasting

Contract administration

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying

Job description

Salary: Up to £90,000 + Comprehensive Package

Sectors: Defence / MoD / Education / Residential

Position: Permanent

The Opportunity:

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor to join one of the UK's most innovative and forward-thinking construction businesses, delivering major projects across the Defence, MoD, Education and Residential sectors.

With annual turnover exceeding £140 million, a strong pipeline of secured projects and an established reputation for delivering technically complex schemes, the business offers an attractive combination of financial stability, innovation and long-term career development.

Unlike traditional main contractors, the company has developed a modern approach to construction, combining industrialised building techniques, off-site manufacturing and advanced construction methodologies to deliver projects with greater efficiency, programme certainty, quality and sustainability.

The business continues to expand its presence across key UK sectors, supported by established client relationships, repeat business and a growing portfolio of major construction projects.

This is an opportunity to join a commercially ambitious organisation where experienced Senior Quantity Surveyors have genuine responsibility, autonomy, and the chance to influence project performance.

The Role:

As Senior Quantity Surveyor, you will take a leading commercial role across multiple projects with values ranging from £5m to £50m, depending on the sector and project allocation.

Based at the company's Central London head office, you will oversee the commercial management of your allocated projects, taking responsibility from early-stage procurement and subcontractor appointments through construction, cost reporting and final account.

You will work closely with senior commercial leadership, operational teams, technical specialists and project stakeholders to ensure strong financial performance, contractual compliance and effective risk management.

This is not simply a package-management position. You will be expected to take ownership of the wider commercial performance of your projects, challenge costs, identify opportunities, protect margins and provide commercially informed recommendations to senior management.

You will also play an important role in managing, mentoring and developing junior Quantity Surveyors, helping to strengthen the wider commercial team as the business continues to grow.

Key Responsibilities:

• Take commercial leadership across multiple construction projects, ensuring successful financial and contractual performance.
• Manage projects from pre-construction and procurement through to final account.
• Develop and implement procurement strategies aligned with programme, budget and project requirements.
• Lead subcontractor tendering, commercial negotiations and contract appointments.
• Manage subcontractor accounts, valuations, variations, payment applications and change control.
• Produce and review detailed CVRs, cost forecasts, cash-flow projections and commercial reports.
• Maintain accurate visibility of project budgets, committed costs, expenditure and anticipated final accounts.
• Administer and manage contracts under NEC and JCT forms, ensuring contractual obligations are met.
• Identify, assess and manage commercial risks and opportunities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead value engineering and cost-optimisation initiatives while maintaining quality and programme objectives.
• Support early contractor involvement, pre-construction activities and commercial planning where required.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants, subcontractors and supply-chain partners.
• Work collaboratively with operational, technical and project delivery teams.
• Provide clear commercial reporting and strategic advice to senior management.
• Manage, support and mentor junior Quantity Surveyors across allocated projects.
• Lead subcontractor final-account negotiations and ensure effective commercial close-out.

About You:

The successful candidate will ideally have:

• Degree qualification in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or a related discipline.
• Proven experience operating as a Senior Quantity Surveyor within the UK construction industry.
• Strong background working for a UK main contractor or developer.
• Experience commercially managing substantial construction projects or multiple schemes simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of NEC and/or JCT contracts.
• Experience across Defence, MoD, Education, Residential or other complex construction sectors.
• Proven expertise in procurement, subcontractor management, CVRs, forecasting and final accounts.
• Experience taking commercial responsibility from procurement through to completion.
• Strong commercial awareness, contractual knowledge and negotiation skills.
• Experience managing or mentoring junior commercial staff.
• Confidence communicating directly with clients and senior stakeholders.
• A proactive, commercially astute approach with the ability to operate independently.

This position offers a genuine pathway towards Managing Quantity Surveyor and Commercial Management level.

As the business continues to expand, successful candidates will have the opportunity to take responsibility for larger projects, oversee wider commercial portfolios and develop teams of Quantity Surveyors.

The company's growth across Defence, Education and Residential construction provides opportunities to build long-term careers without being restricted to a single project or sector.

For a Senior QS looking to move into a position with greater autonomy, leadership responsibility and exposure to senior decision-makers, this represents an excellent next step.

What's on Offer:

• Basic salary up to £90,000
• Competitive benefits package
• Performance-related bonus
• Pension and additional company benefits
• Central London head office location
• Commercial responsibility across significant construction projects
• Opportunity to manage and develop junior Quantity Surveyors
• Exposure to both NEC and JCT contracts
• Strong pipeline of secured and future projects
• Clear progression towards Managing Quantity Surveyor / Commercial Manager level
• Long-term career development within a growing construction business

*Please note that all conversations will be treated in the strictest confidence. Any CV or personal information shared will remain confidential and will not be sent to any client or third party without your prior written consent.