Senior Quantity Surveyor

Somerset Council; Taunton; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

LGPS pension

Flexible and hybrid working

Health and wellbeing support

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

Somerset County Council's Property team is seeking an experienced quantity surveyor to lead professional quantity surveying services across major capital, construction and property projects, ensuring value for money and governance compliance.

You will provide commercial, procurement and contract advice, manage procurement options, lead commercial admin of contracts, monitor external cost consultants and support budget forecasting and investment planning for successful project delivery.

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience delivering quantity surveying services on construction or property projects.
• Experience of managing project costs, budgets, forecasting and financial reporting on capital programmes.
• Experience of procurement, contract management and administration of construction contracts.
• Detailed knowledge of quantity surveying principles, cost management and commercial practices within the construction industry.
• Sound knowledge of construction procurement routes and working knowledge of standard forms of construction contract.
• Ability to develop cost plans, estimates, forecasts and commercial reports that support effective decision making.
• Strong negotiating, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver accurate work within demanding timescales.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of professional quantity surveying services across major capital, construction and property projects.
• Investigate and assess construction and consultancy framework options, making recommendations on their suitability. Lead procurement activity through agreed arrangements.
• Provide expert commercial, contractual and procurement advice to project teams and Council services.
• Lead the commercial administration of construction contracts, including valuations and payment recommendations.
• Provide professional quantity surveying advice, including assessment of valuations and payment recommendations.
• Monitor and manage the performance of external cost consultants and professional advisors.

Skills

Quantity surveying

Budget forecasting

Financial reporting

Procurement

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Cost planning

Commercial reporting

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or related discipline

Job description

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You will be managing the operational delivery of professional quantity surveying, commercial and contract management services for major build projects within Somerset Council’s Property team.

The Council has a portfolio of a range of properties which deliver services for the people of Somerset, including leisure centres, depots, offices and commercial estates.

You will be supporting the successful delivery of construction, maintenance and capital projects by providing expert cost management, procurement and contractual advice, ensuring projects achieve value for money and comply with financial and governance requirements.

Working across the Major Projects service and wider Property function, you will be assessing and supporting the implementation of appropriate quantity surveying and construction procurement arrangements, managing associated contracts and commercial information. You will also be providing commercial leadership to project teams, supporting budget forecasting and investment planning.

Your success in this role will contribute to the efficient delivery of projects that improve and maintain the Council's built estate.

This is a significant role within our service with lots of varied responsibilities. If you think you meet the skills and background required, then we would love to hear from you!

Key responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of professional quantity surveying services across major capital, construction and property projects.
• Investigate and assess construction and consultancy framework options, making recommendations on their suitability. Lead procurement activity through agreed arrangements.
• Provide expert commercial, contractual and procurement advice to project teams and Council services.
• Lead the commercial administration of construction contracts, including valuations and payment recommendations.
• Provide professional quantity surveying advice, including assessment of valuations and payment recommendations.
• Monitor and manage the performance of external cost consultants and professional advisors.

What you’ll bring

• Significant post-qualification experience delivering quantity surveying services on construction or property projects.
• Experience of managing project costs, budgets, forecasting and financial reporting on capital programmes.
• Experience of procurement, contract management and administration of construction contracts.
• Detailed knowledge of quantity surveying principles, cost management and commercial practices within the construction industry.
• Sound knowledge of construction procurement routes and working knowledge of standard forms of construction contract.
• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or a related discipline.
• Ability to develop cost plans, estimates, forecasts and commercial reports that support effective decision making.
• Strong negotiating, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver accurate work within demanding timescales.

About the team

Why Join Us?

At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life.

• Generous annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK's most generous and secure pension schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance, where service needs allow.
• Health and wellbeing support, including access to confidential employee assistance services.
• Paid volunteering opportunities, helping you make a difference both inside and outside of work.

Find out more about working at Somerset Council:

• This is a full-time role working 37 hours per week.
• 30 days of annual leave (additional to bank holidays).
• The role includes regular visits to active construction sites and operational properties, requiring exposure to varying site environments and compliance with applicable health and safety procedures.
• This role is subject to enhanced DBS checks.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Richard Morris, Principal Construction Project Manager, via email at [e-mail] .

We believe diversity makes us stronger and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, whose unique perspectives help us better serve the people of Somerset.