Senior Quantity Surveyor
Senior Quantity Surveyor – Welwyn Garden City
£75,000 – £95,000 + Package
Tier 1 Main Contractor | Northern Home Counties
The Opportunity
A leading Tier 1 main contractor is seeking an experienced and commercially astute Senior Quantity Surveyor to join their Northern Home Counties business, based out of Welwyn Garden City. This is a pivotal hire within a growing regional team, offering the opportunity to take full commercial ownership of a major education scheme and play a key role in future project delivery across the region.
This position is ideally suited to a "No.1" Senior QS who is confident operating autonomously, leading projects from pre-construction through to final account, and managing both internal teams and external stakeholders.
The business has a strong pipeline of secured work across education, healthcare, leisure, and public sector frameworks, providing long-term stability and clear career progression.
The Role
As a Senior Quantity Surveyor, you will take full responsibility for the commercial management of a major project within the Northern Home Counties region. You will be expected to lead all financial and contractual aspects, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in line with commercial targets.
Key responsibilities will include:
Taking the commercial lead on a large-scale construction project
Managing the full project lifecycle from tender through to final account
Preparing and managing budgets, forecasts, and cost reports
Providing accurate and timely commercial reporting to senior management
Identifying, managing, and mitigating commercial risks and opportunities
Procuring and managing subcontractor packages
Leading subcontractor negotiations and agreement of final accounts
Administering contracts in line with JCT forms of contract
Managing change control processes, including variations and compensation events
Working closely with project delivery teams to ensure alignment between commercial and operational objectives
Supporting bid and pre-construction activities where required
Project Scope
The initial project will be a large education scheme, typically within the £20m-£70m range, delivered under a DfE framework. This role requires someone with demonstrable experience in delivering similar schemes, particularly large school projects.
Following successful delivery, there will be opportunities to move onto additional projects across sectors such as healthcare, leisure, and mixed-use developments within the region.
Team Leadership
You will be responsible for leading and developing a small commercial team, typically including Assistant Quantity Surveyors and/or Trainee QSs. This will involve:
Providing day-to-day guidance and mentorship
Reviewing and overseeing work outputs
Supporting the development and progression of junior staff
Key Requirements
To be considered for this role, candidates must demonstrate:
Proven experience working for a Tier 1 or leading main contractor
Strong track record of delivering education / DfE schemes (£20m-£70m essential)
Experience operating as a No.1 Senior Quantity Surveyor on large projects
Strong knowledge and practical application of JCT forms of contract
Experience working on 2-stage tenders and negotiated projects
Ability to manage projects independently from a commercial perspective
Experience managing and mentoring Assistant / Quantity Surveyors
Strong financial and commercial acumen
Excellent negotiation and communication skills
Qualifications & Systems
Degree or HNC in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or a related discipline
RICS accreditation (or working towards) is desirable
Strong knowledge of commercial and financial systems (e.g. COINS or similar)
Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
The Business
This Tier 1 main contractor has an established presence across the London and Home Counties region, with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality projects across public and private sectors.
Their core sectors include:
Education (DfE frameworks and academies)
Healthcare
Leisure and civic buildings
Public sector frameworks
Mixed-use and investment-led developmentsThe business operates with a collaborative, team-focused culture and places a strong emphasis on long-term relationships with clients and supply chain partners.
What's on Offer
Competitive salary of £75,000 – £95,000 (dependent on experience)
Comprehensive benefits package
Strong pipeline of secured work providing long-term stability
Clear career progression within a growing regional business
Opportunity to lead high-profile, technically challenging projects
Supportive and collaborative working environment
Flexibility for occasional remote working