Senior Quantity Surveyor - Clean Water

Location: Portsmouth / Hampshire
Sector: Water / Utilities / Infrastructure
Freelance / Contract - £450 / £500 per day OIR35

Role Overview                                                                                                                       

Our client is currently seeking a couple of Senior Quantity Surveyor to join a client-side commercial team supporting the delivery of a major water infrastructure programme in the Portsmouth and Hampshire area.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced freelance Quantity Surveyor to work within a major client organisation, providing commercial and contractual support across significant infrastructure works.

The successful candidate will have strong experience in commercial management and NEC contracts, with the ability to work confidently with contractors, consultants and internal project teams. Experience within the water, utilities or wider infrastructure sector would be highly advantageous.

This role would suit an Senior Quantity Surveyor who is comfortable joining an established client-side team and making an immediate contribution. The ideal candidate will be able to operate with a high degree of autonomy, quickly understand project requirements and take ownership of their commercial workstreams.

We are particularly interested in individuals who have:

• A strong background in NEC commercial management.
• Recent experience on major infrastructure or utilities projects.
• The ability to hit the ground running in a client-side environment.
• Strong contractor-facing commercial and negotiation skills.
• Experience managing multiple commercial priorities within a complex project environment.
• A pragmatic and proactive approach to commercial management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Key Responsibilities

Provide senior quantity surveying and commercial management support across major infrastructure projects and work packages.

Manage the commercial performance of allocated contracts from procurement through to completion and final account.

Monitor project costs, budgets, forecasts, expenditure and cash flow.

Prepare and maintain accurate monthly cost reports and commercial forecasts.

Review contractor applications for payment, valuations, compensation events, variations and other commercial submissions.

Take an active role in the administration and management of NEC contracts, ensuring contractual processes and timescales are followed.

Manage and assess NEC compensation events, early warnings, programme impacts and associated commercial implications.

Identify and manage commercial risks and opportunities throughout the project lifecycle.

Review contractor forecasts, programmes and cost information, challenging assumptions where appropriate.

Assess changes, delays, risks and potential claims from a commercial perspective.

Support the procurement and tendering of construction and infrastructure packages.

Undertake tender analysis and provide commercial recommendations.

Negotiate and agree variations, compensation events and other commercial matters with contractors.

Work closely with Project Managers, Engineers, Planners, Procurement and other members of the delivery team.

Provide clear commercial advice to senior stakeholders and project leadership.

Ensure appropriate commercial governance and reporting requirements are maintained.

Support the agreement of final accounts and the successful commercial close-out of contracts.

Provide guidance and support to less experienced members of the commercial team where required.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience working as a Quantity Surveyor / Senior Quantity Surveyor on major construction, infrastructure, engineering or utilities projects.
• Strong experience working within a client-side or consultancy environment.
• Extensive experience of NEC contracts, particularly NEC3 and/or NEC4 ECC.
• Good understanding of NEC contractual processes, including Compensation Events, Early Warnings, Defined Cost, payment, programme and change management.
• Strong commercial management and cost control experience.
• Experience managing contractor accounts, valuations, changes and commercial negotiations.
• Experience working on sizeable infrastructure or capital delivery programmes.
• Strong understanding of commercial risk and opportunity management.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong Microsoft Excel and general commercial reporting skills.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of commercial responsibilities.

Desirable Experience

Previous experience within the water, utilities or regulated infrastructure sector.

Experience working for or alongside a major UK water company.

Experience of major civil engineering or infrastructure projects.

Experience with NEC4 ECC Option A, B, C or other NEC contract forms.

Experience dealing with complex compensation events and change.

RICS, CIOB or equivalent professional qualification.