Senior Quantity Surveyor

An excellent Senior Quantity Surveyor / Senior Cost Consultant opportunity in Central London with a premium independent cost consultancy. Suitable candidates will have strong London fit-out and refurbishment experience, be capable of independently managing £5m–£15m projects and have the ambition and commercial confidence to develop clients, win work and progress towards leadership and potential future shareholding.

This is particularly attractive for an ambitious Senior Quantity Surveyor who wants considerably more influence over their career than may be possible within a large corporate PQS or cost consultancy. Rather than being one of many Senior Quantity Surveyors in a large organisation, the successful candidate can become an important part of a smaller consultancy, help grow the business and potentially progress into its future leadership team.

Project Details

The successful Senior Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant will work on premium fit-out and refurbishment projects in Central London, typically valued between approximately £5m and £15m.

The full range of projects is expected to include high-quality commercial, residential, retail and hospitality fit-out and refurbishment commissions for premium London clients although the focus is high end fit out and refurbishment.

The successful candidate must already have sufficient technical and client-facing experience to take ownership of projects rather than operate as an Assistant Quantity Surveyor or supporting QS. You will be expected to scope, manage and deliver your own commissions through both pre-contract and post-contract stages.

Responsibilities and Duties

This is a hands-on Senior Quantity Surveyor and Cost Consultant position requiring both strong technical quantity surveying capability and the confidence to manage clients and projects independently.

The successful candidate will deliver a high-quality cost management service while contributing to the consultancy's continued growth.

• Take independent responsibility for fit-out and refurbishment projects typically valued between £5m and £15m.
• Manage projects throughout their lifecycle from initial feasibility and pre-contract cost planning through procurement, construction and final account.
• Deliver the full range of pre-contract quantity surveying and cost management services.
• Prepare feasibility estimates, cost plans, tender documentation and procurement advice.
• Advise clients on procurement strategy, construction costs, commercial risk and value for money.
• Manage tender processes, analyse contractor returns and prepare recommendations for clients.
• Deliver post-contract cost management including valuations, variations, change control, cost reporting and final accounts.
• Act as the principal day-to-day cost management contact for clients and other members of the professional team.
• Scope commissions and determine the quantity surveying and cost management services required to successfully deliver them.
• Manage client expectations and ensure an accurate, commercial and high-quality service is delivered.
• Build strong relationships with existing clients and identify opportunities to provide additional consultancy services.
• Play an active role in business development, networking and identifying potential new clients and project opportunities.
• Spot opportunities in the London property and construction market and help convert relationships into fee-earning work.
• Contribute to fee proposals, pitches, bid submissions and client presentations.
• Represent the consultancy confidently at client meetings, industry events and networking opportunities.
• Support and mentor less experienced Quantity Surveyors where required.
• Work closely with the senior leadership of the consultancy and contribute ideas to the future direction and growth of the business.

Desired Skills and Experience

The ideal candidate will already be operating at Senior Quantity Surveyor / Senior Cost Consultant level and have approximately 6–15 years of relevant professional experience (or equivalent) mostly within the London market.

It is important that candidates can demonstrate independent responsibility for their own projects. Applications from candidates whose experience has principally involved assisting more senior Quantity Surveyors rather than personally running projects are unlikely to be suitable.

• Approximately 6–15 years of Quantity Surveying / Cost Management experience.
• Strong recent experience within the London construction and property market is essential.
• Previous experience working for a PQS, cost consultancy or construction consultancy.
• Strong experience of fit-out and refurbishment projects is essential.
• Proven experience taking independent responsibility for projects in the region of £5m–£15m in construction value.
• Able to demonstrate personally running and scoping projects rather than operating principally in an assistant or supporting capacity.
• Strong pre-contract quantity surveying experience including cost planning, estimating, procurement, tendering and tender analysis.
• Strong post-contract quantity surveying experience including valuations, variations, cost reporting, change control and final accounts.
• Good working knowledge of London construction costs, contractors, consultants and market conditions.
• Commercially aware and comfortable dealing directly with sophisticated property and construction clients.
• Excellent communication, presentation and relationship-building skills.
• Able to manage several responsibilities and client relationships without requiring close supervision.
• An interest in business development is essential.
• Candidates should be comfortable networking, developing professional relationships and identifying potential opportunities for new work.
• Able to recognise opportunities to provide additional services to existing clients as well as identify and develop new client relationships.
• Ambitious to progress beyond a conventional Senior Quantity Surveyor position into a more senior commercial and leadership role.

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• A degree in Quantity Surveying, Cost Management or a closely related construction discipline is preferred.
• MRICS status is preferred and would be advantageous, although the quality and relevance of the candidate’s London cost consultancy experience will also be an important consideration.
• Strong professional knowledge of pre-contract and post-contract quantity surveying practice is essential.

Employing Company Overview and Profile

Maxim Recruitment is seeking an experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant on behalf of a premium independent cost consultancy based in Central London.

The consultancy has an established client base, including premium London property clients, and specialises in delivering high-quality fit-out and refurbishment commissions. Its core team has worked together for many years, and the business is now focused on its next stage of growth.

This creates an unusual opportunity for the successful Senior Quantity Surveyor. Unlike joining a large corporate cost consultancy where an individual can become one of many people at the same grade, this is a smaller business where a high-performing individual can have genuine visibility, influence, and involvement in its future development.

An ambitious individual can progress into a future leadership role and, subject to performance and mutual agreement, may also have the opportunity to acquire a shareholding in the business.

The opportunity will therefore particularly suit a Senior Quantity Surveyor who is technically strong but who also wants to develop clients, win work, contribute to business strategy and ultimately become an important part of the future ownership and leadership of a successful consultancy.

A full client overview will be given to shortlisted candidates.

Additional Benefits Package and Incentives

• Salary £90,000–£100,000 per annum depending on experience and current level of responsibility
• 25 days annual leave plus Public Holidays
• Private medical and health insurance
• Excellent scope for career progression
• Opportunity to progress into the future leadership of the business
• Potential future opportunity to acquire a shareholding in the business
• Mostly office-based Central London role