Senior Quantity Surveyor

Cambridge, GB Exeter, GB Bristol, GB Plymouth, GB

Mott MacDonald’s Advisory and Programme Delivery (APD) unit delivers both project, programme & commercial management (PPCM) services and advisory solutions across the built environment, defence, energy, water, environmental, transportation, health and care sectors.

We deliver tailored solutions that directly address our clients’ key challenges, combining our world-leading project expertise with unrivalled programme delivery capabilities and advisory services.

APD delivers services to projects ranging in scale and complexity up to £20bn, through the technical disciplines of programme management, project management, project controls, scheduling, cost management, estimating, infrastructure finance, management consulting, digital consulting and education, health and care management.

Due to continued growth in our defence portfolio, we are seeking an experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor to join our team.

This is a senior commercial leadership role supporting complex programmes across defence infrastructure, defence equipment delivery, and defence nuclear environments.

You will play a pivotal role in delivering robust commercial strategies, managing risk, and acting as a trusted advisor to defence clients, ensuring value-for-money outcomes across critical national programmes.

Defence Sector Focus:

Mott MacDonald’s Advisory and Programme Delivery teams support high-profile defence clients including the MOD, DIO, and strategic delivery partners, working across:

Estate-wide infrastructure modernisation programmes

Support to defence equipment programmes and facilities integration

Specialist defence nuclear infrastructure, including submarine and dockyard facilities

Complex, multi-year capital investment programmes

Projects are delivered in secure, highly regulated environments requiring strong governance, assurance, and commercial discipline.

The Senior Quantity Surveyor will take a leading role in commercial delivery across defence programmes.

The role focuses on strategic cost management, NEC contract leadership, and client-facing commercial assurance within complex and secure environments.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

Lead the administration of NEC3/NEC4 contracts across defence programmes

Provide senior commercial leadership on infrastructure, equipment, and nuclear-related projects

Own cost forecasting, reporting, and financial governance at project/programme level

Lead valuation of works and ensure robust commercial reporting

Act as a trusted commercial advisor to clients and stakeholders, including MOD-facing teams

Drive value engineering and commercial efficiency across delivery partners

Lead on change management, risk mitigation, and contract compliance

Mentor and support junior QS staff

Ensure compliance with defence assurance, security, and governance processes

Essential:

Degree qualified (or equivalent)

Significant experience in quantity surveying/commercial roles

NEC ECC accreditation with strong senior-level NEC3/NEC4 experience

Chartered (MRICS) or close to completion

Experience delivering commercial management on complex, high-value programmes in regulated environments

Strong capability in cost control, forecasting, and valuation across lifecycle stages

Experience managing cashflow, governance, and commercial risk Experience using CEMAR

Strong stakeholder engagement and leadership capability

Advanced Microsoft Office capability

Hands-on NEC ECC/PSC experience

Desirable:

Experience administering contracts using Thinkproject Contracts

NEC Project Manager Accreditation

Experience working within defence environments (infrastructure, equipment, or defence nuclear)

Experience supporting programme-level commercial delivery

Experience mentoring or managing junior team members

Please be advised that offers for this role are conditional upon obtaining the appropriate level of Security Clearance.

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.

Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.

Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.

Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.

As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.

Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.

As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.

Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.

For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.

Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.

Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.

A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.

Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.

10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.

Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.

Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.

Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.

Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Primary annual professional institution subscription.

A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.

Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes .

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.