Senior Quantity Surveyor – Permanent, Full Time (37 hours per week)
Salary: £58,648 to £68,997 per annum
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
Working Style: Anywhere worker
Closing Date: 4th June 2026
Accountabilities
* Lead the commissioning of the Essex Highways contract, valued between £2bn and £3bn, ensuring the development and improvement of the highways model to achieve great outcomes for Essex, including translating the ECC Vision into contractual outcomes that matter to the economy, the environment, and the acceleration of decarbonisation.
* Work collaboratively, driving commerciality, building and nurturing relationships internally and externally to support the delivery of highways works and services, and longer‑term developments.
* Identify opportunities using evidence‑based insight for the commercial improvement of the contract, managing the changes so that the highest possible levels of service quality are continually delivered.
* Implement commercial solutions to emerging and complex issues to meet the needs of customers and deliver the best possible outcomes within agreed resources.
* Use own professional expertise and deep insight to develop a contract that ensures value for money while ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and statutory requirements and managing a level of appropriate risk.
* Conduct financial viability analysis, market appraisals and embed due diligence processes to manage financial risks to the Council.
* Develop innovative commercial approaches across the business to maximise the leverage of key investments, assets and grant opportunities while delivering the Council’s policies and the highways service performance management framework.
* Demonstrate acute awareness of current and future market conditions/trends and highways and construction opportunities, evaluating and recommending direction for Essex Highways to follow to drive growth.
Dimensions
* Budget responsibility: Indirect, driving the best commercial outcomes for the multi‑billion investment that the council will make in its highways contract.
* People: Support a team of approximately ten people with commercial advice and direction, dealing with external providers and consultants during the procurement and management of the significant highways contract.
* Breadth of role: Accountable for achieving demonstrable best value and strategic outcomes through procurement of the council’s contract which delivers statutory duties, policies and strategies that cover the breadth of the highways and transportation function.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
* Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience as a qualified surveyor.
* Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge as a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, or equivalent relevant professional body.
* Significant and demonstrable post‑qualification experience within a Highways or Transportation environment with a proven track record of successful delivery of contracts, schemes, projects and services.
* Excellent leadership skills with the ability to contribute to a highly performing and motivated team from diverse backgrounds.
* Excellent influencing skills – able to build strong collaborative relationships across the Council and with private partners, having keen negotiating skills with the ability to see the big strategic picture and think long‑term.
* Capacity to innovate, embrace new ideas and test creative approaches to delivery in transport – including digital and commercial solutions.
* Expertise in commercial awareness and capacity to generate creative options around income generation, grant funding and making best use of our assets.
Candidate Requirements
* Confidentiality: Must maintain confidentiality of information at all times during and after employment and not disclose confidential, sensitive or commercial information gained during the course of employment for any purpose.
* Mobility: Must be mobile throughout the operational area, requiring a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.
Equal Opportunities & Disability Support
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and will interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the role under the Job Interview Scheme. We are also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements of the role.
We value integrity and ethical behaviour. Applicants are asked to embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles throughout the recruitment process.
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