Colas Ltd are a UK subsidiary of the global Colas Group, which operates in over 50 countries worldwide and employs over 55,000 people including over 1500 in the UK across multiple sites. We are specialists in highways construction and have been involved in large-scale UK and international construction projects within the highways, airfields, and marine sectors as well as offering highways maintenance services and manufacturing our own innovative surfacing products. We hold a 'Gold Investor in People' award for continuously developing and rewarding our employees, offering excellent career potential.
Purple of the role
Colas have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor to join our Commercial Team supporting theCheshire West and Chester Highways Maintenance and Response Contract. This is a key role within the business, responsible for providing commercial leadership, supporting the contract’s financial performance, and ensuring accurate and timely commercial reporting. You will oversee and mentor a team of commercial professionals, helping to guide Quantity Surveyors, Assistant Quantity Surveyors and Commercial Assistants while ensuring that all activities comply with Colas governance, policies, and procedures.
Main Responsibilities
As a Senior Quantity Surveyor, you will play a central role in managing the commercial aspects of the Cheshire West and Chester contract. You’ll be responsible for ensuring accurate cost forecasting, value recovery, and the effective management of subcontract packages from procurement through to final account. You will produce clear and detailed monthly reports and provide ongoing advice to senior management to support strategic and commercial decision-making. As a Senior Quanitity Surveyor your role will include supporting the pricing of quoted works and compensation events, managing change control processes, and ensuring full compliance with the NEC4 contract mechanisms. You will maintain accurate records of work progress, proactively manage commercial risk, and contribute to the continual improvement of commercial processes and procedures. Collaboration will be key, as you’ll work closely with operational teams to support project delivery, cost control, and performance monitoring across multiple workstreams.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be an experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor with a strong background in NEC4 contract administration and commercial management, ideally within highways or civil engineering projects. Holding a BSc in Quantity Surveying or a related discipline, you bring at least five years of post-qualification experience and are working towards, or already hold, professional membership (RICS, CIOB, or ICES). You have proven expertise in managing budgets, cost forecasting, subcontract packages, and producing accurate commercial reports. A natural leader and effective communicator, you are skilled at mentoring teams, solving complex problems, and building collaborative relationships. With excellent numerical and IT skills, a commitment to health and safety, and a focus on continuous improvement, you thrive in fast-paced environments and are motivated to deliver results with integrity and professionalism.
Package Description
Here at Colas, we offer a great total compensation package, including:
1. A salary between £50,000 and £60,000 (dependent on experience) PLUS Company Car/Car allowance
2. Our Colas Pension Scheme has combined contributions of up to 10%
3. Life Assurance Scheme which is x4 basic salary
4. 25 days annual leave per year + Public Holidays
5. Holiday Purchase & Selling Scheme
6. Hybrid Working Scheme (dependent on the role)
7. Opportunities to study towards a fully funded Professional Qualification
8. Ongoing personal / professional development
9. Discounts on car leasing, holidays, cinema tickets, restaurants and much more through our online employee benefits portal
At Colas, our culture is guided by four core values: Respect, Commitment, Pioneering, and Sharing. These values shape how we work, collaborate, and grow together. We believe that respect is the foundation of every relationship. By treating others as we wish to be treated, we foster fairness, transparency, and inclusion within our teams and with our clients, communities, and partners. Commitment means dedicating ourselves fully to everything we do. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to make a meaningful impact. With a pioneering spirit, we prioritise bold innovation over blind ambition. We welcome new ideas, invest in our people, and work to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions that shape the future. Through sharing, we build trust and solidarity, encouraging collaboration and growth at all levels of the business.
Colas Ltd is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that mirrors the communities we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you want a workplace where your voice is valued and your potential is developed, Colas is the right choice.
Note to Recruitment Agencies
In line with our Company Policy, Colas Ltd has a preference for direct hiring and we will reach out to our PSL (Preferred Suppliers List) agencies if the role is eligible for release. We do not accept speculative CVs from agencies. If a speculative CV is sent, no fee will be applicable.