Job Description
Job Title: Quantity Surveyor / Senior Quantity Surveyor – Groundworks
Location: Taunton / M5 Corridor
Salary: £45,000 – £80,000 + car / allowance + package (DOE)
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent
The Role
Our client is a long-established, privately owned groundworks and civil engineering contractor delivering residential groundworks packages for major housebuilders across the South West. They’re looking to appoint a Quantity Surveyor or Senior Quantity Surveyor to take commercial ownership of multiple sites along the Taunton / M5 corridor, managing schemes from tender handover through to final account.
This is a hands-on position, best suited to someone who thrives in a fast-paced subcontractor environment and is comfortable juggling several live sites while keeping a tight grip on costs, cash flow and client relationships.
Key Responsibilities
* Commercial management of multiple residential groundworks packages on housing developments.
* Preparing and submitting applications for payment, valuations and variations.
* Monitoring project costs and progress to ensure financial targets are met.
* Negotiating and procuring subcontract packages, including tender analysis and order placement.
* Preparing bills of quantities, schedules of work and cost plans.
* Producing monthly CVRs and forecasts, identifying risks and opportunities.
* Managing change control, claims and final accounts.
* Working closely with site teams, clients, engineers and other stakeholders to resolve issues promptly.
* Ensuring adherence to contract conditions, company procedures and commercial best practice.
* At Senior QS level, you’ll typically lead the commercial delivery across larger or multiple schemes and support in mentoring junior / intermediate QSs.
What You’ll Bring
o Proven experience as a Quantity Surveyor or Senior QS with a groundworks contractor – this role is not aimed at big infrastructure QSs or client-side / housebuilder QSs.
o Background in residential / housebuilding projects, including roads, sewers, drainage, foundations and externals.
o Minimum 3–5 years’ experience in a similar role – not suitable for entry-level or graduate candidates.
o Strong commercial acumen and solid understanding of NEC / JCT contracts and subcontract arrangements.
o Confident managing applications, variations, CVRs, forecasting, procurement and final accounts.
o Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work closely with site and client teams.
o Proficient in MS Office (Excel) and typical QS software such as Causeway or similar.
o Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel between sites along the M5 corridor.
o Relevant qualification (HNC/HND/Degree in Quantity Surveying or similar) is preferred but not essential.
What’s On Offer
o QS: £45,000 – £50,000 basic + car / allowance
o Senior QS: up to £80,000 basic + car / allowance
o 20 days’ holiday for QS roles, increasing by one day per year to a maximum of 25 days; 25 days for Senior QS positions.
o Pension scheme.
o The opportunity to work on major housebuilding projects with leading developers in the region.
Call to Action
If you’re a Quantity Surveyor or Senior QS with a strong groundworks background and you’re looking for a long-term role on major residential schemes in the South West, we’d love to hear from you. Contact William at Engineered Connections on 020 3834 9649 to find out more.