Project Details
Working within this specialist commercial and contract management consultancy, you will provide services to a range of clients, including:
1. Tier one and regional main contractors
2. Specialist subcontractors
3. Client and employer organisations
The consultancy’s core focus is on commercial management, quantum assessment and commercial recovery, with additional involvement in claims and dispute resolution. You will work on a mix of live projects and retrospective commissions that may include:
4. Traditional commercial / QS support on live projects
5. Quantum analysis and assessment of change, costs and entitlements
6. Support in the preparation and defence of claims and, where relevant, formal disputes such as adjudication
You will not be expected to arrive with formal disputes experience, but you will have the opportunity to develop this as your experience grows and your interest dictates.
Responsibilities and Duties
As a Senior Consultant – Commercial & Quantum, you will work both independently and as part of small, focused teams. You will lead individual workstreams, take responsibility for high-quality commercial outputs and have regular client-facing interaction.
Typical duties will include:
7. Leading the review and analysis of tender, contract and project documentation
8. Providing commercial management support on live projects, from procurement through to final account
9. Identifying, evidencing and supporting clients’ commercial entitlements on change, loss and expense and other matters
10. Interrogating and assessing construction costs, valuations, change records and commercial reporting
11. Preparing or contributing to the preparation of commercial reports, cost assessments and quantum analyses
12. Drafting clear written narratives, commercial justifications and supporting information for compensation events or similar change mechanisms
13. Supporting, and in time helping to lead, the preparation of claims documentation (training provided as needed)
14. Assisting with the preparation of dispute referral, response and reply documents for adjudications where appropriate, under the guidance of more senior colleagues
15. Applying and advising on standard forms of contract, in particular NEC, and potentially JCT and bespoke forms
16. Liaising closely with client commercial, project and site teams, and occasionally working from client offices or project sites as required
17. Providing support and informal guidance to more junior consultants as your experience and responsibility grows
The role will provide regular exposure to complex commercial issues and quantum assessments, with the option to grow into more formal disputes work as your career interests evolve.
Desired Skills and Experience
The successful Senior Consultant – Commercial & Quantum is likely to demonstrate:
18. Significant experience as a Quantity Surveyor / Commercial professional with a reputable main contractor, subcontractor or comparable consultancy
19. Strong, hands-on experience of core commercial management: valuations, variations, change control, cost reporting and final accounts
20. Good working knowledge of NEC forms of contract, including compensation events and payment mechanisms (experience with JCT and/or bespoke contracts also beneficial)
21. Experience working in organisations with robust commercial procedures and reporting
22. Confidence in preparing, assessing and interrogating construction costs and commercial data
23. Ability to draft clear, well-structured commercial correspondence and narratives
24. Exposure to claims and/or commercial recovery issues
25. Any experience supporting formal disputes (e.g. adjudication) would be a bonus
26. Excellent planning, organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines
27. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with confidence when dealing with client commercial and project teams
Qualifications/Educational Requirements
28. A degree (or equivalent) in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or a closely related discipline is essential
29. Ideally a Chartered Quantity Surveyor (MRICS or equivalent) – strong candidates who are close to achieving chartered status will also be considered
30. Any additional training or postgraduate study in construction law, contract law or dispute resolution would be an advantage but is not a requirement
Employing Company Overview and Profile
The employer is a British commercial and contract management consultancy with a prestigious client base that includes tier one main contractors, regional contractors, specialist subcontractors and client organisations.
They operate nationally and also have involvement on selected international projects. Much of your work can be undertaken from the company’s Darlington office in the North East, with hybrid working where appropriate. However, it is common for consultants to be embedded within client teams for specific commissions, which may involve working on sites or in client offices, including in London and the South. You should therefore be prepared to travel when required.
This Senior Consultant role is particularly well suited to experienced Quantity Surveyors who enjoy the commercial side of projects and want to broaden into more specialist commercial, quantum and (optionally) disputes-related work within a focused consultancy environment.
The business promotes an inclusive, professional working culture and actively supports ongoing training, professional development and clear career progression.
Additional Benefits Package and Incentives
31. Salary: £70,000 – £85,000 (DOE)
32. Discretionary bonus
33. Private medical insurance
34. Pension scheme
35. 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
36. Professional fees paid (where applicable)
37. Opportunities for further training, development and progression