Quantity Surveyor / Estimator

Location: Blackpool, Lancashire

Salary: £58,000 - £65,000 + Company Car + Christmas Bonus

Job Type: Permanent

Our client is a family-run building contractor based in Blackpool, delivering building, refurbishment and improvement works across Lancashire and the wider North West.

The business works extensively with local authorities, housing associations and public sector clients, delivering projects across sectors including housing, education, care facilities and public buildings.

Due to continued growth within its Large Projects Team, the business is looking to appoint an experienced Estimator / Quantity Surveyor to take responsibility for estimating and the commercial management of allocated projects from initial tender through to final account.

This is a key commercial position combining estimating and quantity surveying responsibilities.

You will prepare accurate and competitive tenders before taking responsibility for the commercial management of successful projects, working closely with Project Managers, Site Teams and Accounts to maintain accurate cost information, control commercial performance and protect project margins.

You will also provide guidance and practical support to an Apprentice Quantity Surveyor, with the role initially having a strong hands-on QS element.

Estimating & Tendering

• Review drawings, specifications, schedules of work and tender requirements

• Attend site visits and identify missing information, access issues, existing conditions and pricing risks

• Produce accurate take-offs and detailed itemised estimates

• Price labour, materials, plant, subcontract, waste and preliminaries

• Obtain and compare supplier and subcontractor quotations

• Review scope, exclusions, availability, lead times and price validity

• Record assumptions, provisional allowances and commercial risks

• Identify potential savings and alternative proposals

• Ensure overheads and profit are clearly identified for management review

• Manage tender deadlines, revisions and pricing returns

• Check calculations and ensure tender submissions are accurate

• Obtain management approval before submitting tenders

• Provide a comprehensive handover to the delivery team following successful tenders

Quantity Surveying & Commercial Management

• Prepare and review interim valuations and applications for payment

• Measure completed works and utilise site progress information

• Track certification and provide accurate information to Accounts

• Identify, measure and price variations

• Maintain change registers and supporting commercial records

• Ensure required contractual notifications are issued within the appropriate timescales

• Escalate disputed or unapproved works

• Support subcontract procurement and review scopes and quotations

• Prepare subcontractor valuations and payment recommendations

• Prepare project cost reports, committed costs, forecasts and WIP information

• Monitor project performance against budget

• Identify and report risks to margin and recovery at an early stage

• Prepare and negotiate client and subcontract final accounts

• Monitor retention and outstanding commercial items

• Escalate disputes and settlement decisions to management

An important part of the role will be supporting the development of an Apprentice Quantity Surveyor.

You will:

• Allocate suitable QS tasks

• Explain processes and required approaches

• Review work before issue

• Provide practical coaching in measurement, valuations, variations and cost reporting

• Increase responsibility as the apprentice develops

• Agree priorities with management to ensure project and tender deadlines remain achievable

The successful candidate will ideally have:

• Proven experience working in an Estimator / Quantity Surveyor capacity within building or refurbishment

• Strong experience across take-offs, cost build-ups, valuations, variations and final accounts

• Sound construction knowledge

• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications and contractual requirements

• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of project cost control

• Confident use of Microsoft Excel

• Experience maintaining accurate digital project records and audit trails

• Strong calculation and analytical skills

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills

• Ability to manage multiple competing deadlines

• Experience working closely with site and project management teams

• Ability to support and develop junior commercial staff

• Ability to travel to project sites across the operating area

• Relevant construction qualification or equivalent practical experience would be advantageous

Experience of:

• Projects in the region of £50,000 - £1.5 million

• Public sector tenders

• Occupied-building refurbishment

• Estimating or take-off software

• Supplier negotiation and buying

• Building and refurbishment projects

• £58,000 - £65,000 per annum

• Company car

• Christmas bonus

• Permanent position

• Blackpool-based office

• Projects across Lancashire and the wider North West

• Large Projects Team

• Combination of estimating and quantity surveying

• Opportunity to work on public sector and refurbishment projects

• Responsibility for supporting an Apprentice QS

• Long-term career opportunity with an established contractor

If you're interested in this opportunity, then please get in touch today with our Commercial Specialist, Mark Harris.

Building Careers UK specialises in Construction and Property recruitment and serves as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers.

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Please Note: Due to the high volume of applicants, only those shortlisted will be contacted.

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