Freelance Senior Quantity Surveyor

Freelance Senior Quantity Surveyor — Sussex Mixed-Use Residential Portfolio | Up to £500/day (Outside IR35)

We're working exclusively with a well-established Sussex-based residential developer/contractor to appoint a Senior Quantity Surveyor on a freelance basis to take full commercial ownership of three live mixed residential schemes, each with a development value of up to £13m.

Three concurrent mixed residential sites across Sussex, all now out of the ground and moving into active build phase. This isn't a caretaking role, you're picking up full commercial responsibility from this point forward, with real influence over how each scheme is procured and controlled from here to completion.

• Leading procurement of trade contractors and subcontract packages from the ground up — you'll be writing the commercial strategy for each site, not inheriting someone else's
• Preparing and issuing tender documentation, analysing returns, and negotiating and placing subcontract orders
• Managing the full subcontract lifecycle: orders, variations, instructions, and change control
• Producing accurate monthly cost reports, CVRs and cash flow forecasts for each site
• Interim valuations and applications for payment, both incoming (to the client/funder) and outgoing (to subcontractors)
• Managing final accounts through to agreement and close-out
• Identifying and mitigating commercial risk across three sites running in parallel, flagging cost and programme exposure early
• Working closely with site management and design teams to ensure commercial decisions track buildability and programme
• Reporting directly into senior leadership on commercial performance across the portfolio

• Up to £500 per day, confirmed outside IR35
• 12-month minimum contract, with a strong likelihood of extension given the ongoing pipeline
• Site-based with hybrid flexibility
• Autonomy across three live schemes for one client rather than a single site, genuine variety and scope to make the commercial function your own
• Direct line into senior decision-makers, not layers of sign-off

• Senior-level QS experience on residential or mixed-use schemes of comparable value (£10m+ GDV)
• Strong track record leading procurement from inception, not just administering existing packages
• Comfortable managing the commercial function across multiple live sites simultaneously
• Freelance/contractor background with a clear understanding of your own IR35 status
• Confident, self-sufficient operator who can own the commercial function end to end with minimal oversight

This is a rare chance to join a growing, well-funded developer at a pivotal point in its pipeline, with genuine scope to shape the commercial approach across multiple live schemes rather than slot into an existing structure.

Interested, or want more detail before applying? Contact David Lane on or  for a confidential conversation.