Senior Quantity Surveyor (United Utilities

Purpose of the role

We are looking for a commercially strong and experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor to support the Head of Commercial in leading the commercial management of our UU contract. This role will provide day‑to‑day commercial leadership, guidance and oversight across allocated work streams. The Senior Quantity Surveyor will be responsible for ensuring strong commercial control, accurate reporting, effective WIP management, timely Applications for Payment, robust cost management and clear client query resolution across a high‑volume, low‑value contract environment.

The successful candidate will be confident managing multiple work streams, reviewing QS outputs, challenging commercial and operational information, and supporting the Head of Commercial with CVR performance, client discussions, risk management and commercial governance.

This role requires someone who can balance detail with leadership, ensuring the day‑to‑day QS processes are managed effectively while also identifying trends, risks and improvement opportunities across the contract.

Location:

Leyland

Hours:

40 Hours per week

Salary:
Up to £55,000 (Dependent on experience)

Benefit:
Company Car/Car Allowance

• Support the Head of Commercial in managing commercial performance across the UU contract.
• Provide day‑to‑day commercial leadership and guidance to Quantity Surveyors working across allocated work streams.
• Oversee the end‑to‑end QS process, ensuring works are commercially controlled from instruction and delivery through to valuation, payment and final account.
• Review QS outputs, including Applications for Payment, WIP positions, CVR commentary, cost reviews, client queries and supporting evidence.
• Ensure commercial processes are completed accurately, consistently and in line with contract requirements.
• Identify and escalates key commercial risks, recurring issues, margin pressures and cash recovery concerns.
• Drive improved commercial discipline, governance and accountability across the Non‑Core work streams.

• Oversee the preparation, review and submission of Applications for Payment across allocated work streams.
• Ensure AFPs are accurate, complete, well evidenced and submitted in line with contractual timescales.
• Review high‑risk, high‑value or recurring queried items before submission or escalation.
• Support the QS team in resolving client queries, rejections and unpaid items.
• Ensure all chargeable works, variations, materials, plant, subcontractors and other recoverable costs are captured.
• Monitor rejection trends and work with the QS and operational teams to reduce repeat issues.
• Support improved first‑time approval rates and timely cash recovery.

• Oversee WIP management across allocated Non‑Core work streams.
• Review aged WIP regularly, ensuring clear actions, owners and timescales are in place.
• Challenge blockers preventing billing, approval or payment.
• Support the QS team in progressing outstanding AFPs, queried items, rejected items and unpaid values.
• Ensure final account positions are accurate, well evidenced and commercially sound.
• Escalate aged, high‑risk or recurring WIP issues to the Head of Commercial where required.

• Manage and review CVR reporting across allocated work streams, ensuring revenue, cost, margin, WIP, risk and opportunity positions are accurate and clearly understood.
• Support the Head of Commercial with weekly and monthly CVR reviews, providing clear commentary on performance, risks, opportunities and required actions.
• Review job‑level and workstream‑level costs, including labour, plant, materials, subcontractors and other direct costs.
• Challenge incorrect cost allocations and work with Finance and Operations to resolve coding or cost issues.
• Identify trends in cost movement, productivity, under‑recovery, margin pressure or operational inefficiency.
• Ensure risks and opportunities are clearly tracked, understood and reflected in commercial reporting.
• Provide clear recommendations to improve margin, recovery and commercial control.

• Ensure relevant contract requirements are…