Managing Quantity Surveyor Site

Major Water Infrastructure Project – Thames Water The Opportunity

Tilbury Douglas is seeking an experienced Managing Quantity Surveyor to provide full commercial leadership on an in excess of £60m Thames Water major works Sewage Treatment Works (STW) upgrade. This is a high-profile Design & Build project delivered under NEC4 Option C, forming part of a long-term framework.

The role will take accountability for commercial strategy, governance, risk management, and financial performance across the full project lifecycle, from pre-construction through delivery and final account.

The position requires a commitment to:

• Pre-construction:
  Approx. 18 months, hybrid working based between site, home and Reading head office
• Construction:
  Approx. 36 months, 4 days per week site-based within the Thames Valley (M4/M40 corridor), 1 day home

• Internal and external stakeholder facing
• Provide overall commercial leadership for the project, ensuring financial control, governance, and compliance with company procedures.
• Protect the business from commercial and financial risk while maximising project value and margin.
• Ensure accurate forecasting, cost reporting, and outturn financial performance throughout the project lifecycle.

• Lead commercial input into pre-construction activities, including procurement strategy, risk management, and tender governance.
• Oversee the preparation and assurance of cost plans, estimates, Bills of Quantities, and tender submissions.
• Lead subcontractor procurement, including enquiry preparation, tender evaluation, commercial adjudication, and contract award.
• Develop and manage the project risk register, ensuring risks are appropriately valued, mitigated, and communicated.

• Ensure robust administration of the main contract and subcontracts, including notices, compensation events, early warnings, and change control.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of main contract payment applications and ensure timely cash collection.
• Ensure subcontract payments are prepared and certified strictly in accordance with contractual terms.
• Lead and support the commercial management of subcontractor performance to ensure timely, compliant, and cost-effective delivery.
• Drive the successful agreement of final accounts with both client and supply chain.

• Lead commercial risk management, value engineering initiatives, and cost efficiency improvements.
• Proactively manage dispute avoidance and support formal dispute resolution where required.
• Ensure all commercial decisions are aligned with project objectives and contractual entitlements.

• Line manage and develop a commercial team of 5+ direct reports, fostering a high-performance and collaborative culture.
• Mentor and support the professional development of team members, including succession planning.
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration with operational, design, and planning teams.

• Proven experience working on major projects (£60m+) within a Tier 1 main contractor environment.
• Strong background in Design & Build delivery.
• Extensive experience managing live projects through to successful final account.
• In-depth knowledge of NEC3/NEC4 contracts, particularly Option C (Target Cost).
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to manage risk, cashflow, forecasting, and reporting at senior level.
• Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, and developing commercial teams.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong understanding of construction processes, measurement, valuation, and change control.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

• Experience working on Thames Water and/or wastewater projects.
• Pre-construction estimating and procurement leadership experience.
• Familiarity with systems such as CEMAR, COINS, Dalux, and Primavera P6.
• Knowledge of CIS.
• Experience with dispute resolution procedures.
• Professional membership (or working towards) RICS or equivalent.
• EC PM accreditation.

• Competi…