Senior Quantity Surveyor - Thames Water (Freelance) in London

About Barhale

Barhale is a business founded on family values, having been established by our Chairman, Dennis Curran, in 1980. We are one of the largest privately owned civil engineering and infrastructure specialists in the UK, with over 40 years of experience in providing design, civil engineering and maintenance services working across multiple sectors, including:

• Water
• Transport
• Built environment
• Energy

We operate as a tier one partner for blue chip, regulated and private clients, working as part of large frameworks, joint ventures and alliances, as well as on individual standalone projects, developing long‑term relationships based on delivering to the Barhale values which have been integral to our business since their inception in 1985. Our direct delivery model is at the core of everything we do, as we believe that people are our greatest asset. Therefore, we robustly source, train and retain all our own frontline delivery teams as well as management and support services. We employ over 1,200 employees nationwide. We possess a range of specialist skills to support our civil engineering and infrastructure activities, including:

• Tunnelling
• MEICA
• Temporary and permanent design
• Steel‑fabrication
• Signs (design and fabrication)
• Health & safety equipment and products, including PPE

Why join Barhale?

• As Gold Investors in People, we are committed to a high standard of people practices, creating an inclusive environment and ensuring cultural alignment to business strategy, ethos and philosophies.
• Job security, long‑term secured work through various frameworks and large infrastructure schemes.
• A broad range of civil engineering, mechanical and electrical schemes across some of the UK's largest infrastructure projects and clients.
• Strong career progression as demonstrated by our track record in promoting from within, as we believe this is a key driver of our success.

The Role

Quantity Surveyors at Barhale, integral members of project teams, provide support to the project delivery teams and senior management daily. They are allowed to develop existing skills, whilst learning new ones, within a collaborative and dynamic team. Barhale's ethos is to give our people the chance to demonstrate versatility in their skills and abilities. To meet the needs required to successfully manage the wide range of civil engineering projects we are proud to undertake, and the contractual requirements therein. Barhale's civil engineering and infrastructure projects are varied in value, complexity, and duration, from established frameworks to individual bespoke projects and unplanned emergency works. With projects varying from £200k to £10m+, you will be essential in driving efficiencies within the scope of work, driving cost efficiency and providing a high standard of commercial analysis. The role will see you demonstrating your commercial acumen daily, by identifying, recording, tracking and realising commercial opportunities, whilst mitigating business risk.

Key Responsibilities

• Provision of accurate and timely cost and value reporting at both project and business unit levels to inform Group reporting.
• Provision of accurate cash flow reporting.
• Cost management and project forecasting.
• Drafting and updating a monthly CVR, cost and commercial plans.
• Compile upstream applications for payment and cash management.
• Responsibility for subcontract procurement, negotiation and financial accounting.
• Preparation of project applications for payment to final account settlement.
• Liaison with clients, client representatives and other third parties on commercial issues, including agreement on matters relating to contractual change, claims and additional payment.
• Work with the wider project team to forecast predicted expenditure and cash recovery to ensure that both are in line with business unit expectations.
• Share best practices with others and take a proactive approach in advising site teams on cost management and efficiencies.
• Identification and realisation of commercial opportunities.
• Protect Barhale from commercial risks.

• Effectively manage contract and subcontract agreements, primarily IChemE and NEC forms.
• Ensure that main contracts entered into have terms and conditions that align to Barhale's corporate governance, with commercial risks and opportunities identified and managed in conjunction with the project delivery team.
• Procurement of subcontracted works and subsequent subcontract post contract management.
• Ensure that the supply chain is engaged appropriately with the correct contract terms and conditions.
• Supply chain management, including building and maintaining relationships.

• Support all internal commercial processes by ensuring adherence to timeframes and compliance.
• Actively seek to improve processes and procedures.

About you

• Previous experience in the construction industry.
• Familiarity with IChemE/NEC forms of contract and knowledge and understanding of Construction Law.
• Previous experience in commercial management and procurement of subcontractors, including chairing regular meetings, measurement and control cycle, certificates, and accruals calculations.
• Demonstrable experience in monthly forecasting and cost analysis.
• Excellent communication, numeric and computer literacy skills, proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Excellent organisation and time management skills, with the ability to work effectively under tight deadlines.

• Member of RICS or other relevant professional body, or working towards CSCS card.
• HND/degree (or equivalent) in Quantity Surveying.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in estimation.
• Experience working for a direct delivery contractor.
• An engaging communicator with problem‑solving skills.