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- Tasks: Manage M&E packages for major data centre projects, ensuring commercial compliance and accuracy.
- Company: Join a leading contractor known for its innovative construction projects and strong governance.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Be part of impactful projects that shape the future of construction technology.
- Qualifications: Strong understanding of M&E systems and commercial management skills required.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a collaborative and supportive team.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Reporting To: Commercial Manager / Project Commercial Director
Project: Major data centre / commercial construction project
Basic Hours: 45 hours per week
Working Days: Monday – Friday
Working Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm
About the Opportunity: ESD Recruitment is recruiting on behalf of a well-established main contractor delivering large-scale data centre and commercial construction projects. The business is recognised for its strong commercial governance, technically complex project portfolio, and structured approach to cost control, change management, and contractual compliance across high-value M&E packages.
Role Description: The M&E Quantity Surveyor is responsible for the full commercial management of Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health (MEP) packages on a major project. The role is accountable for driving commercial certainty, programme alignment, and contractual compliance across all M&E scopes. This includes management of subcontractor accounts, monthly valuations, variations, change control, procurement support, and upstream client submissions — all delivered in a clear, auditable, and contractually robust manner. You will take ownership of interim valuations, change assessments, detailed variation pricing, measurement, benchmarking, and commercial negotiations. The post holder is accountable for the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of all M&E commercial outputs, including CVRs, variation logs, commercial trackers, risk registers, and final accounts.
Essential Knowledge:
- Strong technical understanding of Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health systems
- Detailed knowledge of: Containment, cabling, busbar, switchgear, UPS, generators, BMS, HVAC, CHW, heating, water services and drainage
- Understanding of offsite manufacturing, commissioning sequencing, and interfaces with CSA packages
- Strong knowledge of M&E buildability, sequencing, logistics and access requirements
- Working knowledge of FIDIC, JCT and NEC contracts, including bespoke amendments
- Proven ability to measure, benchmark and substantiate complex M&E variations
- Strong commercial acumen including forecasting, cost control, CVR reporting and risk management
Essential Competencies:
- Clear verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to challenge and influence subcontractors, consultants and client teams
- Highly analytical with strong numerical and commercial reasoning
- Proactive, solutions-focused and commercially assertive
- Organised and methodical, able to manage multiple large M&E packages
- Capable of working independently with minimal supervision
- Strong contractual awareness with evidence-led commercial decision making
- Professional, confident and collaborative in stakeholder engagement
Commercial Management:
- Full commercial ownership of allocated M&E packages from procurement to final account
- Prepare and submit client valuations with auditable measurement and substantiation
- Assess and certify subcontractor applications and issue payment recommendations
- Maintain strict change-control procedures, including: Logging EIs, design changes, coordination changes and site-driven variations
- Pricing and submitting variations within contractual timeframes
- Providing full cost breakdowns (labour, plant, materials, prelims, star rates)
- Produce clear, defensible variation assessments for upstream submission
- Contribute to CVR reporting, forecasting and cost-risk reviews
Programme & Interface Alignment:
- Align commercial assessments with programme progress and commissioning milestones
- Identify and manage interface risks between M&E, CSA, logistics and access
- Support Project Managers with recovery plans and resequencing strategies
- Maintain clear scope definition to avoid gaps or overlaps
Contractual Compliance & Governance:
- Operate in accordance with contract conditions and internal commercial procedures
- Issue and respond to contractual notifications, instructions and correspondence
- Maintain accurate and audit-ready records including: EI / VO logs, Instruction registers, Subcontractor change logs, Risk registers, Procurement trackers
- Support preparation of upstream claims and entitlement submissions
Procurement & Supply Chain:
- Support procurement of mechanical, electrical, PH and specialist packages
- Prepare enquiries with detailed scope breakdowns and technical clarifications
- Lead bid levelling with commercial, technical and design teams
- Benchmark rates against market data and internal cost databases
- Support negotiations and ensure subcontract orders reflect agreed scope, risk and commercial position
- Monitor subcontractor commercial performance throughout delivery
Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement:
- Provide timely and accurate commercial information to senior management
- Communicate professionally with subcontractors, consultants and client teams
- Present commercial positions confidently at internal and external meetings
- Maintain commercial discipline and contractual rigour across the project
Minimum Competence Expectations:
- Ability to accurately measure and price M&E works including containment, cabling, busbar, HVAC, plant and commissioning allowances
- Ability to build auditable variation cost models using benchmark data and star rates
- Strong understanding of commissioning, sequencing and access constraints
- Ability to challenge subcontractor pricing using evidence-based analysis
- Ability to negotiate and defend commercial positions both upstream and downstream
Additional Information: The post holder is accountable for the accuracy and integrity of all commercial outputs. This role description is not exhaustive and may evolve with project requirements. A professional attitude and commitment to continual development is essential.
Quantity Surveyor (M&E) in Watford employer: ESD Recruitment
Contact Detail:
ESD Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Quantity Surveyor (M&E) in Watford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at local events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in their work, especially in M&E systems and commercial management.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As an M&E Quantity Surveyor, you’ll need to be confident in discussing costs and contracts. Role-play with a friend to get comfortable with these conversations.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities that might be perfect for you. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people.
We think you need these skills to ace Quantity Surveyor (M&E) in Watford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your experience with M&E systems and commercial management. We want to see how your skills align with the specific requirements of the Quantity Surveyor role.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements in previous roles. Use numbers and examples to demonstrate how you’ve driven commercial certainty and managed complex M&E packages successfully.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and concise. We appreciate straightforward communication, so make sure your points are easy to understand and directly relevant to the job description.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at ESD Recruitment
✨Know Your M&E Systems
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Mechanical, Electrical, and Public Health systems. Be ready to discuss specifics like HVAC, cabling, and switchgear. Showing a strong technical understanding will impress the interviewers and demonstrate that you're the right fit for the role.
✨Master the Contracts
Familiarise yourself with FIDIC, JCT, and NEC contracts, especially any bespoke amendments. Being able to talk confidently about contractual compliance and governance will show that you can handle the commercial management aspect of the job effectively.
✨Prepare for Commercial Discussions
Be ready to discuss your experience with cost control, forecasting, and CVR reporting. Prepare examples of how you've managed subcontractor accounts and handled variations in previous roles. This will highlight your commercial acumen and problem-solving skills.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since the role involves engaging with various stakeholders, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Think of scenarios where you've had to influence or challenge decisions, as this will demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively in a professional setting.
