Senior M&E Quantity Surveyor

Our client is a major international general contractor with a commanding global presence. The business has built a formidable reputation for delivering complex, large-scale construction programmes in some of the world's most demanding sectors — and within that portfolio, the data centre market represents one of its most significant and fast-growing areas of activity.

The M&E scope of these projects is immense, and the commercial management of that scope demands a level of specialism and rigour that only the most experienced professionals can provide. The London operation serves as a hub for the firm's UK and European data centre activity, with a high-performing commercial team that is growing in line with an expanding project pipeline.

Investment in specialist M&E commercial talent is a clear priority — reflecting the firm's understanding that the mechanical and electrical elements of a data centre are where value is made or lost, and where commercial expertise is most acutely needed.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT & PROJECTS

You will be embedded within a specialist data centre commercial team, working across live programmes spanning the UK and Europe. Data centre projects at this scale are among the most commercially complex in the construction industry — characterised by enormous M&E packages, highly technical specifications, exacting programme constraints and clients with zero tolerance for commercial ambiguity.

The M&E scope on these projects is substantial — encompassing high-voltage power distribution, UPS and generator systems, precision cooling infrastructure, fire suppression, BMS and a wide range of building services packages that must be procured, administered and commercially managed with a level of detail and rigour that goes well beyond standard building QS practice.

Your ability to understand the technical scope and translate it into robust commercial management is what defines performance in this role. The working environment is fast-paced, internationally connected and professionally demanding. You will work alongside experienced project managers, MEP design teams, specialist M&E subcontractors and major technology clients — navigating a commercial landscape that is consistently at the frontier of what the construction industry delivers.

The business supports its commercial team with strong internal systems, experienced leadership and a culture that values expertise and rewards high performance. London provides an ideal base for this role — positioned at the centre of European data centre investment activity, with strong connectivity across the key UK and continental markets.

The data centre construction sector continues to experience unprecedented demand, driven by the accelerating growth of cloud computing, AI infrastructure and digital services — making this one of the most compelling commercial roles available in the UK market.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the full M&E commercial function on major data centre projects across the UK and Europe, from procurement and subcontract letting through to final account.
• Procure and administer specialist M&E subcontracts, negotiating terms robustly and ensuring subcontractor commercial performance is actively monitored and managed throughout delivery.
• Assess, value and agree M&E subcontractor interim applications and final accounts, maintaining accurate cost records and ensuring timely payment processes.
• Manage change across the M&E scope — assessing compensation events, preparing and submitting variations, and maintaining a comprehensive change register throughout the project lifecycle.
• Prepare and present detailed M&E cost reports, forecasts and CVR analysis for internal leadership and client reporting, providing clear and timely commercial visibility.
• Work closely with MEP design, engineering and project management teams to manage the commercial implications of design development, scope change and programme shift.
• Support main contract administration in relation to M&E matters, including interface with the client's commercial and technical representatives.
• Contribute to M&E tender reviews and procurement strategy during pre-construction phases, providing early-stage commercial input to project teams.
• Mentor and support junior commercial staff embedded within the project team, helping to build M&E commercial capability across the wider function.

WHAT YOU NEED

• Substantial experience as a Quantity Surveyor with a strong and demonstrable specialism in M&E or mechanical and electrical commercial management within a main contracting environment.
• Proven background working on data centre, mission‑critical or similarly complex and M&E‑intensive construction projects, with a thorough understanding of the technical scope involved.
• Experience managing large and complex M&E subcontract packages, including procurement, administration, change management and final account settlement.
• Solid understanding of construction contracts — NEC, JCT or bespoke forms — and confident application of contractual mechanisms in a fast‑paced project environment.
• High level of commercial acuity, with the ability to manage cost, risk and programme interfaces across a technically complex and time‑critical project type.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage with clients, subcontractors, design teams and senior leadership alike.
• Degree‑qualified in Quantity Surveying or a related commercial discipline; Chartered status (MRICS or equivalent) is preferred or actively being pursued.

WHAT YOU'LL GET IN RETURN

This role offers a salary of up to £110,000 alongside a comprehensive package that reflects the seniority and specialism of the appointment. Beyond the financial reward, you will be joining one of the world's leading general contractors at a moment of exceptional market demand — working on the kind of high-profile, technically complex programmes that define a senior commercial career in the data centre sector.

The international reach of the business, the calibre of the projects and the strength of the client relationships all combine to make this one of the most compelling M&E commercial opportunities currently available in the UK. For a specialist with the right background, the scope for continued career advancement is significant.