Managing Quantity Surveyor in Manchester

Split time between Manchester and Preston with occasional travel to Barrow-in-Furness (Hybrid working, mixture of home, office and client sites). Permanent full time with flexible working and core hours.

About this opportunity

Gleeds Energy is seeking to recruit a Managing Quantity Surveyor to join our expanding team in the North West and meet the growing demands of our clients within the defence sector. In this role, you play a critical part in the support and delivery of crucial defence‐related projects and help keep the UK safe from threats while advancing our defence technologies.

We are seeking a highly skilled and commercially astute Managing Quantity Surveyor to lead robust commercial processes across design contracts for highly complex works. This role is pivotal in ensuring cost assurance, final accounting integrity, and a demonstrable return on investment for complex, high‐value engineering deliverables.

Operating primarily across Salford and Preston, with occasional visits to Barrow‐in‐Furness, the successful candidate will challenge scope, validate outputs, and drive commercial discipline across multi‐disciplinary design teams.

Key responsibilities

• Lead commercial governance across design contracts, ensuring alignment with defence procurement standards and internal controls.
• Scrutinise design outputs against contractual scope, challenging inefficiencies and validating value delivered.
• Manage final accounts, cost reconciliation, and commercial close‐out of design packages.
• Manage supply chain performance, including specialist contractors and system integrators.
• Support measurement, verification, and valuation of M&E and specialist works.
• Lead, mentor, and develop junior team members.
• Identify and manage commercial risks, providing governance and assurance.
• Collaborate with engineering and project teams to ensure commercial visibility and accountability.

Who we’re looking for

• Proven experience as a Quantity Surveyor in complex infrastructure, defence, marine, or engineering environments.
• Advanced experience of standard forms of contract, including the NEC suite.
• Strong understanding of commercial processes within design‐led contracts.
• Expertise in cost assurance, final accounting, and value engineering.
• Ability to challenge technical teams constructively and drive commercial outcomes.
• Ideally HNC, HND or Degree qualified in a Quantity Surveying / Cost Management, Construction Law, or similar / relevant discipline, or in some cases applicants with an alternative background (e.g.: Engineering) may be considered if there is significant on‐the‐job experience.
• Professional qualifications and/or membership of the RICS, CIOB, CICES, CIPS or other relevant Chartered Institute are desirable, and will be supported if not already attained.

What we can offer you in return

• Clear opportunities to develop and grow your career through training and further qualifications.
• Fantastic networking opportunities to grow your personal brand and expand your understanding of the industry.
• Generous holiday allowance plus the option to purchase additional days through the holiday purchase scheme.
• Highly competitive salary and the opportunity to increase this through continuous reviews.
• Employee Assistance Programme to ensure your health and personal well‐being comes first.
• Our global travel scholarship programme gives you the unique opportunity to gain global experience.
• Flexible working arrangements to ensure you have a healthy work‐life balance.
• Volunteering opportunities to engage with your local community or charitable organisations.
• Unparalleled support from central teams and a company that is recognised as a gold standard investor in people.

About us

Gleeds is a global property and construction consultancy with over 150 years of expertise, operating in 28 countries worldwide. From iconic landmarks to critical infrastructure, we drive innovation, sustainability and value, delivering transformative projects that shape communities and redefine the built environment.