Senior Quantity Surveyor in Leeds

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a forward-thinking, experienced and motivated Senior Quantity Surveyor within Asset Management (Housing). The role is responsible for managing all commercial and contractual aspects of investment projects to the city’s housing stock. You will be responsible for managing a small team.

About you

• Excellent and proven leadership skills.
• Extensive knowledge and experience of all pre and post contract commercial duties.
• A strong focus on accuracy, organisation and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritise work to ensure that deadlines are met.

About the role

Leeds City Council manages approximately 54,000 Council Properties; we deliver services to a diverse community and work in close partnership with agencies and organisations in the City. The Asset Management division is part of Housing Leeds, responsible for the management and delivery of all Asset Management related services, including repairs, planned works, compliancy and regeneration schemes. Reporting to the Principal Quantity Surveyor you will be required to manage a team of quantity surveyors managing all commercial aspects of construction projects. It is therefore essential you have good leadership skills and have the experience of commercial management of a variety of high value, complex and multi-stranded projects within tight deadlines. You must possess highly developed specialist knowledge across a range of quantity surveying procedures underpinned by theory and experience. In addition, a working knowledge and experience of procuring large scale complex contracts will also be required.

What we offer you

• A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
• Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
• A clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
• A range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role contact Julie Bucknell, Principal Quantity Surveyor, Call 0113 3781356 or email Julie.bucknell@leeds.gov.uk.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Purpose

To assist the Principal Quantity Surveyor in ensuring value for money and consistency of approach across the Quantity Surveying section. To ensure all commercial aspects of projects are managed in the service’s best interests. To review and benchmark costs across all workstreams ensuring consistency across Housing Leeds. To ensure all commercial management activities are rigorously and diligently undertaken to provide the best possible value for money for the authority.

Responsibilities

• Carry out, and manage and support a team of quantity surveyors to carry out, the following duties:
• To effectively evaluate all tenders ensuring they are accurate and reflect the works requirements whilst maintaining a consistency of approach across the Quantity Surveying section.
• To work closely with project teams to facilitate the swift evaluation of the commercial impacts throughout the construction of a project by ensuring all variations, compensation events and change control processes are efficiently monitored.
• To ensure that monthly financial statements are produced for budget managers accurately reflecting the current financial state of each project.
• Ensure interim valuations are accurately checked and paid in accordance with contract timelines.
• Produce project cost estimates prior to tendering for option appraisal purposes.
• Prepare tender documentation including contract data and pricing schedules.
• Work closely with and support Leeds Building Services to ensure management are fully aware of their commercial performance, including any supply or sub-contractor arrangements.
• Attend all project meetings as required including the preparation of any cost reports.
• Evaluate and agree all final accounts in a swift and efficient manner.
• Ensure the service constantly reviews the value for money aspects of its construction activities, challenging itself against regional peers and national best practice.
• To promote and develop productive contractual relationships with contractors that drive continuous improvement.
• Provide advice, training and support to other colleagues across the service on the specifics of commercial management.
• Keep up to date with relevant and changing legislation and best practice and respond proactively to all issues affecting the service.
• Lead, manage, motivate and develop team members in accordance with council policies and employment laws, and ensure that relevant procedures are understood and followed.
• Ensure that the team work professionally, competently, and in a forward-thinking and customer-focused way whilst embracing collaborative partnership working to achieve excellence.
• Demonstrate and embed the council Values and Manager Habits to lead, support and drive cultural change.

Please note this is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Educated to Degree level in Quantity Surveying or appropriate Built Environment qualification or significant experience of working at a senior level within a construction organisation.
• Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential qualifications, skills, experience requirements.
• Degree level technical qualification in Quantity Surveying or other appropriate Built Environment subject, or significant equivalent experience.
• Detailed knowledge and experience of all aspects of commercial management.
• Detailed knowledge of standard forms of contract and an ability to identify the circumstances in which they would be used.
• Extensive knowledge of Construction Health and Safety.
• Experience of Negotiation on complex issues within a political environment.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.
• Ability to develop and maintain strong and effective working relationships with all stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex and conflicting information and report to a wide range of audiences.
• Demonstrate project management skills and ability to support a number of projects simultaneously.
• Extensive experience of using Microsoft packages and systems.
• Experience of chairing meetings at a senior level.
• Ability to drive a culture through the team that is focused on both customers and quality.
• Experience of completing reports to senior officers in a diligent and accurate manner.
• Extensive experience of research skills and ability to offer pragmatic solutions.
• Able to appropriately delegate workload based on skills and experience.
• Experience of commercially managing large scale construction contracts.
• Extensive experience of commercially managing medium-large projects.
• Experience of managing large programmes of work within defined budgets.
• Extensive experience of leading a team within a construction environment.
• Experience of carrying out risk assessments in relation to construction tasks.
• Current membership of a recognised professional standard.
• Up to date knowledge of social housing and issues affecting the sector.
• Extensive experience of working within social housing.
• Experience of working within a complex political environment.
• Working with an Internal Service Provider.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
• Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up-to-date knowledge and skills.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.

The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.