At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial strategies to ensure project success and cost efficiency.
- Company: Join McCarthy & Stone, the UK's top retirement community developer.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, car allowance, and generous holiday.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for career growth and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on project profitability and community wellbeing.
- Qualifications: Degree in Quantity Surveying or RICS-accredited discipline preferred.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are looking for a Quantity Surveyor to provide commercial leadership across the development lifecycle, driving cost certainty, value creation and successful project outcomes. This is a commercially focused role for a surveying professional who combines strong cost management expertise with strategic thinking and stakeholder engagement to influence performance from procurement through to final account.
You are an accomplished Quantity Surveyor with experience in residential development, housebuilding, contracting or consultancy environments. You have a proven track record of managing project costs, procurement and subcontractor relationships across complex developments, ideally within design and build settings. You understand how design decisions, procurement strategies and construction methodologies impact programme delivery, project viability and profitability.
Experience working with Housing Associations, affordable housing schemes and Joint Venture partnerships would be advantageous, enabling you to effectively balance diverse stakeholder priorities while maintaining commercial focus. You are confident leading tender processes, negotiating subcontract agreements and developing strong supply chain partnerships. You have experience producing accurate budgets and forecasts, managing risk, challenging costs and variations, and identifying value engineering opportunities that improve commercial performance.
A credible and collaborative communicator, you build effective relationships across project teams, consultants, subcontractors and external partners. Highly organised and detail-oriented, you thrive in a fast-paced environment where sound commercial decisions directly contribute to business success. A degree in Quantity Surveying or a RICS-accredited discipline is desirable, together with a valid CSCS card. Professional membership of RICS, or progression towards chartership, would be advantageous.
Your Impact: As a Quantity Surveyor, you will provide the commercial leadership that underpins project delivery, cost certainty and business performance. Working within our flexible hybrid model, you will balance office-based commercial management with regular site engagement across Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, collaborating closely with Construction, Development, Land, Planning and Design teams to maximise value across every development. Your expertise will ensure robust financial control, accurate forecasting, effective procurement and proactive risk management throughout the development lifecycle. Through strong commercial influence, you will help shape smarter decisions, optimise build costs and support the successful delivery of high-quality developments.
Why You Will Enjoy Working With Us:
- Real Impact: Your commercial expertise directly influences project profitability, performance and delivery success.
- Strategic Involvement: Play a key role in procurement, value engineering, design development and business decision-making.
- Variety Every Day: Balance commercial management, site engagement, stakeholder collaboration and negotiation.
- Collaborative Environment: Work closely with Development, Construction, Design, Land and Planning teams across a national business.
- Career Progression: Develop your commercial leadership capability within a growing and ambitious organisation.
About Us: As the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, we provide high quality homes to exacting specifications. As of January 2026, McCarthy & Stone operates over 550 developments across the UK for more than 25,000 people. We believe in championing the role, wellbeing, and happiness of older people in society. We help our customers have a better later life, so they feel more connected, recognised, and valued than ever. In late 2020 we launched the McCarthy & Stone Charitable Foundation to support local causes that help older people in need across Britain. We are proud to have been certified as a Great Place to Work 2026 as well as making the Great Place to Work Wellbeing list! At McCarthy & Stone, we celebrate diversity and promote equality and inclusion amongst our colleagues. We welcome applications from all, regardless of personal characteristics or background. All applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received, and we hold the right to appoint before the closing date.
Quantity Surveyor employer: McCarthy & Stone
At McCarthy & Stone, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package that includes a company car allowance, generous holiday entitlement, and health benefits. Our collaborative work culture fosters professional growth and strategic involvement in impactful projects, allowing Quantity Surveyors to thrive in a dynamic environment while making a real difference in the lives of older people across Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Quantity Surveyor
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like McCarthy & Stone, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Quantity Surveyor at McCarthy & Stone.
We think you need these skills to ace Quantity Surveyor
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at McCarthy & Stone
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
