At a Glance
- Tasks: Support high-value defence projects with effective cost management and contract administration.
- Company: Join Mott MacDonald, a global leader in engineering and consultancy.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive salary, and extensive health benefits.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be part of impactful defence programmes that shape national resilience and operational effectiveness.
- Qualifications: Degree qualified with NEC4 contract experience and strong cost control skills.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.
About the business unit: Mott MacDonald’s Advisory and Programme Delivery (APD) unit delivers both project, programme & commercial management (PPCM) services and advisory solutions across the built environment, defence, energy, water, environmental, transportation, health and care sectors. We deliver tailored solutions that directly address our clients’ key challenges, combining our world-leading project expertise with unrivalled programme delivery capabilities and advisory services.
Overview of the role: Owing to the continued growth of our defence portfolio, we have a unique opportunity for Quantity Surveyors to join our fast-growing team. This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in some of the most complex and challenging defence programmes in the UK, spanning defence infrastructure, defence equipment, and defence nuclear environments. You will support the delivery of high-value, security-critical projects, contributing to programmes that ensure national capability, resilience, and operational effectiveness.
Defence Sector Focus: Mott MacDonald supports a wide range of defence clients including the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), and Tier 1 delivery partners. Our work spans:
- Major infrastructure upgrades and base redevelopment
- Defence equipment support and facilities integration
- Defence nuclear programmes, including submarine infrastructure and associated facilities
- Long-term asset management, sustainability, and carbon reduction programmes
We operate in highly regulated, security-sensitive environments, delivering complex projects that demand rigorous commercial and governance controls.
Key responsibilities and duties include:
- The Quantity Surveyor will support the successful delivery of client projects within the defence sector.
- The role focuses on effective cost management, NEC contract administration, and commercial support to ensure efficient, compliant delivery aligned with MOD and wider defence objectives.
- Administer NEC4 contracts in line with defence project and governance requirements.
- Manage variations, change control, and compensation events in a compliant manner.
- Maintain cost control, forecasting, and reporting across defence programmes.
- Support delivery of infrastructure and equipment-related projects within secure environments.
- Work closely with client and contractor teams to achieve delivery outcomes and value for money.
- Ensure adherence to defence governance, assurance, and security requirements.
Candidate Specifications:
- Essential Degree qualified (or equivalent)
- NEC4 contract experience
- Working towards or holding MRICS (or equivalent)
- Experience in complex infrastructure or engineering projects within regulated environments
- Experience managing contract cashflow, change, and governance
- Experience using CEMAR
- Strong cost control and estimating capability
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
- Practical NEC4 ECC and/or PSC contract experience
Desirable:
- Experience administering contracts using Thinkproject Contracts
- NEC 4 accreditation
- NEC4 Project Manager Accreditation
- Experience in defence environments (infrastructure, equipment, or nuclear)
Please be advised that offers for this role are conditional upon obtaining the appropriate level of Security Clearance.
Agile working: At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion: We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.
Accessibility: We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us and we will talk to you about how we can support you.
We offer some fantastic benefits including:
- Financial wellbeing: We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%. Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary. Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury. Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
- Employee Ownership: Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success. Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
- Health and wellbeing: Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues. Health cash plan to support you with everyday health costs and treatments. Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues. A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
- Lifestyle: A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
- Learning and development: Primary annual professional institution subscription. A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.
Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network. Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.
Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.
Assistant Quantity Surveyor in Edinburgh employer: Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture, offering employees the chance to engage in meaningful projects across multiple countries. With a strong focus on professional development, you will have access to growth opportunities while working in a hybrid environment that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Join us to be part of a team that values innovation and supports your career journey in a dynamic global setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Quantity Surveyor in Edinburgh
✨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
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✨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 Assistant Quantity Surveyor at Mott MacDonald.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Quantity Surveyor in Edinburgh
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.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Mott MacDonald
✨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!
