At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting education sector projects and build strong client relationships.
- Company: Join TSA Riley, a global leader in construction consultancy with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with significant leadership opportunities and a focus on innovation.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on the built environment while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Degree in Quantity Surveying or related field; experience in education sector projects.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
We are seeking people who bring together a unique blend of personal strengths, technical know-how, and a genuine passion for the built environment and construction industry. TSA Riley is a global organisation, 1,000 people strong. We provide expert project consultancy across project management, cost management, advisory, ESG, and asset management, and our people are at the centre of everything we do. We help clients create great places to work, live, shop, play, and produce.
We'd love to hear from you. Please get in touch if you:
- Cultivate positive and trusting relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
- Effectively communicate ideas and actions that resonate with diverse audiences.
- Exhibit drive, flexibility, passion, and a proactive attitude towards tasks.
- Take ownership of responsibilities and ensure timely delivery on commitments.
- Approach challenges with a solutions-oriented mindset.
- Analyse and synthesise detailed information to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Possess a degree qualification, underpinning knowledge and skills.
Join one of the largest and most established construction consultancies in Cambridge. Work on exciting projects within the Education sector.
About the role: We have an exciting opportunity to join TSA Riley in our Cambridge office as an Associate Director, working closely alongside our National Education Sector Lead. This role plays a key part in strengthening our expertise within the education sector, enabling us to continue delivering outstanding service to our longstanding clients while also supporting the growth of our client base across Cambridgeshire and nationally. You will collaborate with the National Education Sector Lead to deepen existing client relationships through effective account management and identifying new opportunities within the market. As TSA Riley continues to grow, so too will your role. There will be significant opportunities to take on leadership responsibility for key accounts and to shape, develop and lead a team to support these relationships and projects.
To succeed in this role, you will bring strong experience working with clients and delivering projects within the education sector. We are looking for a well-rounded professional with a blend of technical excellence, people leadership capability, strong stakeholder engagement skills and sound commercial awareness. TSA Riley is proud to have been involved in some of the most exciting and high-profile education projects in the Cambridge area. We regularly work with universities and colleges on complex, challenging and highly rewarding developments, offering the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the built environment and local communities.
If you feel you have the experience, ambition and drive to make a real contribution to TSA Riley's continued success, we would love to hear from you. We are happy to offer an informal, confidential conversation before any formal application. To find out more, please contact our Recruitment Partner at: recruitment@tsariley.uk
About your responsibilities: As an Associate Director at TSA Riley, you will be expected to take overall responsibility for the leadership and successful delivery of large or complex projects. You will manage end-to-end scope, programme, cost, risk, and safety while building trusted relationships with clients, consultants, and delivery partners. Beyond project delivery, you will contribute to the commercial and operational performance of TSA Riley through team leadership, planning, and pursuit activity. Some of your specific responsibilities will include:
- Leading project delivery from initiation to close-out, ensuring alignment with client expectations and TSA Riley's delivery objectives.
- Overseeing planning, procurement, delivery, and risk mitigation activities across multidisciplinary teams.
- Managing scope, programme, and commercial frameworks to ensure delivery meets quality, safety, and performance standards.
- Acting as the primary client contact for assigned projects, resolving issues and aligning expectations across diverse stakeholders.
- Overseeing project resources, budgets, and reporting to support financial control and delivery outcomes.
- Leading and managing project teams, including resourcing, delegation, performance oversight, and development of team members.
- Supporting pursuit planning and proposal preparation to help secure follow-on or new work.
- Taking an active role in growing the business by strengthening client relationships, identifying opportunities, and helping convert pipeline into secured work.
- Contributing to initiatives that improve project delivery capability, enhance tools and systems, and build TSA Riley's service excellence.
About You: Our Associate Directors bring deep project expertise, commercial acumen, and a structured, forward-thinking approach to leading complex delivery. They are trusted delivery leads known for their judgement, clarity, and ability to align project outcomes with both client priorities and TSA Riley's commercial goals. Associate Directors bring the experience and credibility to lead with impact, including:
- A tertiary qualification in a field relevant to this job role, such as Quantity Surveying or a similar equivalent.
- Professional membership to a relevant professional body such as the RICS is required.
- Excellent technical ability, capable of carrying out a full remit of pre and post contract responsibilities on complex projects.
- A proven track record of delivering large or complex projects in consulting or client-side environments, including strong experience within the educational sector.
- Strong commercial capability, with a clear understanding of risk, programme, cost, safety, and stakeholder complexity.
- Brings a strategic mindset to delivery, balancing day-to-day oversight with long-range planning and market awareness.
- Deep understanding of client drivers and strategic priorities, with the ability to shape delivery to support long-term relationships and account growth.
- Proven ability to lead with intention, actively managing team capability, resourcing, performance, and development across both direct reports and broader project teams.
- A recognised industry presence and network, with the credibility to represent TSA Riley externally, build client interest, and convert relationships into opportunities.
About us: TSA Riley has a 130-year heritage dating back to 1890 when Henry Riley Esq first established a quantity surveying practice in London. In Asia Pacific we trace our roots back to the 1980s through the merging of several respected, small project management and advisory firms. Now, in the 21st century, we're defining and pioneering a new way of helping our clients drive greater value and impact from their built assets. Plan. Procure. Deliver. Optimise. Decarbonise. We call this project consulting. We provide expert strategic, commercial and operations advice; project and cost management; carbon advice; and dispute resolution. This uniquely broad range of services – across the project lifecycle – means we understand the interdependencies at every stage. We combine this with hands-on experience and personalised service to drive greater value, impact and certainty for our clients' projects.
Our values: We win together: Collaborate openly, learn from each other and succeed as one global team. We own it, always: Act with integrity and take responsibility to deliver with purpose. We focus on what matters: Striving for high standards to create meaningful, lasting and sustainable impact. We are curious: Embrace agility and change, explore ideas and turn our curiosity into progress.
TSA Riley is an Equal Opportunity Employer: We welcome applications from candidates who are interested in working with us but are not able to commit to a full-time role and/or would require forms of flexible working. Additionally, we provide hybrid working as standard practice. We would like you to perform at your best at every stage of our recruitment process. Please contact us if you require any adjustments that would support you throughout your application.
Associate Director | Quantity Surveying | Education Sector | Cambridge, UK employer: TSA Management
TSA Riley is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises collaboration and personal growth. With a strong focus on the education sector in Cambridge, employees benefit from exciting project opportunities, professional development programmes, and a commitment to sustainability and community impact. Join a global team where your contributions are valued, and you can make a meaningful difference in the built environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director | Quantity Surveying | Education Sector | Cambridge, UK
✨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 TSA Management, 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 Associate Director | Quantity Surveying | Education Sector | Cambridge, UK at TSA Management.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director | Quantity Surveying | Education Sector | Cambridge, UK
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 TSA Management
✨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!
