Commercial Quantity Surveyor in Plymouth

Location: Plymouth, Devon (Office Based)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

Salary: £40,000-£45,000 (up to £50,000 with bonus)

Looking for a Role Where You Actually Matter?

If you’re a commercially sharp Quantity Surveyor who’s tired of being a number in a large machine, this is your opportunity to step into a role where your decisions genuinely move the needle. At Ventro Group, you won’t be buried in a back office processing paperwork – you’ll be at the centre of a fast-growing, PE-backed business with a seat at the table and real influence over commercial outcomes.

What’s in It for You? Join a Business That’s Going Somewhere

Ventro Group is a leading building safety and compliance company specialising in fire safety, electrical services, security, and door entry systems. We’re headquartered right here in Plymouth, and backed by private equity investment with serious ambitions – we’re scaling through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. This isn’t a business that’s standing still. You’ll be joining at a stage where the commercial function is pivotal to our next chapter, and that means your contribution will be visible, valued, and career-defining.

Lead a Team, Not Just a Spreadsheet

You’ll manage a team of approximately 3 Junior QSs/Quantity Surveyors and 1 Commercial Administrator. That means genuine leadership responsibility – mentoring, developing, and building a high-performing team around you. If you’ve been waiting for the chance to step up into people management, or you already lead a team and want more autonomy, this role gives you that platform.

Variety, Visibility, and Real Commercial Impact

This isn’t a role that sits in one lane. You’ll work across departments – collaborating with project management, operations, finance, and senior leadership on a daily basis. You’ll need strong organisational skills and the flexibility to shift between priorities, but in return you get exposure to the full breadth of the business and a level of commercial ownership that most QS roles simply don’t offer.

Grow as the Business Grows

With acquisitions on the horizon and the business expanding, the opportunities for progression are real and tangible. You’ll be developing your commercial, leadership, and strategic skills in an environment where high performers are recognised and rewarded. The business is scaling – and so can your career.

What You’ll Be Doing

Based at our Plymouth head office, this is a fully office-based role where you’ll take commercial ownership of a portfolio of projects. Day to day, you’ll be responsible for:

• Commercial Ownership
• Driving cost control and gross profit improvement across your project portfolio
• Leading subcontractor sourcing, negotiation, and procurement to protect and improve margins
• Creating Bills of Materials and negotiating uplifts and extras
• Managing cash flow and debtor control, ensuring billing is completed in line with contract dates
• Issuing invoices promptly post month-end to minimise accrued income
• Creating and sending accurate monthly valuations to clients
• Reviewing forecasts to ensure all reported figures are robust and reliable

Team Leadership

• Managing, mentoring, and developing your team of QSs and a Commercial Administrator
• Handling HR matters including annual leave, one-to-ones, performance feedback, and disciplinary issues
• Resolving escalated issues within your team before they reach the Associate Divisional Director

Cross-Department Collaboration

• Working closely with project management, operations, and finance to align commercial performance with project delivery
• Reporting and escalating commercial impacts per the reporting matrix: within 2.5% stays in the Business Unit; above 2.5% is flagged to the Commercial Manager and Business Unit Director
• Maintaining a broad awareness of business activity across all departments to inform your commercial decisions

What You’ll Bring

• Proven experience in a commercial QS role, ideally within building services, construction, or a related sector
• A strong commercial instinct with a track record of managing and improving project profitability
• Experience of leading, managing, and developing a team
• Confident negotiation skills and the ability to influence at all levels
• Excellent organisational skills – you can manage competing priorities without dropping the detail
• Sharp attention to detail in forecasting, financial analysis, and cost reporting
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships across departments and with external clients
• A proactive, ownership-driven approach – you take control and see things through
• Flexibility and adaptability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving business
• Integrity and honesty in everything you do

Why Ventro Group?

• PE-backed with genuine investment behind the growth strategy – this isn’t just talk
• Ambitious acquisition and organic growth plans – get in now and grow with the business
• A high-impact, commercially central role with real autonomy and influence
• Office-based at our Plymouth head office, surrounded by a collaborative, driven team
• Diverse project portfolio spanning fire safety, electrical, security, and door entry services
• A culture that values commercial excellence, integrity, and people who take ownership of their work

Ready to Apply?

If this sounds like the kind of role you’ve been looking for – one where you’re trusted, challenged, and given the platform to make a real commercial difference – we’d love to hear from you. Apply now with your CV and a brief covering statement outlining your experience and what excites you about joining Ventro Group.

Ventro Group values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are more than happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Note: Ventro Group prefer to hire directly, and we will be in touch with our PSL Agencies if this role is eligible. We do not accept speculative CVs and no fee will be applicable if sent.

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