Job Title: Quantity Surveyor / Estimator

Place of Work: Head Office, Bradkirk Place, Walton Summit, Preston

Salary: £60,000 – £65,000 depending on experience

Hours: 40 per week

Working hours: Mon – Fri, 7.30am – 4pm

Who are we?

Sencat are an established facilities management company specialising in Health and Mental Health Services and can combine all trades into one. We have undertaken many construction projects from small repairs to large refurbishments in a variety of commercial industries, whilst always maintaining a track record of keeping our projects on time and within budget.

Job Purpose:

Sencat is a growing Hard Facilities Management business delivering reactive maintenance, planned works, refurbishment projects and major capital works across the NHS and mental health sectors. As the business continues to expand its project portfolio and secure opportunities through existing and new client frameworks, we are looking to strengthen our commercial function through the appointment of an experienced Quantity Surveyor.

The successful candidate will play a key role in the commercial and financial management of projects, ensuring that works are accurately costed, commercially controlled and delivered in line with agreed budgets, contractual requirements and profitability targets. The role will also involve preparing and submitting tender quotations, reviewing tender documentation, assessing project requirements and developing competitive, commercially viable pricing to support Sencat's continued growth and success in securing new work.

Working alongside Sencat's 2 Project Managers, the Quantity Surveyor will provide dedicated commercial and estimating support, allowing the Project Managers to focus on the day-to-day operational management and successful delivery of their projects. This will include taking ownership of key commercial activities such as cost planning, tender pricing, monitoring project expenditure, managing variations, preparing valuations, assessing subcontractor costs and identifying opportunities to improve commercial performance and profitability.

The role will involve close collaboration with Contract Managers, Project Managers, engineers, and subcontractors to ensure that projects are accurately priced at tender stage, commercially managed throughout delivery and financially reconciled on completion. The successful candidate will help strengthen Sencat's commercial processes, improve cost visibility and ensure that project teams have the financial information and support needed to make informed decisions.

Our projects predominantly involve refurbishment, change of use, building works, mechanical and electrical (M&E) installations, and capital works within live NHS and mental health environments, as well as other commercial buildings. The role will require a commercially focused and organised individual who can balance competitive tendering and financial control.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Quantity Surveyor to join a growing business, take ownership of tender pricing and commercial management, support the effective delivery of an expanding project portfolio and make a direct contribution to Sencat's operational efficiency, commercial performance and profitability.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

       
• Take responsibility for the commercial management of allocated projects from initial costing and contract award through to completion and final account.
       
• Establish and maintain project budgets, cost plans and financial forecasts, monitoring actual and anticipated expenditure against agreed contract values.
       
• Prepare and submit interim valuations and applications for payment, ensuring works completed are accurately valued and submitted in accordance with contractual timescales.
       
• Identify, assess, price and agree variations, additional works and changes in scope, ensuring all changes are appropriately documented, authorised and reflected in project forecasts.
       
• Obtain and evaluate subcontractor quotations, negotiate commercial terms, assess applications for payment and manage subcontractor accounts through to final settlement.
       
• Support the procurement of materials, plant and subcontracted services, ensuring competitive pricing, appropriate lead times and value for money.
       
• Work alongside the bid team and operational teams to review tender documentation, assess commercial risks, validate costs and contribute to competitive and commercially viable submissions.
       
• Review contract documentation, identify commercial risks and ensure project delivery and financial administration are aligned with the agreed contractual terms and conditions.
       
• Produce regular commercial reports detailing project performance, cost-to-complete forecasts, variations, risks, potential losses and projected margins, providing clear and timely information to senior management.
       
• Manage the preparation, negotiation and agreement of final accounts with clients and subcontractors, ensuring all costs, variations and outstanding payments are resolved promptly.
       
• Identify commercial risks, potential cost overruns and opportunities for value engineering, ensuring any proposed savings maintain the required quality, safety and compliance standards.
       
• Develop effective working relationships with clients, NHS estates teams, Contract Managers, Project Managers, engineers, suppliers and subcontractors to resolve commercial issues and maintain positive working relationships.
       
• Work closely with operational teams to ensure projects are commercially reviewed at handover, supporting the capture of final costs, outstanding variations, lessons learned and financial outcomes.
       
• Support the development and improvement of Sencat's commercial procedures, cost reporting, project controls and financial tracking to improve consistency, visibility and profitability across the business.
       
• Ensure commercial decisions and project activities take account of relevant contractual, statutory and client requirements, particularly when working within live NHS and mental health environments.
     

Essential Skills and Experience:

       
• Proven experience in a Quantity Surveyor or Commercial Management role within construction and refurbishment.
       
• Experience managing project costs, valuations, variations, subcontractor accounts and final accounts.
       
• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to identify financial risks and protect project profitability.
       
• Experience reviewing contract documentation, specifications, schedules of rates and tender submissions.
       
• Strong negotiation, analytical and problem-solving skills.
       
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines.
       
• Confident communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with operational teams, clients, suppliers and senior management.
       
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and project cost management systems.
     

Desirable Skills and Qualifications:

       
• Degree or HNC/HND in Quantity Surveying or a related construction discipline.
       
• Membership of, or working towards membership of, RICS or an equivalent professional body.
       
• Experience working on NHS, healthcare or mental health refurbishment projects.
       
• Knowledge of JCT, NEC or other relevant construction contract forms.
       
• Experience working in live or occupied environments where safety, security and operational continuity are critical.
       
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to project sites when required.
     

Personal Attributes:

       
• Commercially focused, proactive and results-driven.
       
• Organised and methodical, with strong financial and analytical skills.
       
• Confident in challenging costs, negotiating agreements and resolving commercial issues.
       
• Able to work independently while collaborating effectively with the wider Sencat team.
       
• Flexible and adaptable in a growing business where processes and project requirements continue to evolve.
       
• Committed to maintaining high standards of professionalism, customer service and commercial integrity.
     

Benefits:

       
• 24 days holiday (excluding bank holidays)
       
• 6 weeks full sick pay and 6 weeks half pay (excluding the 1st 3 days of each period of sickness, which are paid at the statutory rate)
       
• 1 additional service day per year on completion of 3 years' service, up to 4 extra days
       
• After 12 months' service, the option to buy up to 5 extra days holiday a year
       
• Vehicle allowance of £6,000
     

If you are interested in applying for this role, please send your CV to recruitment@sencat.com

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