Quantity Surveyor/Lead Cost Manager

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Salary: £59,461 to £65,407 per annum (dependent on experience)

Contract Type: Open Ended (permanent)

Hours: Full time

Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE

Closing date:  17th November 2024

Together, our scientist, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society. 

Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

We now have a new opportunity for a skilled and experienced senior member, to be responsible for managing costs and budgets of construction projects, from early cost advice to settlement of the final account. Responsibility includes managing customer relationships (Internal and External).  Proactive, Strategic and experienced in reviewing processes, strategies and delivering positive outcomes within an Estates Environment.

Key Responsibilities - Include but are not limited to: 

• Supporting Estates in delivering business objectives, Value for money, and overseeing governance of estates commercial interests.


• Positively engaging with Customers (Internal, Suppliers etc.) and developing, growing, and maintaining Customer relationships. 


• Delivering high quality services and ensuring that cost management deliverables meet Customers’ requirements.


• Supporting the Estates team to build tender packs, specifications, and commercial requirements to achieve desired business objectives.


• Managing projects to deliver high quality services and deliverables in accordance with the business procedures. 


• Preparing and presenting order of cost estimates and option studies 


• Advising and supporting, budget setting, cost planning, costing processes, and benchmarking. 


• To internally audit projects, cost-in-use studies (Construction and Maintenance).


• Negotiating contract commercial terms, rates etc. with interested parties


• Advising on, setting, and implementing procurement strategies and delivering to plan.  


• Preparing tender documentation and managing the tender process, including  designing tender marking schemes, and evaluating and reporting on tenders  


• Valuing completed work and arranging for payments. 


• Settling final accounts and reporting.


• Providing technical advice on legal and contractual issues relating to construction projects, identifying and managing risk to avoid dispute etc.


• Supporting SME’s within Estates by administrating contracts as Cost Management Contract Administrator.


• Be the Estates Lead for Tender pricing evaluation, working with UKRI commercial team to ensure procurement strategy objectives are realised.                  

 Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:  

• Broad, in-depth cost management experience post MRICS qualification. 


• Detailed knowledge and practiced experience of cost estimating and cost planning techniques i.e., NSR, RICS NRM etc.


• Sound knowledge of the industry (including factors affecting it) and construction methods and materials.  


• Comprehensive knowledge of construction, and maintenance procurement strategies, including tendering and contract strategies. 


• Thorough knowledge and experience of post-contract cost management tasks. 


• Ability to administer construction contracts as Contract Administrator and Employer’s Agent. 


• Clear understanding of legislation impacting on building contracts. 


• Ability to motivate others (including providing support and encouragement) and to lead high performance teams 


• Clear and effective communication skills - both oral and written. 


• Methodical way of thinking and approach to work. 


• Ability to absorb complex information and assess requirements readily. 


• Excellent problem solving, negotiating, financial and numeracy skills. 


• Sound ICT skills, with a high level of proficiency in MS Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. 


• Ability to prepare first-class submissions for services. 


• Competent at negotiating and a demonstrable track record of improving and achieving VFM.  


• Ability to work as part of a team and manage teams. 


• Producing and presenting reports to Customers. 


• Mentoring and coaching Estates colleagues in cost management and their duties. 

 Qualifications: 

• MRICS (Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).

Behaviours:  

• People Focused – Motivated to create and maintain positive relationships.


• Creative – We solve problems and introduce new ideas. 


• Performance -led – Driven to exceed client expectations. 


• Collaborative – We foster a progressive and inclusive work ethic. 


• Accountable – we act with integrity and take responsibility. 

STFC values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours, a workplace nursery, exceptional average salary pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another. 
As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, this is a place where there’s always something new to learn – about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself.

Join us and discover what’s possible by submitting your CV and covering letter which outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for STFC and the role.