Senior Quantity Surveyor

Senior Quantity Surveyor

Location: Didcot, Oxfordshire Employment type: Site based

About Kilnbridge

Kilnbridge is the UK's leading structures specialist, delivering some of the country's most complex and iconic engineering, construction and infrastructure projects. Our expertise spans the full lifecycle of a structure - design, build, adapt, repair and protect - delivered by four specialist operational businesses that combine seamlessly as One Kilnbridge to meet any project's needs.

We are purpose led, focused on building a sustainable and resilient future for the UK, with a reputation for technical excellence, safety and quality built over 35 years. As an employee-owned business, our people are at the heart of everything we do - empowered to contribute, innovate and help shape our continued success.

The Opportunity

Kilnbridge has secured a major £20m+ groundworks, drainage and infrastructure package for a new data centre development in Didcot, Oxfordshire.

Over the next 18 months, the project will deliver a diverse scope of works including earthworks, drainage, service infrastructure, roads and external works, reinforced concrete structures and associated enabling works, working alongside the principal contractor and specialist supply chain partners.

We're looking for an experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor to take the commercial lead on this high-profile project, managing commercial and contractual performance from mobilisation through to final account. You'll work closely with the Project Manager, client and delivery teams, playing a key role in the successful delivery of a significant and technically challenging scheme.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full commercial ownership of projects from handover through to final account, ensuring robust financial control and successful commercial outcomes.
• Develop, maintain and manage project budgets, cost plans, cash flow forecasts and monthly Cost Value Reconciliations (CVRs), providing clear analysis of performance, margins, risks and opportunities.
• Measure and value completed works, preparing interim applications for payment and ensuring all variations, materials on site and contractual entitlements are accurately captured and recovered.
• Manage project change control processes, including the identification, pricing, submission and agreement of variations, compensation events and other commercial submissions.
• Monitor project costs, productivity and resource expenditure, maintaining accurate records to support commercial performance, contractual entitlement and claims.
• Support the preparation and negotiation of claims, loss and expense submissions, extensions of time and final account agreements.
• Procure and manage subcontractors and suppliers throughout the project lifecycle, including tender enquiries, commercial assessments, subcontract drafting, account management and final account settlement.
• Assess subcontractor applications, prepare payment recommendations and ensure accurate administration of subcontract accounts.
• Work collaboratively with operational teams to identify commercial risks, mitigate cost overruns and maximise value recovery opportunities.
• Attend and contribute to client, commercial and supply chain meetings, supporting contract administration, notices, early warnings and contractual correspondence.
• Maintain project commercial records, risk and opportunity registers, and ensure all activities comply with Kilnbridge procedures, governance and reporting requirements.
• Provide commercial guidance to project teams and support the mentoring and development of Assistant Quantity Surveyors and Trainee Quantity Surveyors.

About You

We're looking for a Senior Quantity Surveyor, or an experienced Project Quantity Surveyor ready to step up, with a strong background in civil engineering, infrastructure or construction projects.

You will have experience in:

• Managing project budgets, forecasting, CVRs and commercial reporting.
• Valuing works, applications for payment, variations and final accounts.
• Subcontract procurement, account management and payment assessments.
• Cost control, commercial risk management and contract administration.
• Working closely with operational teams to drive project performance.
• Groundworks, drainage, infrastructure and/or reinforced concrete works.

Desirable Experience

• Data centres, infrastructure, energy or civil engineering projects.
• NEC and/or JCT contracts.
• Self-delivery of labour, plant and materials.
• First-principles estimating and rate build-ups.
• Commercial responsibility for projects valued from £10m to £30m+.

Qualifications & Skills

• Degree, HNC, HND or equivalent in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or a related discipline (or equivalent industry experience).
• Strong commercial, analytical and reporting skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and commercial systems.
• Confident communicator and negotiator.
• Organised, proactive and able to work independently in a fast-paced project environment.

Working Arrangements

This role is based on-site in Didcot, Oxfordshire and requires regular site presence to support project delivery and commercial management. Limited flexible working may be available depending on project needs.

Why Kilnbridge?

With major projects delivered across the UK - from national infrastructure to clean energy, buildings and complex structural works - Kilnbridge offers the opportunity to work on schemes that leave a lasting legacy on the built environment. With a UK network of offices from London to Runcorn to Lisburn, we are a trusted partner in some of the most highly regulated, constrained and demanding environments working with our customers to support the delivery of projects across the country.

We are proud to be an employee-owned organisation where every colleague has a real stake in our success and a voice in how we grow. Our culture is shaped by four core values - Responsibility, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence - which guide how we work and support one another every day. This has created a workforce that has earned recognition on the Financial Times and Statistas Best UK employers 2026 list.

If you're driven by pride in your work, inspired by technical challenge and motivated to help deliver projects that shape communities across the UK, you will thrive at Kilnbridge.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Kilnbridge is an equal opportunities employer and a proud member of the Disability Confident Scheme. We are committed to creating a diverse workplace where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. We welcome discussions about flexible working and encourage applicants who may require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy or marital status.