Full job descriptionSouthwark Council are looking for a Senior Quantity Surveyor on a permanent basis.
£54,360 per year.
WFH is offered - SE1 2QH.
About the role:
Southwark is a large, ambitious and progressive council with a can do attitude and enviable reputation. As a council, we are successful, passionate and forward-thinking. Southwark has a varied mix of cultural communities, where over 120 languages are spoken in the borough. We have all the challenges you’d find in any inner city area.
We are recruiting a highly skilled Senior Quantity Surveyor specialising in Mechanical Services to lead commercial management across Southwark Council’s major Individual and District Heating contracts, Water Hygiene and Building Energy Management Systems, managing over 8,000 jobs per month. This is a specialist, high-value, high-complexity role, central to the delivery of safe, compliant and resilient heating and water services for thousands of residents.
This position covers some of the Council’s largest contracts, where annual contract values exceed £20m and involve complex technical and statutory requirements. We’re looking for someone who can confidently navigate major mechanical services contracts and bring rigorous commercial assurance to mission-critical infrastructure.
About the Contracts
*You will be commercially responsible for:
*Heating & Water contract A (£7.9m)
*Heating & Water Contract B (£7.4m)
*District Heating improvement programmes (circa £8m)
*Building Energy Management Systems (circa £100k)
Works include:
*Gas landlord safety inspections
*Heating repairs, installations and maintenance (domestic & district systems)
*Water quality testing, treatment and installations
*Mechanical plant servicing (laundry, sewage, risers, energy systems)
*Building energy management systems
*24/7 critical response services
What You’ll Be DoingWe are recruiting a highly skilled Senior Quantity Surveyor specialising in Mechanical Services to lead commercial management across Southwark Council’s major Individual and District Heating contracts, Water Hygiene and Building Energy Management Systems, managing over 8,000 jobs per month. This is a specialist, high-value, high-complexity role, central to the delivery of safe, compliant and resilient heating and water services for thousands of residents.
This position covers some of the Council’s largest contracts, where annual contract values exceed £20m and involve complex technical and statutory requirements. We’re looking for someone who can confidently navigate major mechanical services contracts and bring rigorous commercial assurance to mission-critical infrastructure.
You will:
*Lead commercial control across all heating and water contracts, ensuring accuracy, value for money and compliance

*Review contract documentation and support the tendering of district heating schemes

*Prepare budget forecasts and monthly financial reporting

*Undertake monthly valuations, including verification of Prime Cost sums

*Review dayworks, manual orders and schedule of rates compliance

*Monitor Planned Preventative Maintenance costs

*Conduct post-inspection reviews and adjust contractor valuations where required

*Reconcile historic accounts and maintain audit-ready documentation

*Issue certificates, pay less notices and valuation reports on a strict monthly timetable

*Negotiate firmly and confidently with contractors, ensuring valuations, variations and wider commercial positions are rigorously tested and stand up to scrutiny

*Provide forensic QS support where required

*Contribute to staff development as part of the council;s social value commitments

This is an opportunity to lead commercial assurance on some of the Council’s most specialist, high-impact contracts - critical to resident safety and service reliability.
What We’re Looking For:We are looking for a seasoned quantity surveyor who can operate confidently in highly technical M&E environments.
You will bring:
*Strong understanding of mechanical services, district heating or other complex M&E systems

*Demonstrable experience managing high-value, multi-contract portfolios

*Exceptional attention to detail and strong commercial rigour

*Ability to manage structured monthly valuation cycles with a high level of accuracy

*Strong communication skills, with the ability to work closely with engineers, technical teams and contractors

*Confidence in challenging valuations, interrogating variations and maintaining robust commercial positions

*Strong financial and reporting capability, with the ability to manage records, forecasts and supporting documentation effectively