Job Description:

Quantity Surveyor (Electrical) – Devonport Dockyard UpgradeLocation: Devonport, Plymouth
Sector: Defence / Major Infrastructure
Role: Client-Side Quantity Surveyor – Electrical
Project: Devonport Dockyard Upgrade
Role OverviewWe are seeking an experienced Electrical Quantity Surveyor to support the delivery of major upgrade and infrastructure works at Devonport Dockyard.
Working as part of the client-side commercial team, you will be responsible for the commercial and contractual management of electrical works delivered by external contractors. The role will provide commercial oversight throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring that contractor costs, changes, valuations and contractual obligations are effectively managed and that the client receives value for money.
This is an excellent opportunity for a Quantity Surveyor with strong electrical or M&E experience to work within a complex, highly regulated major infrastructure environment.
Key ResponsibilitiesYou will provide client-side commercial management across electrical works packages, with responsibilities including:

• Managing the commercial performance of external electrical and M&E contractors.
• Reviewing and assessing contractor applications for payment, valuations and supporting cost information.
• Assessing variations, compensation events and contractor change submissions.
• Challenging contractor quotations and ensuring costs are appropriately substantiated.
• Supporting the preparation, administration and commercial management of electrical works packages.
• Monitoring contractor expenditure, commitments, forecasts and anticipated final costs.
• Producing and maintaining cost reports, cash-flow forecasts and commercial dashboards.
• Identifying potential cost pressures, commercial risks and opportunities and ensuring these are appropriately reported and managed.
• Undertaking cost benchmarking, estimates and value-for-money assessments.
• Reviewing bills of quantities, schedules of rates, pricing documents and contractor cost build-ups.
• Supporting contract administration and ensuring contractors comply with their contractual obligations.
• Maintaining robust change-control processes and commercial records.
• Supporting the assessment, negotiation and agreement of contractor claims and final accounts.
• Working closely with project managers, engineers, planners, cost managers and other members of the project delivery team.
• Attending contractor progress, commercial and change-control meetings.
• Supporting procurement activities, tender evaluations and commercial recommendations where required.
• Providing commercial input into project risk management and cost forecasting.
• Ensuring appropriate governance, approvals and audit trails are maintained for commercial decisions.
• Supporting continuous improvement and identifying opportunities to improve commercial performance across the programme.

Electrical Package ExperienceThe successful candidate should have experience commercially managing electrical or M&E packages. Relevant experience may include:

• HV and LV electrical distribution
• Substations, transformers and switchgear
• Electrical building services
• Power distribution and containment
• Lighting and emergency lighting
• Standby and emergency power systems
• UPS and generator installations
• Earthing and lightning protection
• Controls, instrumentation and associated systems
• Electrical infrastructure upgrades
• Testing, commissioning and handover activities

Experience of major infrastructure, defence, nuclear, utilities, marine, industrial or similarly complex engineering environments would be particularly advantageous.
Essential Experience & Skills

• Demonstrable experience as a Quantity Surveyor or Commercial Manager within construction, engineering or major infrastructure.
• Strong commercial experience relating to electrical or M&E works.
• Experience working in a client-side, consultancy or contractor-facing commercial role.
• Strong understanding of cost management, valuations, forecasting and change control.
• Experience assessing contractor quotations, variations and claims.
• Good understanding of construction and engineering contracts.
• Strong numerical, analytical and commercial skills.
• Ability to interrogate contractor submissions and confidently challenge costs where appropriate.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to operate effectively within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate commercial records.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working under NEC contracts, particularly NEC3 or NEC4.
• Experience managing target-cost and/or reimbursable contracts.
• Previous experience within defence, nuclear, marine or other highly regulated infrastructure environments.
• Experience delivering major capital programmes or complex engineering projects.
• Knowledge of electrical engineering terminology, systems and installation methodologies.
• Experience of procurement, tender evaluation and contract award.
• Experience negotiating and agreeing final accounts.
• Membership of, or progress towards membership of, a relevant professional body such as RICS or CICES.

QualificationsA degree, HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in one of the following, or a related discipline, would be advantageous:

• Quantity Surveying
• Commercial Management
• Construction Management
• Engineering

Equivalent relevant industry experience will also be considered.
Role ProfileThis is a client-side commercial role, rather than a site-based contractor QS position. The successful candidate will act in the client's interests, providing independent commercial oversight of external contractors and ensuring that expenditure, contractual change and commercial decisions are properly controlled.
The role requires someone who is comfortable working with both commercial and technical stakeholders and who can interrogate contractor submissions, understand the commercial implications of engineering decisions and provide clear, evidence-based commercial advice to the project team.
Given the nature and location of the programme, candidates will need to meet the security, site-access and eligibility requirements applicable to the role.