Senior QS / Commercial Manager

Role: Senior Quantity Surveyor / Commercial Manager  

Location: Birmingham Office / Visiting Site [Flexible/Hybrid]  

Reporting to: Commercial Director  

About The Company: 

My client are a dynamic fit-out contractor delivering high-quality, design-led projects - with a turnover of  £35m. Over the past 18 months, they have set up a thriving business unit focusing on projects delivered via traditional procurement routes. This business unit is now contributing up to 50% of their total turnover, and as part of our growth journey we’re looking to bring commercial control in-house.  

This is a unique opportunity to join the business at an existing time: you’ll play a hands-on role in  projects whilst also shaping how commercial management is delivered across the business unit –  and as the function grows, you’ll have the opportunity to build and a lead a commercial team around  you.  

The Role  

We’re looking for an experienced Quantity Surveyor / Commercial Manager who is ready to step into a role that offers more influence and autonomy than the traditional QS position.  

You’ll be directly responsible for commercial delivery on live projects — from subcontract procurement through to valuations and variations — but you’ll also help establish the structure and  discipline needed to bring consistency and confidence to our reporting.  

You’ll work closely with external QS partners and report directly to the Commercial Director,  giving you visibility at senior level and the chance to make a measurable impact, while also being  part of the journey to grow the commercial function.  

What You’ll Be Doing  

• Attending tender adjudications and appraising commercial risk.  
• Reviewing and negotiating JCT contracts.  
• Leading commercial management on live projects, including:  
• Subcontract procurement, negotiation & adjudication.  
• Valuations, applications, and payments.  
• Capturing and agreeing variations with clients and subcontractors.  
• Ensuring subcontract orders and documentation are robust.  
• Working with our external QS to maintain accurate CVRs aligned with Swift (our cost management system).  
• Monitoring and reporting actual vs tendered profit, driving corrective actions where required. 
• Acting as a key commercial advisor to project teams and leadership. 

What We’re Looking For  

• Senior QS or Commercial Manager with experience of £1m–£10m projects.  
• Strong knowledge of JCT contracts  
• Track record in subcontract procurement, valuations, and variation recovery.  
• Strong commercial acumen — hands-on and detail-focused but also able to see the bigger  picture.  
• A confident communicator, comfortable dealing with clients, subcontractors, and directors  alike.  
• Leadership potential with the ambition to develop a team.  

Success in the Role Will Be Measured By  

• Accuracy of CVRs and reporting in Swift.  
• Actual profit achieved vs tendered profit.  
• Timely, accurate valuations and applications.  
• Recovery of variations at both main contract and subcontract level.  
• Effective subcontract procurement, on time and within budget.  

Why Join?  

• Influence & Impact – direct reporting line to the Commercial Director, with scope to shape  how the business unit operates.  
• Team Growth – opportunity to grow and lead the commercial team as the business unit  expands.  
• Hands-On & Strategic – a role that keeps you close to projects while also providing a  senior-level platform.  
• Culture – we’re collaborative, agile, and ambitious — a team that values ownership and  rewards results.  
• Stability & Pipeline – a strong order book across a diverse range of fit-out projects.  

Please apply below and get in touch with Heather Duncan for more information