Quantity Surveyor Lead - Pre-Construction
21 hours ago
Kent
Lead QS – Pre-Construction Team Detailed Roles & Responsibilities Framework Purpose of the Role The Lead Quantity Surveyor is responsible for the commercial management and performance of their allocated schemes and opportunities within the Pre-Construction function. The role owns the production of accurate commercial information, including CVRs, forecasts, estimates, tender submissions and commercial reporting for their portfolio. The Lead QS is accountable for ensuring that scheme-level commercial performance is understood, managed and communicated effectively. Whilst the Commercial Manager provides governance, assurance and challenge, the Lead QS retains ownership of all commercial outputs relating to their schemes and direct reports. Organisational Structure Head of Pre-Construction ↓ Commercial Manager (Pre-Construction) ↓ Lead QS – Division A1 Lead QS – Division A2 Lead QS – QS/Assistant QS/Commercial Staff The Lead QSs remain accountable for: • Production of CVRs, • Day-to-day commercial management, • Cost planning, • Tender adjudications, • Staff management and development, • Divisional perform Key Responsibilities 1. Commercial Governance & Compliance Act as the commercial lead for all allocated opportunities and projects throughout the pre-construction lifecycle. Responsibilities • Maintain full commercial ownership of assigned schemes., • Develop robust cost plans and estimates., • Manage commercial inputs into tender submissions., • Lead commercial reviews and adjudications., • Maintain scheme cashflow and margin forecasts., • Ensure risk allowances are appropriate and justified., • Monitor cost movements and forecast changes., • Identify value engineering opportunities., • Support bid strategy development., • Ensure commercial decisions align with business objectives. Deliverables • Cost Plans., • Tender Estimates., • Tender Adjudications., • Commercial Submission Reports., • Margin Forecasts. 1. CVR Production & Forecasting Own the preparation and accuracy of all Cost Value Reconciliation (CVR) reporting for allocated schemes. Responsibilities • Produce monthly CVRs in accordance with company standards., • Maintain forecast cost and value positions., • Identify and explain commercial variances., • Monitor forecast margin movements., • Quantify and document risks and opportunities., • Ensure supporting evidence is maintained., • Present CVR positions during review meetings., • Respond to Commercial Manager assurance challenges., • Drive forecast accuracy improvements. Deliverables • Monthly CVRs., • Scheme Forecast Reports., • Variance Analysis., • Risk & Opportunity Schedules., • Margin Movement Reports. Success Measures • Accurate forecasting., • Timely submission of CVRs., • Minimal unexplained variance., • Robust supporting records. 1. Tendering & Bid Commercial Management Lead all commercial activities associated with tender opportunities. Responsibilities • Review enquiry documentation., • Develop pricing strategies., • Obtain and analyse subcontractor quotations., • Build tender estimates., • Identify risks, exclusions and qualifications., • Participate in tender settlement meetings., • Prepare commercial recommendations., • Support final tender submissions., • Ensure bids achieve target margins. Deliverables • Tender Commercial Reviews., • Subcontract Analysis Reports., • Pricing Recommendations., • Bid Risk Assessments. 1. Supply Chain & Procurement Management Manage the commercial relationship with the supply chain during pre-construction activities. Responsibilities • Review subcontractor packages., • Benchmark quotations., • Undertake commercial evaluations., • Lead tender enquiries., • Support preferred supplier selection., • Ensure procurement governance requirements are met., • Maintain procurement audit records., • Develop strategic supply chain relationships. Deliverables • Package Comparisons., • Procurement Recommendations., • Supply Chain Performance Reviews., • Procurement Registers. 1. Team Leadership & Management Lead, mentor and manage direct reports within the commercial team. Responsibilities • Provide day-to-day management of Quantity Surveyors and Assistant QSs., • Allocate workloads across schemes., • Set objectives and performance expectations., • Conduct regular one-to-one reviews., • Support training and development plans., • Monitor quality of commercial outputs., • Foster collaboration across teams., • Support recruitment and onboarding., • Identify succession opportunities. Deliverables • Team Development Plans., • Monthly Performance Reviews., • Resource Allocation Plans., • Training Records. 1. Commercial Risk Management Ensure risks and opportunities are fully understood and actively managed. Responsibilities • Maintain scheme risk registers., • Quantify commercial risk exposure., • Monitor changing market conditions., • Challenge assumptions affecting margin., • Escalate significant commercial concerns., • Develop mitigation strategies., • Track opportunities for margin improvement. Deliverables • Scheme Risk Registers., • Risk Mitigation Plans., • Opportunity Logs., • Commercial Risk Reports. 1. Quality Assurance & Governance Compliance Maintain compliance with all commercial procedures and governance requirements. Responsibilities • Follow approved commercial procedures., • Maintain accurate commercial records., • Support internal audits., • Ensure tender governance requirements are met., • Implement corrective actions where required., • Contribute to lessons learned reviews., • Share best practice across divisions. Deliverables • Audit Evidence Files., • Governance Compliance Records., • Lessons Learned Reports. 1. Commercial Reporting Provide clear and accurate reporting to senior management. Responsibilities • Prepare monthly commercial reports., • Present scheme performance updates., • Highlight key risks and opportunities., • Report resource requirements., • Support divisional monthly reviews., • Provide commentary on forecast movements., • Escalate matters requiring leadership intervention. Reporting Requirements Weekly • Scheme status updates., • Commercial risks requiring escalation., • Tender progress updates., • Resource requirements. Monthly • CVRs., • Forecast updates., • Margin movement analysis., • Risk and opportunity reviews., • Team performance updates. Quarterly • Scheme performance reviews., • Lessons learned., • Resource forecasts., • Improvement initiatives. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Commercial Performance • Forecast Accuracy (%), • CVR Accuracy, • Tender Margin Achievement, • Gross Margin Performance, • Commercial Recovery Performance Governance • CVR Submission Compliance, • Audit Scores, • Procedure Compliance, • Documentation Quality Operational • Tender Turnaround Times, • Bid Conversion Rates, • Supply Chain Engagement, • Resource Utilisation Leadership • Team Retention, • Development Progression, • Internal Stakeholder Feedback, • Succession Planning Readiness Success Criteria for the Role After 12 months the Lead QS should demonstrate: Commercial Delivery • Consistently accurate CVRs and forecasts., • Strong margin protection., • Effective commercial management of all allocated schemes. Team Leadership • High-performing commercial team., • Clear development plans for direct reports., • Improved capability across the team. Governance • Full compliance with commercial procedures., • Strong audit performance., • Complete and robust commercial records. Business Contribution • Improved bid quality., • Effective risk management., • Positive contribution to divisional profitability. Strategic Purpose The Lead QS should be viewed as the commercial owner of their portfolio, ensuring every scheme is commercially robust, accurately reported, properly resourced and effectively managed. They are accountable for delivering reliable commercial information to the Commercial Manager and Head of Pre-Construction whilst developing and leading a high-performing commercial team.
