Commercial Lead / Quantity Surveyor (Scaffolding) – Open to Assistant QS
22 hours ago
Reading
📍 Basingstoke / Reading (covering Hampshire, Berkshire & Buckinghamshire) 💰 Competitive salary, dependent on experience The Opportunity We are a well-established and growing scaffolding contractor working with leading housebuilders and commercial clients across the South. Following our acquisition in 2025, we are strengthening our commercial function as part of a structured growth plan. We are open to appointing either: • An experienced Commercial Manager / Quantity Surveyor ready to take full ownership of the function, or, • An ambitious Assistant Quantity Surveyor looking to step up into a more responsible, commercially focused role with clear development. This is a hands-on, high-impact role reporting directly to the Managing Director, with real influence over margin, cash flow, and commercial performance. The Role You will be responsible for the commercial performance across multiple live projects, ensuring strong control of cost, value, and cash. The level of responsibility will be aligned to your experience — but the expectation is the same: protect margin, drive cash, and maintain commercial discipline. Key Responsibilities • Take commercial ownership of projects from tender handover through to final account, • Prepare and submit monthly valuations and applications for payment, • Identify, track, and secure variations, extras, and extensions, • Measure and value site works, ensuring accuracy and timeliness, • Negotiate and agree final accounts with client QS teams, • Monitor labour efficiency, margins, and overall project performance, • Support tender reviews, pricing strategy, and pre-contract handovers, • Manage credit control aligned to project payments and cash flow, • Maintain accurate sales forecasts linked to delivery and cash requirements, • Review contract terms, payment cycles, and retentions to protect the business, • Work closely with Operations and Finance to ensure alignment across projects, • Provide clear commercial insight to senior leadership, highlighting risks and opportunities What We’re Looking For Experienced Candidates • Background as a Commercial Manager or Quantity Surveyor within scaffolding, civils, or specialist subcontracting, • Strong experience with applications, variations, and final accounts, • Ability to manage multiple live projects and take full commercial ownership, • Confident dealing with client QS teams and senior stakeholders Developing Candidates (Assistant QS / Junior QS) • Experience within construction in an Assistant QS or similar role, • Good understanding of commercial processes (applications, variations, cost tracking), • Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and willingness to take ownership, • Ambition to progress into a senior commercial role Key Attributes • Commercially sharp with a strong focus on margin and cash, • Proactive and solutions-focused, • Comfortable working with autonomy and accountability, • Highly organised and able to manage multiple priorities, • Strong communication and negotiation skills What’s on Offer • Competitive salary based on experience, • Direct exposure to senior leadership and decision-making, • Real responsibility from day one (not a “support-only” role), • Clear progression into a senior commercial position, • Opportunity to play a key role in a growing business Why Join Us This is not a corporate environment. You’ll be joining a business that is evolving quickly, where strong individuals can make a real impact and progress based on performance. We are looking for someone who wants to take ownership, improve performance, and grow with the business long term. Apply If you’re ready to step into a role with real responsibility and commercial impact, apply now or get in touch for a confidential discussion.