Senior Quantity Surveyor

Systra

Systra

york, uk

Posted on Apr 24, 2026

Around the world, SYSTRA’s specialists plan, design, integrate, test, commission, project manage and deliver mass transit and mobility solutions that are relied on by more than 50 million people every day.

For more than 60 years, the Group has been committed to helping cities and regions contribute to their development by creating, improving and modernising their transport infrastructure with sustainability, accessibility and innovation at the heart of our designs. With over 10,300 colleagues globally and around 1000 in the UK & Ireland we are growing significantly and seeking out the very best talent to join the SYSTRA signature team and be part of leading the way in infrastructure design.

Context

We are seeking an experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor to act as Lead QS / Commercial Manager on a key Design Framework supporting the delivery of the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) programme.

  • To support the project team in the effective management of time, cost, cash-flow, revenue / value and quality to plan through to project close out.
  • To provide functional commercial support to the project management team and ensure that timely and appropriate cost and contract administration is maintained.
    Interfaces
  • Internal: Framework project director, commercial director, project manager, planner,, discipline leads and all other project support functions worldwide.
  • External: Client Representatives, JV Partners, Sub-contractors.
  • Key accountability
    Prepare all relevant commercial data for the monthly reporting cycle and to provide estimates to complete in support of project forecasts and budget reviews.
    Work with project teams in managing the cost / programme impact and validation of change/compensation events and encourage the whole delivery team to strive to deliver value for money.
    Maintain necessary trackers to inform Project Management, Commercial and Project Controls reports, including EWN’s, NCE’s etc.
    Attendance to required risk reduction, change and progress meetings.
    Proactively manage and close out issues and risks, whilst maximising value for the project and maintaining a positive cash-flow.
    Weekly and monthly progress reports as required.
    Analyse cost performance data and provide relevant input for monthly performance reports.
    Coordinate with and support the project controls team.
    Manage relationships with joint venture partner, subcontractors and affiliates.
    Responsible for implementing appropriate commercial strategies including effective project cost management, change management, risk and KPI management.
    Prepare and manage all commercial correspondence and contractual notices issued in accordance with contractual conditions.
    Identify emerging problems, report contractual claims and support in the management and resolution of legal and/or commercial disputes in conjunction with senior management
    Subcontract account management and work package management of affiliates, including cost control and forecasting.

Missions/Main Duties

Commercial Leadership & Strategy


• Act as Lead Quantity Surveyor / Commercial Manager across framework commissions
• Provide commercial leadership and governance across multiple work packages
• Develop and implement project and framework-level commercial strategies aligned to client objectives
• Ensure compliance with framework, contract, and governance requirements
• Support and mentor junior commercial staff, fostering a high-performing team environment

Contract Management


• Administer contracts in accordance with NEC contract principles (including compensation events, early warnings, and programme management).
• Lead the preparation and negotiation of compensation events, change control, and contract amendments.
• Provide advice to the delivery team on contractual obligations, risks, and entitlements.

Cost Management


• Prepare and manage project cost forecasts, budgets, and financial reporting.
• Monitor project performance against target cost, budgets, and programme milestones.
• Support the preparation of cost plans, estimates, and commercial assessments for project stages.

Commercial Reporting


Produce and maintain robust financial and commercial reporting including:
• Forecasting
• Earned value assessments
• Risk and opportunity registers

• Margin analysis
• Provide clear commercial insight to project and framework leadership.

Change & Risk Management


• Manage change control processes, ensuring timely identification, notification, and resolution of compensation events.
• Maintain project risk registers and commercial risk mitigation strategies.
• Support the identification and management of opportunities to improve commercial outcomes.

Stakeholder Engagement


• Act as a key commercial interface with the client and delivery partners within the framework.
• Support collaborative working across multidisciplinary engineering and programme teams.
• Represent the commercial function at project review and governance meetings.

Framework Collaboration
• Work closely with other framework partners to support collaborative delivery objectives.
• Ensure commercial practices align with framework governance and programme requirements.

Profile/Skills

  • considerable relevant experience - Rail, infrastructure or similar.
  • Shall be qualified with a BSc/MSc or equivalent.
  • Shall be chartered member of a relevant professional body or is a member of a professional body and has enrolled onto, and is actively engaged, in its chartership programme. Or has a lesser qualification than chartership but is experience via experience.
  • Strong leadership qualities demonstrable through their daily actions and engagement with individuals at all levels of an organisation
  • NEC3/4 Option A, E or C experience
  • Joint Venture Experience (preferred but not essential)

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