Company Description

We are a privately owned property investment and development business with a live portfolio across the South Coast and London. We are looking for an Assistant Quantity Surveyor who is ready to step up into a broader, more commercial Quantity Surveyor role. This is not a traditional consultancy position. The role is designed for someone who wants to work within a real property business, add value commercially, and take ownership rather than operate within a narrow, process-driven environment. 

Role

You will work closely with senior colleagues across development, asset management and finance, taking ownership of commercial and cost matters across a varied portfolio of assets.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Preparing and managing cost plans, budgets and cashflows

• Supporting viability assessments and commercial appraisals

• Obtaining, appraising and comparing competitive tenders

• Managing contractors and subcontractors and controlling costs

• Challenging costs and identifying opportunities to improve value

• Progressively monitoring construction valuations and reporting against budgets

• Working directly with consultants, contractors and the wider internal team

• Supporting acquisitions, refurbishments and development projects

• Helping the business make faster, better commercial decisions

This is a hands-on, visible role. You will be expected to make a difference. You will not be shielded from responsibility, and you will not be micromanaged.

Commercial and buyer mindset

We are looking for someone who thinks commercially and understands what it means to operate within a property development business.

You should naturally be asking:

• Is this good value ?

• Can this be bought more competitively ?

• What are the hidden or associated cost risks within this transaction ?

This includes being alert to cost creep, unnecessary add-ons, duplicated cover, poorly flagged assumptions, and risks that only surface once orders are placed or invoices arrive.

You are comfortable:

• Challenging cost threats as projects progress

• Managing commercial risk

• Making positive recommendations to improve our cost position

Who this role is for

This role is suited to someone who:

• Has a minimum of 2 years’ experience in a quantity surveying or commercial role

• Is currently operating as an Assistant QS or similar and is ready to step up

• Feels progression is slow or constrained in their current role

• Wants exposure to real assets and real commercial decisions

• Is comfortable working in a small, high-trust team

• Wants to become a well-rounded in-house QS rather than a narrow specialist

You do not need to be the finished article. You do need commercial curiosity backed by an ownership mentality.

Small business environment

This is a small, entrepreneurial business rather than a corporate hierarchy.

You will be expected to take ownership of your work, work at pace, communicate clearly and understand that delay has a real commercial cost. There is nowhere to hide, but there is always advice and support available.

Technology and way of working

We encourage the use of technology and modern tools to work more efficiently and improve decision making. We value judgement, output and momentum over rigid process.

Additional information

• Salary: £40,000–£50,000 (depending on experience and capability)
• Clear scope for progression as responsibility increases
• Salary progression linked to ownership, decision making and commercial impact
• Location: Hampshire/ South Coast
• 22 days annual leave plus additional company days