Senior Quantity Surveyor Healthcare

Job Description

Overview

Shape healthcare environments that matter. Lead projects that improve patient outcomes and support the future of care.

At AtkinsRéalis, we bring together technical excellence, digital innovation and a collaborative mindset to improve the built environment. Our London & South East Cost Management team within Buildings & Places leads complex healthcare, public sector and estate transformation programmes, helping clients create safe, resilient, efficient and future-ready clinical environments.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Quantity Surveyor / Senior Cost Manager to join our Tunbridge Wells team. You will lead healthcare and complex public-sector commissions, provide trusted commercial advice and coordinate teams in operational environments where patient safety, clinical continuity, compliance and stakeholder confidence are critical. We work hybrid and flexibly across our offices in London (Nova North), Tunbridge Wells, Epsom, Oxford and Cambridge, prioritising where our clients and teams need us to be.

The Opportunity

You will join a high-performing, growing team supporting NHS Trusts and other healthcare clients on major capital projects, estate transformation, refurbishment, backlog maintenance, compliance-led programmes and infrastructure improvements. You may also work across education, life sciences, public sector and other complex property commissions.

The role is suited to a chartered cost manager who can independently lead commissions from feasibility through completion, balance affordability with safety and operational requirements, and communicate confidently with estates, finance, clinical, design and contractor stakeholders. You will work with Associate Directors and Directors on strategic accounts while taking day-to-day accountability for your projects and teams.

Your role

• Lead cost management commissions from inception to completion, setting the delivery strategy and taking accountability for scope, quality, programme, client satisfaction and commercial performance.

• Act as the primary day-to-day client interface, providing clear, evidence-based advice and building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.

• Prepare, review and assure feasibility studies, business case cost inputs, estimates, cost plans, cash flows, risk allowances, benchmarking and commercial reports aligned with funding and governance requirements.

• Develop procurement and contracting strategies, prepare tender and contract documentation, manage tender processes and provide clear recommendations.

• Lead post-contract cost management, including valuations, forecasting, change control, risk management, cost reporting and final account negotiations.

• Plan and manage commercial delivery within live healthcare environments, recognising clinical interfaces, decant, phasing, infection prevention, access, logistics and operational continuity constraints.

• Administer or support contracts under JCT, NEC and other relevant forms, ensuring notices, assessments, instructions and records are timely and robust.

• Establish proportionate project governance, reporting and controls, maintaining clear audit trails and supporting timely, informed decisions.

• Identify cost, programme, procurement and delivery risks early, quantify their potential impact and lead appropriate mitigation with the project team.

• Lead value management and option appraisal activities, protecting project outcomes while identifying efficiencies and whole-life value.

• Engage effectively with Trust estates, finance, procurement, clinical, operational and governance stakeholders, translating complex requirements into clear commercial advice.

• Coordinate and challenge multidisciplinary teams, ensuring design development, programme, risk and commercial information remain aligned.

• Plan and manage project resources, delegate effectively, review outputs and maintain consistently high technical and service standards.

• Manage commission finances, including fee budgets, forecasts, change control, invoicing, cash collection and performance against agreed margin.

• Support client account plans, bids, proposals, interviews and presentations, contributing relevant insight, evidence and delivery methodology.

• Identify repeat-business and cross-selling opportunities through strong delivery and a clear understanding of client priorities.

• Coach, mentor and technically review the work of quantity surveyors, graduates, apprentices and other team members.

• Champion inclusive behaviours, health and safety, sustainability, digital delivery, data quality and continuous improvement.

• Represent AtkinsRéalis and the profession with integrity, credibility and sound professional judgement.

About you

• Strong experience delivering quantity surveying / cost management services within healthcare, public sector or another complex built-environment sector, preferably within a consultancy.

• A proven track record of independently leading commissions and maintaining effective client relationships from feasibility through post-contract delivery and close-out.

• Experience of NHS Trusts, public-sector frameworks, live estates, complex refurbishment, backlog maintenance or major healthcare capital schemes is highly valued.

• Detailed knowledge of pre-contract and post-contract cost management, including estimating, cost planning, procurement, tendering, contract administration, change control and final accounts.

• Strong working knowledge of NEC and JCT contracts, public-sector procurement and governance, with the ability to apply contractual and commercial principles in practice.

• The confidence to chair meetings, present recommendations, challenge constructively and influence clients, consultants, contractors and senior decision-makers.

• An understanding of healthcare delivery constraints, including clinical continuity, phasing, decant, compliance, risk, stakeholder approvals and operational resilience.

• Strong analytical, commercial and problem-solving capability, with the ability to interpret complex cost and project information and communicate it clearly.

• Experience in planning and supervising the work of others, reviewing technical outputs and supporting professional development.

• Good commission management discipline, including fee management, resource planning, forecasting, scope control, invoicing and cash awareness.

• A collaborative and proactive approach, with the resilience to manage competing priorities and changing deadlines without compromising quality.

• Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or a related discipline, with MRICS or an equivalent recognised professional qualification.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and relevant industry tools such as CostX or comparable measurement and cost management platforms.

• An active interest in digital cost management, market intelligence, sustainability, data and emerging technology.

Expectations at Senior Level

• Commission leadership: independently mobilise, plan and lead commissions, with clear ownership of outputs, deadlines, project controls and client outcomes.

• Technical authority: produce and review complex technical deliverables, identify weaknesses in information and apply proportionate professional judgement before advice is issued.

• Client confidence: become the recognised day-to-day commercial lead, anticipate client needs and communicate issues with clarity, confidence and proposed solutions.

• Healthcare judgement: balance affordability, programme and value with patient safety, compliance, clinical continuity and estate resilience, escalating trade-offs transparently.

• Commercial accountability: understand the commission appointment and fee, control scope and resource, manage change promptly and protect both client value and business performance.

• People leadership: set clear expectations, delegate meaningful responsibility, provide constructive review and create development opportunities for others.

• Growth contribution: turn excellent delivery into repeat work, contribute strongly to bids and bring relevant client and market intelligence into the wider team.

• Professional standards: model ethical behaviour, maintain accurate records, follow governance and quality requirements and escalate material risks appropriately.

• Progression: demonstrate increasing readiness to lead larger commissions, strategic client relationships and wider team responsibilities at Associate Director level.

What success looks like

• Commissions are delivered to the agreed scope, programme, quality and commercial objectives, with strong client feedback.

• Cost forecasts and reports are accurate, timely and trusted, with risks and change identified early and managed actively.

• Commercial advice supports safe, compliant and operationally workable healthcare outcomes without losing focus on affordability and value.

• Clients see you as a reliable adviser and provide repeat commissions, referrals or opportunities to broaden our services.

• Project teams have clear direction, responsibilities and review arrangements, and junior colleagues show visible development.

• Commission fees, resources, scope and cash are managed proactively, with issues escalated before they affect performance.

• You contribute consistently to bids, account development, knowledge sharing and improvement of technical standards.

• You demonstrate the judgement, leadership and market awareness needed to progress Managing Quantity Surveyor.

Development and benefits

We will support your continued development through professional, technical and leadership learning, mentoring and opportunities to broaden your experience across clients, sectors and our global business. You will have the opportunity to strengthen your commission leadership, account management and people-management capability as part of a clear pathway toward Managing Quantity Surveyor. AtkinsRéalis offers a flexible range of benefits that can be tailored to support health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices.

Our Commitment

AtkinsRéalis is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and realise their potential. We value different perspectives and believe diverse teams make better decisions and deliver better outcomes for our clients and communities.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Rewards and benefits – Careers at AtkinsRéalis

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

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Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.