Quantity Surveyor Lead - PRE - Construction

Pre-Construction Lead Quantity Surveyor Client: Confidential – well established infrastructure contractor (Building Safety & Social Housing) Location: Dartford, London Salary: £65,000 - £70,000 per annum + 5k car allowance + benefits Contract Type: Permanent About the Role Our client is a well-established infrastructure contractor delivering major building safety, cladding remediation and social housing refurbishment programmes across London and the South of England. They are seeking an experienced Pre-Construction Lead QS to join their Pre-Construction team on a permanent basis, based in London. Reporting to the Head of Pre-Construction, you will lead the commercial and cost input into bids for cladding remediation, external wall insulation (EWI) and fire safety schemes, working closely with estimating, design and operational teams to develop robust, competitive tender submissions from early feasibility through to contract award. Key Responsibilities

• Lead the quantity surveying and commercial input into pre-construction bids and tenders for cladding remediation, EWI, fire safety and social housing refurbishment schemes.
• Produce detailed cost plans, budget estimates and benchmarking data at each stage of the bid process, from early feasibility through to final tender submission.
• Take off and measure quantities from drawings and specifications, ensuring accurate and competitive pricing.
• Obtain, analyse and negotiate subcontractor and supplier quotations, ensuring value for money and technical compliance.
• Liaise closely with the design team, estimators, bid managers and operational staff to ensure cost plans reflect buildability and programme requirements.
• Identify and evaluate commercial risks and opportunities during the pre-construction phase, feeding into risk registers and mitigation strategies.
• Support the preparation of tender return documentation, including cost narratives, method statements and commercial submissions.
• Assist with contract negotiations and the smooth handover of commercial information from pre-construction to the operational delivery team.
• Ensure pre-construction cost information reflects current market rates, material costs and labour availability.
• Maintain awareness of, and ensure compliance with, relevant building safety legislation (including the Building Safety Act and BSR requirements) throughout the bid process.
• Mentor and provide support to junior surveyors within the pre-construction team. Skills & Experience
• Proven track record as a Pre-Construction Lead QS, Senior Estimator or Commercial Manager.
• Experience of cladding remediation, external wall insulation, fire safety or social housing refurbishment projects is highly desirable.
• Strong take-off, measurement and cost planning skills, with a good working knowledge of NEC and/or JCT forms of contract.
• Confident negotiating with subcontractors and suppliers, with strong commercial and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, comfortable liaising with clients, designers and internal teams.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple live bids and deadlines simultaneously.
• A proactive, detail-focused approach with strong commercial judgement. Qualifications
• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• MRICS, or working towards chartership, desirable.
• CSCS card.
• Full UK driving licence (site visits may be required). Salary & Benefits
• £60,000 - £70,000per annum, dependent on experience.
• Permanent position based in London.
• Benefits package to be confirmed at offer stage.
• Opportunity to join a growing pre-construction team working on high-profile building safety and social housing schemes across London and the South of England.
• Genuine progression opportunities within an established main contractor. About Our Client Our client is a well-established, multi-disciplinary main contractor with a strong presence across London and the South of England, delivering large-scale cladding remediation, external wall insulation and fire safety upgrade programmes for major housing associations, local authorities and asset owners. Further details on the business and this opportunity will be provided in confidence on application. How to Apply To apply for this role, please contact 1st Choice Recruitment for a confidential discussion. Contact: Nick Rands, 1st Choice Recruitment Email: nick.rands@1stchoicerecruitment.co.uk