Job Description:

Quantity Surveyor / Estimator
£40,000 - £60,000 + Benefits
Southend-on-Sea  

We’re partnered with a long-established and highly respected Essex-based main contractor delivering commercial, education, healthcare, community, and residential construction projects across Essex and the wider East Anglia region.

With over 60 years of successful trading, they’ve has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality refurbishment, extension, alteration, and new-build schemes while maintaining long-term relationships with clients, consultants, and subcontractors.

Unlike heavily corporate contractors, the environment is collaborative, fast-moving, and relationship-driven, giving commercial professionals genuine exposure to both tendering and live project delivery.

This is an excellent opportunity for a capable Quantity Surveyor / Estimator who wants broader project involvement, greater responsibility, and a clear route toward senior commercial positions.

The Opportunity

Working closely with the Commercial Manager, operational teams, and directors, you’ll play a key role in the full commercial lifecycle of projects – from tender stage through to final account.

You’ll be trusted to take ownership of your work, contribute to commercial strategy, and support the successful delivery of a varied portfolio of refurbishment and construction schemes across multiple sectors.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Preparing detailed quantity takeoffs and cost estimates
• Producing and submitting competitive tenders for construction and refurbishment projects
• Reviewing drawings, specifications, and contract documentation
• Obtaining and analysing quotations from subcontractors and suppliers
• Managing project costs, variations, and commercial reporting
• Supporting procurement activities and subcontractor management
• Assisting with valuations, payments, and final accounts
• Maintaining accurate commercial records throughout the project lifecycle
• Working closely with site teams to monitor progress and control costs
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of estimating and commercial processes

What They’re Looking For

The ideal candidate will already have experience working for a main contractor, refurbishment contractor, or construction business and be comfortable operating with a good degree of autonomy.

Key requirements

• Minimum 3+ years’ experience in quantity surveying and/or estimating
• Strong understanding of construction methods, materials, and sequencing
• Experience preparing tenders and cost plans
• Ability to manage project costs and commercial documentation
• Good knowledge of subcontractor procurement and package management
• Strong numerical, analytical, and problemsolving skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Confident communication and teamwork abilities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Experience with estimating or commercial software is advantageous
• Degree, HNC/HND, or equivalent qualification in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, or a related discipline is beneficial
• Most importantly, they’re looking for someone who is commercially aware, proactive, and keen to develop into a senior member of the team.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Established, financially stable contractor: Over 60 years of successful trading and a strong regional reputation.
  Strong longterm project pipeline: Secured work across refurbishment, education,
  healthcare, commercial, and community projects.
• Varied commercial exposure: Involvement in both estimating and live project commercial management.
  Direct access to decisionmakers: Work closely with directors and experienced commercial professionals.
  Real career progression: A business that promotes from within and gives responsibility early.
  Supportive, teamdriven culture: Less bureaucracy, more collaboration, and faster decision-making.

This is more than a standard Quantity Surveyor role. It’s a chance to join a contractor where you can see the projects being built, influence commercial outcomes, and develop into a fully rounded construction commercial professional.

If you’re looking for a business that combines stability, variety, and genuine progression, this could be the move that takes your career to the next level.

Ready to Apply?

If you’re a Quantity Surveyor or Estimator with relevant construction, refurbishment, commercial, education, healthcare, or main contractor experience and are looking for broader project exposure, greater responsibility, and long-term progression within a respected regional contractor, we’d like to hear from you.

The business is actively recruiting, and interviews are being arranged immediately.

Please hit apply and we’ll be in touch to organise a confidential discussion