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Why Southwark?

Southwark is a large, ambitious and progressive council with a ‘can do’ attitude and enviable reputation. As a council, we are successful, passionate and forward-thinking. Southwark has a varied mix of cultural communities, where over 120 languages are spoken in the borough. We have all the challenges you'd find in any inner city area.

We are recruiting a highly skilled Senior Quantity Surveyor specialising in Mechanical Services to lead commercial management across Southwark Council’s major Individual and District Heating contracts, Water Hygiene and Building Energy Management Systems, managing over 8,000 jobs per month. This is a specialist, high‑value, high‑complexity role, central to the delivery of safe, compliant and resilient heating and water services for thousands of residents.

This position covers some of the Council’s largest contracts, where annual contract values exceed £20m and involve complex technical and statutory requirements. We're looking for someone who can confidently navigate major mechanical services contracts and bring rigorous commercial assurance to mission‑critical infrastructure.

About the Contracts

You will be commercially responsible for:

• Heating & Water contract A (£7.9m)

• Heating & Water Contract B (£7.4m)

• District Heating improvement programmes (circa £8m)

• Building Energy Management Systems (circa £100k)

Works include:

• Gas landlord safety inspections

• Heating repairs, installations and maintenance (domestic & district systems)

• Water quality testing, treatment and installations

• Mechanical plant servicing (laundry, sewage, risers, energy systems)

• Building energy management systems

• 24/7 critical response services

What You'll Be Doing

We are recruiting a highly skilled Senior Quantity Surveyor specialising in Mechanical Services to lead commercial management across Southwark Council’s major Individual and District Heating contracts, Water Hygiene and Building Energy Management Systems, managing over 8,000 jobs per month. This is a specialist, high‑value, high‑complexity role, central to the delivery of safe, compliant and resilient heating and water services for thousands of residents.

This position covers some of the Council’s largest contracts, where annual contract values exceed £20m and involve complex technical and statutory requirements. We're looking for someone who can confidently navigate major mechanical services contracts and bring rigorous commercial assurance to mission‑critical infrastructure.

You will:

• Lead commercial control across all heating and water contracts, ensuring accuracy, value for money and compliance
• Review contract documentation and support the tendering of district heating schemes
• Prepare budget forecasts and monthly financial reporting
• Undertake monthly valuations, including verification of Prime Cost sums
• Review dayworks, manual orders and schedule of rates compliance
• Monitor Planned Preventative Maintenance costs
• Conduct post-inspection reviews and adjust contractor valuations where required
• Reconcile historic accounts and maintain audit-ready documentation
• Issue certificates, pay less notices and valuation reports on a strict monthly timetable
• Negotiate firmly and confidently with contractors, ensuring valuations, variations and wider commercial positions are rigorously tested and stand up to scrutiny
• Provide forensic QS support where required
• Contribute to staff development as part of the council’s social value commitments

This is an opportunity to lead commercial assurance on some of the Council’s most specialist, high‑impact contracts - critical to resident safety and service reliability.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a seasoned quantity surveyor who can operate confidently in highly technical M&E environments.

You will bring:

• Strong understanding of mechanical services, district heating or other complex M&E systems
• Demonstrable experience managing high-value, multi-contract portfolios
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong commercial rigour
• Ability to manage structured monthly valuation cycles with a high level of accuracy
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to work closely with engineers, technical teams and contractors
• Confidence in challenging valuations, interrogating variations and maintaining robust commercial positions
• Strong financial and reporting capability, with the ability to manage records, forecasts and supporting documentation effectively

Additional Information

Recruitment Timetable

Closing Date: 20 July 2026

Shortlisting Date: 24 July 2026

Interview Date: 31 July 2026

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.

Benefits

Working for Southwark Council – Southwark