Director - Quantity Surveying
Vertical Recruitment is working in close partnership with a highly respected, independently owned construction and property consultancy to appoint a Director within their Quantity Surveying team. This is a senior leadership opportunity for an established Associate Director or experienced Associate ready to step into a full Director role within a business that offers genuine influence, autonomy and a clear platform for long-term progression.
The consultancy is a well-established medium-to-large sized organisation with a strong national presence and a reputation for delivering intelligent, commercially focused cost management and project leadership services. With multiple UK offices and a collaborative, non-hierarchical structure, they have built long-standing relationships across central and local government, blue light services, defence, education, and wider public infrastructure sectors.
They are widely recognised for their ability to simplify complex, high-risk programmes and deliver certainty in challenging environments. Their culture is people-focused, underpinned by trust, flexibility and a strong emphasis on professional development, collaboration and long-term client partnerships rather than transactional project delivery.
The business is continuing to expand its public sector portfolio, working on nationally significant programmes that directly impact critical public services and infrastructure resilience across the UK.
Flagship Project Overview (Major Public Sector Development)
A key responsibility of this role will be overseeing the commercial delivery of a major new-build public sector facility in the North West of England. This is a high-profile, multi-phase programme with a capital value in excess of £100m+, forming a strategically important operational base for essential regional services.
The development comprises a large-scale, purpose-built facility incorporating office accommodation, operational coordination spaces, specialist secure areas, training and support facilities, controlled access infrastructure, and integrated digital systems. The scheme requires a highly coordinated approach across multiple stakeholders, with a strong emphasis on cost certainty, programme control, and risk management in a sensitive and highly regulated environment.
This is a flagship public infrastructure project of significant regional importance, requiring strong leadership across all aspects of commercial delivery, including cost planning, procurement strategy, stakeholder engagement, and long-term value management.
The Role
As Director, you will play a key strategic and operational leadership role within the Quantity Surveying function. You will be responsible for overseeing major projects, driving commercial performance, strengthening client relationships, and contributing directly to the growth and direction of the business unit.
You will lead by example in delivering complex public sector and infrastructure schemes, while also mentoring senior team members and supporting wider business development activity. This is a highly visible role with both operational delivery and strategic influence.
A clear pathway exists for continued progression at board level for the right individual.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the successful commercial delivery of major public sector and infrastructure projects
- Oversee cost planning, feasibility studies, and strategic estimating from early design stages
- Direct procurement strategy and tendering processes across complex programmes
- Act as primary client interface across high-value, multi-stakeholder environments
- Provide senior oversight of project costs, risks, change control, and commercial reporting
- Ensure delivery aligns with programme, budget, governance, and compliance requirements
- Support and shape business strategy through client development and sector growth initiatives
- Lead and mentor senior QS staff, contributing to talent development and internal progression
- Maintain and strengthen key client relationships across long-term frameworks and commissions
- Contribute to internal leadership meetings, resource planning, and strategic business decisions
Requirements
- Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying or related discipline
- Chartered status (MRICS essential or equivalent experience at Director level)
- Extensive consultancy background within cost management / quantity surveying
- Proven leadership experience on large-scale public sector or infrastructure projects
- Strong client-facing capability with experience managing senior stakeholders
- Demonstrable track record in driving commercial performance and team leadership
- Experience working across complex, multi-disciplinary project environments
What’s On Offer
- Highly competitive executive-level salary
- Car allowance or company vehicle
- Performance-related bonus scheme
- Private healthcare, life assurance & income protection
- Enhanced pension contribution
- Flexible hybrid working model
- Strong emphasis on work-life balance and autonomy
- Clear progression to board-level influence and equity potential for the right individual
- Opportunity to lead nationally significant public sector programmes
