Trainee / Graduate Quantity Surveyor/Commercial Assistant Full Time

Department

Commercial & Procurement

Location

 Office-based with regular site visits across the South (Salisbury to Chichester region).

All sites are within approximately 1.5 hours’ travel from the office. No overnight stays required.

Role Overview

To provide day-to-day commercial support to the Senior Quantity Surveyor and Construction Director across multiple residential developments. The role will assist with estimating, procurement, cost control, subcontractor management, and other commercial activities, helping to ensure projects are delivered efficiently and within budget.

This is a hands-on role within a housebuilding main contractor environment, offering exposure to the full commercial lifecycle from pre-construction through to final account.

While the role is commercially focused, it will also involve exposure to health & safety, programming, and technical coordination. This will provide a well-rounded and practical learning experience for the right candidate.

The role will evolve during the initial months depending on project requirements, with structured support and training provided to ensure strong professional development.

The responsibilities outlined are not exhaustive and are intended as a guide to the scope of the role.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Construction Support

·        Assist in the preparation of subcontractor package estimates and material costings

·        Support liaison with subcontractors and suppliers to obtain budget pricing

·        Support the preparation of Construction Phase Plans, Construction Environmental Management Plans and Traffic Management Plans

Procurement & Site Set-Up

·        Assist in preparing scopes of work for trade packages

·        Issue tender enquiries and support subcontractor comparisons

·        Preparation and issuing of subcontract orders

·        Help organise and attend subcontractor pre-start meetings

·        Materials procurement, comparing quotes and raising purchase orders

Live sites – Subcontractor Side

·        Assist in managing subcontractor accounts across live developments

·        Support the assessment and processing of variations

·        Assist with administering contra charges where required

·        Review subcontractor applications for payment, including site visits for valuation

·        Issue up-to-date drawings and assist with re-measurement where required

Live sites – Client / Sales Side

·        Assist with client-side variation tracking and processing

·        Support the preparation and submission of monthly valuations (including site visits)

·        Attend site and progress meetings, recording and tracking actions

·        Liaise with sales and site teams to ensure customer choices are accurately reflected in costs and orders

Other tasks

·        Provide general administrative support to the construction delivery team (commercial, technical, and construction)

·        Assist the Construction Director with the preparation, updating, and monitoring of project programmes

·        Provide occasional support to the Technical Manager depending on business needs

Skills & Experience

·        Degree, HNC/HND, or working towards a qualification in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or a related discipline

·        This position is UK-based and requires applicants to already have the legal right to work in the UK. The successful candidate should be able to attend the workplace daily and therefore be within reasonable commuting distance.

·        Full UK driving licence

·        Strong numerical and analytical skills

·        Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Outlook and general IT systems

·        Strong organisational and communication skills

·        Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritise workload, and meet deadlines

·        Proactive and willing to take ownership of tasks

·        Strong attention to detail

·        Commercially aware with a willingness to learn

·        Able to work both independently and as part of a team