DIO – Quantity Surveyor

Job summary

Do you want to work for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and care for the Defence Estate? DIO enables Defence to live, work, train and deploy, all with sustainability in mind. From net carbon zero accommodations to runways for the F35 fighter jets; our outputs are unique in the UK and across the globe!

SE Region and PFIs (SERP) is one of the main delivery areas of the DIO delivering Hard and Soft Facilities Management and extensive construction programmes. Outputs are delivered across the UK with a centre of mass in the SE of the United Kingdom.

The SE Region covers an area stretching from the Thames Estuary across to Oxfordshire and South to Portsmouth. This includes the complexities of the Central London Estate, the strategic importance of RAF Brize Norton and the history and reputation of the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Hard Facilities Management is delivered through a single contract for the whole Region and Soft Facilities Management is delivered through two sector leading Soft Services contracts. We focus on delivery of outputs and providing cogent estate advice with day-to-day contact with our customers.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

As a Quantity Surveyor within the South East Region and Private Finance Initiatives (SERP) team, you will play a vital role in supporting the delivery of Facilities Management and Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts that directly enable Defence operations across the UK.

This is a unique opportunity to work across a diverse estate that includes military headquarters, airfields, training establishments and operational bases, providing expert commercial and cost assurance support to ensure value for money, compliance and effective contract performance.

Working as part of the Performance and Technical Team, you will review and challenge contractor pricing submissions, support cost forecasting and assurance activities, provide contractual advice to site teams, and help drive continuous improvement across a portfolio worth billions of pounds throughout its life cycle.

You will work closely with DIO colleagues, industry partners and senior stakeholders, helping to deliver safe, compliant and sustainable infrastructure that enables Defence personnel to live, work, train and deploy.

This role offers excellent development opportunities for individuals with a commercial, construction, facilities management or quantity surveying background who are looking to build their experience within a complex and rewarding environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide cost assurance and quantity surveying support across Facilities Management and PFI contracts.
• Review, challenge and validate contractor quotations, pricing submissions and cost proposals.
• Support the delivery of value-for-money outcomes across Additional Works and infrastructure projects.
• Advise site teams and stakeholders on commercial processes, contractual requirements and pricing mechanisms.
• Assist with cost forecasting, budget monitoring and financial reporting activities.
• Support contract performance monitoring and help identify opportunities for improvement.
• Produce reports, analysis and recommendations to support decision-making by senior leaders.
• Build effective relationships with DIO teams, customers, commercial specialists and industry partners.
• Support risk management activities, ensuring commercial and contractual risks are identified and managed appropriately.
• Contribute to assurance reviews, audits and governance activities across the region.
• Promote compliance with MOD and DIO policies, standards and contractual obligations.
• Support the delivery of a safe, compliant and operationally effective Defence estate.

Person specification

Essential experience / knowledge

• Experience of supporting commercial, cost management, quantity surveying or contract management activities.
• Experience of managing stakeholder relationships and influencing outcomes.
• Experience of identifying and managing risks, issues or performance concerns.
• Your ability to deliver high-quality outcomes in a fast-paced and complex environment.

• Mandatory Qualification
• Qualified Quantity Surveyor or Cost Manager
• Mandatory Licence
• UK Driving Licence
• Licences

UK Driving Licence.

Qualifications

Qualified Quantity Surveyor or Cost Manager

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes

£10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ .

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Please ensure that at the application and interview stages of the campaign you review the Success Profiles Framework to assist you in the demonstration of your skills and experience.

Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.

Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the CV and Personal Statement

In this instance the remaining elements will be tested at interview.

At application you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service

Experience:

• CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Personal Statement 750 words

• Experience of supporting commercial, cost management, quantity surveying or contract management activities.
• Experience of managing stakeholder relationships and influencing outcomes.
• Experience of identifying and managing risks, issues or performance concerns.
• Your ability to deliver high-quality outcomes in a fast-paced and complex environment.

At interview you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Experience:

• Career history
• Experiences

Interviews will be conducted in person, and you will receive confirmation of the location as soon as possible.

A minimum of 2 full working days’ notice will be provided for interviews. We endeavour to stick to these dates, but these are subject to change around business needs.

To assist with your application please find attached below:

1. DIO Candidate Information Guide

2. Functional Framework if applicable?

For help and support with your application check out our

Civil Service Careers Homepage and the How to apply section

Further information:

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will