DIO – Senior 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 Senior Quantity Surveyor within the South East Region and Private Finance Initiatives (SERP) team, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery of some of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation's most significant Facilities Management and Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts. Working across a diverse estate that includes military headquarters, airfields, training establishments and operational sites, you will help ensure that contracts deliver value for money whilst maintaining compliance and operational effectiveness.

This is a challenging and rewarding role that offers the opportunity to lead on commercial assurance activities across multi-million-pound contracts. You will provide expert quantity surveying, cost management and contractual advice, reviewing contractor pricing submissions, supporting assurance activities and influencing commercial outcomes that directly support Defence capability.

Working as part of the Performance and Technical Team, you will engage with senior stakeholders across DIO, military customers and industry partners, ensuring that contractual processes are applied consistently and that commercial risks are effectively managed. You will also contribute to performance reporting, policy compliance and continuous improvement initiatives, helping to drive high standards across the estate.

This role offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced Quantity Surveyor looking to work in a complex and unique environment where their expertise will directly support the infrastructure that enables Defence personnel to live, work, train and deploy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead cost and contract assurance activities across major Facilities Management (FM) and Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts, ensuring value for money and compliance with contractual requirements.
• Review, challenge and validate contractor pricing submissions for Additional Works, Core Works and project activities.
• Provide expert commercial, contractual and quantity surveying advice to DIO teams, industry partners and senior stakeholders.
• Produce and present cost, performance, assurance and risk reports to support senior management decision-making.
• Monitor contractor performance against contractual obligations, identifying issues and driving corrective actions where required.
• Lead engagement with internal and external stakeholders, building collaborative relationships to support successful delivery of Defence outputs.
• Support financial forecasting, budget management and lifecycle planning across a complex infrastructure portfolio.
• Ensure compliance with MOD and DIO policies, standards, governance requirements and assurance processes.
• Conduct cost reviews, audits and post-measurement reviews to assure accuracy, transparency and contractual compliance.
• Provide leadership, mentoring and technical guidance to site teams and colleagues, helping to develop commercial capability across the region.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, innovation and the development of cost management and contractual processes.
• Support the delivery of safe, compliant and effective Defence infrastructure that enables military operations across the UK.

Person specification

• Significant experience within Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction or Facilities Management environments.
• Experience of reviewing contractor pricing submissions, estimates and commercial proposals.
• Experience of managing stakeholders and influencing outcomes across multiple organisations.
• Experience of risk management, assurance or audit activities.
• Quantity Surveying qualification or degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Economics or a related discipline.
• Professional membership of, or working towards membership of, a relevant professional body such as RICS.
• Experience working within a large, complex or regulated organisation.

As the senior QS within the region you will be expected to display strong leadership and management qualities in line with the leadership behaviour.

Mandatory Licenses-

Full UK driving licences is required as visits to multiple sites can be required at short notice.

• Mandatory Qualifications -
• Quantity Surveyor or Cost Manager
• Licences
• Full UK driving licences is required as visits to multiple sites can be required at short notice

Qualifications

Quantity Surveyor or Cost Manager

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes

£13,337 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%

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, the sift will be conducted on the CV and Personal Statement only.

At application you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working together

Experience:

• CV
• Qualifications

Personal Statement 750 words

• Facilities Management, Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or Construction experience.
• Experience of stakeholder engagement and influencing outcomes.
• Experience of risk management, commercial assurance or audit activities.
• Experience of leading teams, projects or workstreams.
• Your ability to deliver high-quality outcomes in a complex and fast-paced environment.

At interview you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• 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

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 pr