Job Title - Lead Surveyor
Job Role
• Responsible for large volumes of sales within a location
• Meeting and exceeding forecasts for profit & WIP targets
• Manage the day to day work and training of all trainees, surveyors and other employees controlled within branch, ensuring productivity.
• Ensure that tenders are progressed to provide an accurate basis for pricing and to allow sufficient time for the Branch Manager / Commercial team to give them proper consideration
• Monitor the weekly and monthly cost information and ensure the accurate production of monthly valuations
• Maintain strong relationships with customers to retain and grow existing contracts and identify opportunities that could lead to new business
• Exercise commercial judgment to protect the company from financial or other loss
• Maintain a site presence and ensure commercial information is a true reflection of the position on site
• Responsible for the continued development of Trainee Surveyors
• Promote the values of the company at all opportunities
Branch/Branches that you are assigned to
North West Branch (Warrington)
Reporting to Branch Manager
Responsible for Branch employees including more junior surveyors and Surveyors
Specific duties and responsibilities of the role
• Understand the Health & Safety requirements of tenders and contracts
• Be responsible for the accurate production of estimates in accordance with the client's requirements and best practice.
• Check contract/tender documentation and eliminate areas of risk.
• Have a full understanding of the local market.
• Assist the Branch in developing specific method statements.
• Understand the cost base and production levels to secure work for the Branch.
• Develop and maintain several specialist subcontract and supplier contacts, sufficient to avoid reliance on any one company.
• Ensure production targets are issued and contract CVR's are set.
• Ensure the quality of subcontract orders are sufficient to avoid situations leading to potential claims against the Company.
• Monitor all ongoing contract costs against those detailed in the original tender.
• Highlight variations from anticipated costs and resolve promptly.
• Record all variations, extras etc. and agree with the client.
• Ensure that all Company Policies and Procedures are followed.
• Make applications for payment on time and in a format agreed with the client to ensure prompt payment.
• Ensure submitted invoices are paid on time
• Monitor and accrue sales rebates
• Approve payments to subcontractors in accordance with Company Policy.
• Complete final accounts within the contractual timescale.
• Ensure that financial reports accurately reflect the status of contracts in respect of progress, valuations, billings and collectable cash.
• Ensure contracts have targets at detail and summary levels, from operative to contract manager
• Understand and regularly review cost base of the branch including, labour rates, subcontractors, plant and materials
• Support recruitment, induction, performance management and development of:
o Commercial and estimating staff o Administration staff
• Ensure work is delivered to achieve forecast gross margin
Be responsible for Monthly CVR's in group format
Actively particiate and influence Branch monthly contract portfolio report for review
Monitor cost allocations within the Branch to ensure correct control measures are in place and cost are alloacted correctly and in a timely fashion
• Manage invoicing disciplines within the Branch to achieve company debtor day targets
• Monitor and assist with the agreement and collection of aged debt
• Regularly check and audit purchases, timesheets to deter fraudulent practices and control valuation of WIP to avoid over valuation
• Support commercial tender decisions within Branch, contribute to pre-tender submissions and deliver supporting documents & presentations as required
• Contribute fully to weekly branch meetings to consider cost, value & progress of projects
• Attend and contribute at Regional Management Meetings & National meetings as required
• Communicate with regional managers/branch managers on the necessary contract practices to assist in improving commercial performance and mitigate risks of non- payment and dispute culture
• Provide commercial assurance through forecasting, project review as required and identification of issues giving rise to commercial risk.
• Provide guidance and advice on contractual disputes with clients/main contractors/sub- contractors to strengthen our position in these situations
• Assist BM/RM with portfolio analysis, focussing on the following issues: WiP reduction under-performing contracts retention release general branch profitability.
• Identify specific projects that are not adequately performing commercially and assist in any way possible to improve performance (potentially through better variation recovery processes, more detailed use of bonus control, applications of extensions of time).
• Oversee any large-scale applications for price increases, to ensure all facets of BCIS (TPI's etc) have been captured in the calculation of equation.
• Participate and assist in negotiations of final accounts, dispute resolution, and any other key contractual matters for high value clients/accounts
• Participate in the negotiations with clients in the agreement of rebate levels, based on sound commercial quantitative data.
The specific duties and responsibilities identified above capture the key elements of the role. You are expected to undertake any additional duties allocated to you as reasonably required.
Lead Surveyors may also have Surveyor responsibilities. Where that is the case, the job description for a Surveyor will also be applicable to the role.
Job knowledge, skills and abilities required to undertake the role
• Financial awareness
• Operational awareness
• Leadership
• Communication and teamwork
• Customer focus
• Judgement and decision making
• Full UK driving licence
• Previous experience managing a variety of contracts successfully and having knowledge of the financial and contractual controls required on a contract
Specialist Behaviours
• Strong commercial and financial understanding
• Operational delivery knowledge
• Consistent Delivering through a team
• Maintains strong relationships with customers to ensure repeat business and satisfactory enquiry flow
Qualifications required to undertake the role
• Professional industry Standard or equivalent
• CMI L5 Certificate Management & Leadership
• Pitman Excel - Advanced Users
• CSCS card - Manager / Professionally qualified person
• Completion of iHASCO defined mandatory training modules
Personal attributes and other requirements
• Understanding finance
• Leading teams
• Planning and organising
• Managing operational deliver
• Problem solving
• Developing people to their full potential
Dress Code
It is expected that you will maintain an appropriate standard of dress and personal appearance at work promoting a professional and positive image of the Company.
In terms of guidelines, given the nature of your role, it would be appropriate to wear smart business attire or formal business attire when attending presentations and formal client meetings.
Communication
Good communication is a fundamental element of the role to ensure the efficient transfer of information. Good communication will ensure that information is shared timely which will result in more effective working practices. This includes communication with anyone that you may come into contact with such as your colleagues, line manager, clients and suppliers.
Effective communication will also ensure that your message is delivered clearly, concisely and accurately.
Respect
It is expected that you will work professionally in undertaking your duties and treat your colleagues with respect.
Engagement with other teams
Engagement with various teams within the business will be necessary which includes the following:
• Direct Reports
• Branch team
• Heads of Departments
• Directors
• External key clients
• Subcontractors
The candidate
Experience in leading a team of surveyors
Experience of overseeing commercials on large projects
Ideally with experience in Social Housing working for a contractor
Person with good organisation and communication skills
Comfortable working in a team
Comfortable aiming towards targets and pushing individuals towards targets
Comfortable in pricing large scale tenders
Must have a solid understanding of CVR's & comfortable compiling them
Would be willing to head up a department to manage quote opportunities, debt & invoicing targets
Ambitious to progress
Would be working closely with an operations manager
Reporting directly to the branch man