MI5 is responsible for protecting the UK from threats to national security including terrorism, espionage and cyber. We are in the process of creating new Cross-Agency Services to deliver a range of services including human resources, finance, health and safety security, vetting and commercial. This function will be at the centre of the agencies’ strategies and mission, and will allow us to deliver more, whilst keeping our staff and other assets safe and secure.

Travel: Travel is required between London, Cheltenham and other client/supplier sites around the UK.

The Role

As part of Commercial Estates Category team, this Quantity Surveyor role will work closely with key stakeholders across the Estates team, our clients, supporting functions and supplier partner network, undertaking a variety of commercial activities to drive effective commercial delivery and value for money on a variety of complex internal and external projects.

The role will require Quantity Surveyor engagement through the full procurement and commercial lifecycle with key involvement at both pre and post contract stage. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role within the team in supplier selection process, assessing tender submissions / quotations, Bill of Quantities, tender evaluation, contractor selection and support to pre-contract negotiations. Thereafter, the Quantity Surveyor act as a key conduit between the Commercial and Project delivery team, to assess monthly Valuations, Compensation Events, Final account and support to final contract close out negotiations.

The Person

The successful candidate will also support the Estates Commercial Team to continuously develop our commercial ways of working to improve team and delivery efficiency whilst maximising value for money for our client base. This is likely to extend to Supplier Market engagement for benchmarking activities to support ongoing bid assessments and project delivery.

Job description

•     Provide support in the continuous development of commercial cost management and review processes.
•     Analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from varied internal and external sources to support analysis and decisions.
•     Presenting strong recommendations in a timely manner outlining the consideration of other options, costs, benefits and risks.
•     Works with Estates colleagues to ensure a holistic portfolio approach is taken across all projects to ensure the most efficient and effective commercial management.
•     Cost evaluation of supplier tender submissions relating to projects and services, consulting with others to ensure the needs of our stakeholders are accurately reflected.
•     Undertake cost management review to ensure consistent and effective approach across all our commercial projects.
•     Review, advise and implement cost avoidance and cost benefit options to increase value for money and successful “on-budget” project delivery.
•     Assess frameworks and contracts rates and cost build ups to ensure these are competitive in light of any relevant market drivers.

Responsibilities

•     Engage with key stakeholders towards Commercial solutions that give a balance of optimal commercial performance whilst delivering on business strategy.
•     Key supplier liaison, to support negotiations, management or escalation issues, and engage in key decision making that has strategic consequences.
•     Understanding and complying with commercial and contractual Statutory, Regulatory and Professional requirements.
•     Remain alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact the Estates commercial team and our key stakeholders.
•     Work within an environment where colleagues challenge decisions safely, whilst providing strong and robust evidence in support of arguments.
•     Support and collaborate in organisational change, engaging with people in a straightforward, truthful and candid way.
•     Work collaboratively by building effective relationships across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
•     Use sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to arrive at accurate, expert and professional decisions and advice.

Essential Attributes

•     Strong Commercial experience gained within a Construction, Estates, Facilities Management or similar complex function within a secure environment.
•     Strong exposure and experience of a wide range of Construction, Estates, Facilities Management projects, applying robust cost analysis / management and commercial principles.
•     Experience of a Quantity Surveyor role under a variety of contract forms (NEC3, Fidic, JVC, Bespoke) and project size, complexity and value.
•     Excellent organisational skills supported by robust planning and prioritisation.
•     Sound judgement, initiative and prioritisation skills, the ability to delivery at pace and work to tight timescales.
•     Excellent written skills and close attention to detail – communicating in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact.

Recruitment Process

The first thing we will ask you to do is complete our pre-screening questions to find out if you meet our initial criteria. If you do meet these criteria we will then ask you to begin an application.

You will need to create a log in and provide your full name, email address and a memorable password. Once you have successfully created a personal account, you will be required to complete an initial registration form, providing contact details and equal opportunities monitoring information.

You will then be invited to upload your CV and complete an online application form. The recruitment team will conduct a sift of your application and successful applicants will be invited to attend a competency-based face to face interview to further explore your skills and motivation for the role. If you are successful at this stage, you will be required to attend a security interview with a vetting officer. You should read about the vetting process and satisfy yourself that you meet the criteria outlined in the vetting pages of the ‘How to Apply’ section prior to submitting your application.

Giving misleading information or omitting or concealing information during the recruitment and vetting process is viewed very seriously. You should ensure that you follow the guidance from when you apply.


Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply, you must meet out residency criteria. You must be born or a naturalised British Citizen and one of your parents must be a British Citizen or have substantial ties to the UK. Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for nine out of the last ten years. This is particularly important if you were born outside of the UK. You will nonetheless be considered if you have, for example, served overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of Her Majesty’s Government, studied abroad, or lived overseas with your parents. You can apply at the age of 17 years and 6 months, if successful you will not be offered a start date prior to your 18th birthday.

Discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member. Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application.

Further information on our eligibility criteria can be found on the How to Apply section.

Offer an Interview

As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. This is known as Offer an Interview. To secure an interview for this vacancy, the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are:

    Eligibility Questions – You will be asked a series of questions relating to this vacancy. If you meet the criteria here you will be directed to the initial application form.
    On successful completion and an application form sift, you will be invited to interview. This is our guaranteed interview.


Equal Opportunities Statement

The UK Intelligence Agencies / MI5 / MI6 / GCHQ are Equal Opportunities employers, committed to reflecting the society we protect. Our recruitment process is fair, transparent and based on merit. We particularly welcome applications from diverse and under-represented groups. We particularly welcome applications from (insert: women / Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates/ candidates with a disability / LGBT+ candidates)

Discretion

Discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member. Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. Further information on our eligibility criteria can be found on the ‘How to Apply’ section.