Jack Rafter Ltd
Assistant Quantity Surveyor
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Location: Brighton, BN1 5PT
Hours: 40 hours/week, Monday-Friday (flexible between 8am-5pm)
Salary: £37,000 per annum
Contract: Full-time
Start date: October 2026
About Jack Rafter
Jack Rafter is a fast-growing commercial carpentry contractor based in Brighton, working with leading main contractors across Sussex and London.
We're an ambitious, modern construction business with a strong focus on doing things differently. We use technology extensively, keep our management structure straightforward and give people the opportunity to take genuine responsibility as they develop.
As the business continues to grow, we're looking for an Assistant Quantity Surveyor to join our commercial team.
About the Role
This is a varied, hands-on commercial role supporting the management of multiple carpentry projects from initial handover through to final account.
You'll work closely with our Commercial Lead, Operations team, Contracts Managers and site teams to help ensure projects are properly valued, costs are controlled and commercial records are maintained throughout the life of each job.
We're looking for someone who already has a recognised Quantity Surveying qualification and around 2-3 years' experience within the construction industry, ideally within a QS or commercial role.
You'll be given genuine responsibility from the outset, while still having the support and opportunity to develop towards independently managing your own projects.
What You'll Be Doing
Applications & Valuations
- Assisting with monthly applications for payment
- Preparing valuations of work completed on site
- Collating information from site teams to support applications
- Tracking application dates, payment notices and payment deadlines
- Reviewing client valuations and identifying differences against our applications
- Assisting with resolving valuation queries and outstanding payments
Variations & Commercial Records
- Identifying and recording variations and additional works
- Maintaining variation and change-control registers
- Collating daywork sheets, site records, photographs and other supporting information
- Preparing variation quotations for review and submission
- Tracking submitted, agreed and outstanding variations
- Ensuring commercial records are maintained throughout each project rather than reconstructed at the end
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Cost Control
- Maintaining project cost and value trackers
- Monitoring labour expenditure against project allowances
- Reviewing labour and subcontractor invoices against works completed
- Assisting with cost-to-complete forecasts
- Identifying potential overspends, commercial risks and opportunities
- Helping prepare regular project commercial reports
Project Commercial Support
- Reviewing project drawings, specifications, quotations and tender information
- Understanding the scope and commercial basis on which projects were priced
- Supporting the commercial handover of projects from estimating into delivery
- Assisting with procurement comparisons and subcontractor quotations where required
- Maintaining organised commercial project records
- Helping ensure important contractual and commercial deadlines are recorded and acted upon
- Supporting the wider project team with commercial queries throughout the life of each project
Final Accounts
- Assisting with the preparation and agreement of project final accounts
- Ensuring variations and outstanding commercial items are resolved
- Tracking retention payments and release dates
- Collating the information required to close projects commercially
What We're Looking For
You'll have:
- A recognised Quantity Surveying qualification
- 2-3 years' experience within the construction industry, ideally within a Quantity Surveying or commercial role
- A good understanding of construction costs, valuations, variations and project delivery
- Strong numerical and analytical skills
- Good Excel skills
- Excellent organisation and attention to detail
- Confidence communicating with clients, site teams and colleagues
- The ability to manage several live projects and commercial deadlines at the same time
- A proactive attitude and willingness to take responsibility
- A desire to progress into a Quantity Surveyor capable of independently managing their own projects
Experience working for a subcontractor or specialist contractor would be advantageous but is not essential.
Modern Tools & Technology
We believe technology should make construction management simpler.
- Microsoft 365, including Excel, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive
- Cloud-based construction management systems
- Client payment and project portals
- Digital project cost and commercial trackers
- Mobile systems connecting our office and site teams
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We're continually looking at how technology and AI can remove unnecessary administration and allow our team to concentrate on higher-value commercial work.
Development & Progression
This isn't intended to be a role where you remain an Assistant QS indefinitely.
As your knowledge and experience develop, we'd expect you to take increasing ownership of:
- Your own projects
- Applications and valuations
- Variation accounts
- Cost reporting
- Client commercial meetings
- Final accounts
For the right person, the natural progression would be towards becoming a Quantity Surveyor with responsibility for their own portfolio of projects.
What Makes Us Different
- Growing business - You'll be joining at a stage where you can genuinely influence how our commercial systems develop
- Responsibility - We don't believe in keeping capable people at junior level unnecessarily
- Modern approach - We actively use technology and AI to improve how we work
- Direct communication - Small management team without layers of corporate hierarchy
- Varied projects - You'll gain exposure to multiple commercial construction projects across Sussex and London
- Career development - Genuine opportunity to develop from Assistant QS into a standalone Quantity Surveyor
What You'll Get
- £37,000 annual salary
- 28 days' holiday including bank holidays
- Pension scheme with enhanced company contributions
- WPA Cash Plan & Employee Assistance Programme after probation
- Learning and development opportunities
- Team social events and company outings
- Support and mentoring as you develop your Quantity Surveying career
- A relaxed but ambitious working environment in our Brighton office
Interested?
Skip the formal cover letter.
Please send us:
- Your CV
- A brief email explaining your current Quantity Surveying experience
- Why you're interested in developing your career with Jack Rafter
We're looking for someone who wants to learn, take responsibility and grow with the business.
Email: info@jackrafter.co.uk
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