Serco Plc
Senior Quantity Surveyor

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Who We Are
VIVO provides facilities management and accommodation maintenance for the UK military and its partners. VIVO embodies both experience and innovation.
What We Do
We put our Customers and Families First. They are the driving force behind everything we do. We drive forward improvements for them to ensure the service they receive, whether reactive repairs or a major project, is completed safely and on time. In order to achieve this, we have 4 core values: open, caring, agile, and collaborative. These are at the heart of everything we do.
Location: Home based, to cover Midlands and Wales
Permanent, Full Time
Salary: £55,000-£66,000
Are you an experienced Quantity Surveyor looking for a role where your commercial expertise can make a real difference? At VIVO, you’ll have the opportunity to work on a high-profile Defence estate, partnering with operational teams, clients, DIO, and supply chain partners to deliver strong commercial outcomes across Core Services and Billable Works.
As a Senior Quantity Surveyor, you’ll play a key role within our Commercial team, providing expert cost advice, maintaining commercial control, and helping our operational teams make confident, well-informed decisions. You’ll work across a varied portfolio of construction, refurbishment, facilities management, and property maintenance activity, with projects ranging from £100k to £1m and larger programmes of up to £20m.
You’ll build strong relationships across the business and with our customers, working closely with Area Managers, Site Managers, Project Managers, DIO, and End Users. From supporting the preparation of work proposals and tenders through to managing commercial risk, supplier performance, payments, and final accounts, you’ll help ensure our services and projects deliver value for money while meeting contractual requirements.
This is a role where your commercial judgement will really matter. You’ll attend risk meetings, review risk registers, provide guidance on contract requirements, and support the resolution and avoidance of disputes. You’ll also assist with change management in accordance with the FDIS contract, carry out Billable Works adjudications within delegated authority, and contribute to monthly cost reporting and wider commercial risk management.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
You’ll be encouraged to look beyond the immediate commercial requirement too. Working alongside our Service Delivery and Billable Works teams, you’ll help identify opportunities for continual improvement, alternative solutions, and more sustainable approaches, supporting VIVO’s sustainability programme and the reduction of carbon emissions and utility consumption across the MoD estate.
You’ll also have an important role in supporting collaborative relationships with DIO and our supply chain, helping to strengthen partnerships in line with BS11000 Collaborative Business Relationships. Whether you’re providing commercial guidance, negotiating with stakeholders, or helping colleagues navigate contractual requirements, your ability to communicate clearly and build trust will be central to your success.
The role is primarily based across the Midlands and Wales, with regular travel to sites within the West region. A full UK driving licence is therefore essential, and you’ll need to be able to meet the required security requirements.
About You
We’re looking for an experienced commercial professional with a strong background in construction, property maintenance, facilities management, or a related environment. You’ll have excellent knowledge of commercial processes and be confident developing cost models, managing commercial risk, preparing work proposals and tenders, and supporting dispute resolution.
You’ll be a strong communicator and negotiator, able to build effective relationships with colleagues, customers, suppliers, and senior stakeholders. You’ll be comfortable providing commercial advice, influencing decisions, and negotiating outcomes while maintaining a collaborative approach.
Ideally, you’ll be degree qualified in Quantity Surveying, or have significant equivalent experience that has provided you with the knowledge and capability to operate successfully as a Senior Quantity Surveyor. You’ll have at least four years’ experience within the FM or construction sector, or three years where you have specific MOD experience, with experience across either major projects or multiple concurrent smaller projects.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Experience of working within a military environment, complex multi-site operations, FDIS contracting requirements, or BS11000 Collaborative Business Relationships would be advantageous. Knowledge of utility reduction and carbon reduction initiatives would also be beneficial.
You’ll need strong IT and analytical capability, a proactive approach to problem-solving, and the confidence to work independently while contributing to a wider team. Health & Safety awareness training, evidence of CPD, and professional body membership would be welcomed.
Most importantly, you’ll bring sound commercial judgement, strong relationship-building skills, and the ability to influence and negotiate effectively. You’ll set high standards for quality, take ownership of your work, and demonstrate the professionalism and commitment needed to deliver excellent outcomes for VIVO, our customers, and the Defence estate.
What We Offer
- 6% employee matched pension contribution
- 25 days annual leave
- Company car/Car allowance
- Single private medical cover
- 1 x professional subscription per year
- Life assurance 2x annual salary
VIVO Defence Services
The role you have applied for is with VIVO Defence Services, a joint venture between Serco and EQUANS. By applying for this role, please be aware that information contained within your CV may be shared between VIVO Defence Services, Serco, and EQUANS during the recruitment process.
At VIVO, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. Therefore, we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool.
We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working and operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly a Disability Confident Leader. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London