Senior Quantity Surveyor - Head of Commercial (Construction – Main Contracting)
Job Description
Head of Commercial - path to Commercial Director (Construction - Main Contracting)
Salary: €90,000–€110,000 + Bonus, Health, Pension
Location: Greater Dublin/Leinster (4 days office / 1 day WFH)
Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent
Reports to: Managing Director & Construction Director
About the role
We’re hiring a Head of Commercial to lead a small, high-performing team (1 Senior QS + 2 Junior QSs) and build a best-in-class commercial function. The role starts as Head QS with clear six-month deliverables. After review, it expands to Head of Commercial, and—following a successful 12-month review—progresses to Commercial Director with a board seat.
What you’ll do (first 6 months)
- Lead the commercial team; own commercial controls across live projects
- Review main contract appointments (Ts&Cs, LADs); manage subcontractor appointments & payments
- Set up cashflow, CVR with live reporting, WIP/EVA, and robust change control
- Produce Bills of Quantities (incl. civils/siteworks) and align monthly with the client QS (no-surprises final accounts)
- Coordinate closely with Bidding/Estimating
After 6–12 months
- Take full ownership of the Commercial function; review, recommend, and implement improvements
- Drive cost efficiencies and data-driven bidding
- Join the Bid/No-Bid decision team and explore new market opportunities
- Present commercial performance at senior management/board level
What we’re looking for
- BSc in Quantity Surveying/Commercial Management (chartership MRICS/MSCSI/SCSI is a plus)
- 10–15+ years post-grad QS/commercial experience (main contracting or D&B) with team leadership
- Strong working knowledge of Irish PWC/GCCC and RIAI (FIDIC/NEC an advantage)
- Proven record in claims/EoT/loss & expense, subcontract procurement & payment cycles, and final accounts
- Expert in CVR, cashflow forecasting, and risk/opportunity management; advanced Excel; exposure to cost/ERP tools (e.g., COINS/Causeway/BuildSoft/Sage) and dashboards (Power BI)
- Irish market experience is an advantage
- Modular/off-site experience is an advantage (not required)
Benefits & working style
- €90,000–€110,000 base + Bonus, Health Insurance, Pension
- Hybrid: 4 days in office / 1 day WFH
- Clear progression pathway to Commercial Director
How to apply
Apply with your CV. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted to discuss experience against the six-month deliverables.
