Department: Commercial Management
Reports To: Head of Commercial
Directly Responsible For: No direct reports
Hours: 40
Overall team / department purpose
- The Commercial team is responsible for the provision of a continuously improving commercial service to the Operations delivery teams, providing quantity surveying, procurement, materials management and fleet management services. This involves applying the principles of value for money and ensuring the effective commercial management of projects to support the operational teams in the successful delivery of timely, high-quality, cost-effective repairs, maintenance and facilities management.
Key role priorities
- This role is responsible for providing a quantity surveying service to the operational delivery teams, with key focus on achieving value for money for our business whilst ensuring that quality is maintained and actively managing risk and opportunity.
- This involves undertaking effective commercial management of allocated projects to ensure the successful delivery of quality led and cost-effective services.
- This includes providing competitively tendering services, undertaking project cost calculations in line with agreed contract rates, commercial contract management, management of client valuations and variations, payment processing and invoice transactions.
- The role also involves ensuring compliance with contract requirements, attending client progress meetings and providing financial forecasts for allocated projects.
Key working relationships
- The role does not have direct reports but is required to interact across the Operations function to contribute to the continuous improvement of performance and with other teams across our business in most effectively meeting objectives. This involves regular meetings with the Asset Team, Finance and Health & Safety (SHE).
- External to our business, the holder is required to interact with client/QS teams, suppliers, sub-contractors and specialist agencies/advisors as required.
Main duties & responsibilities
- Be responsible for liaising with Assets to agree costs as required; maximise cash flow through accurate forecasting of payments and receipts, ensuring accurate applications for payment are made to the client. Investigate delays in payment where necessary and take corrective action to resolve delays.
- Ensure projects are coordinated with the internal contracts team, suppliers and sub-contractors, accepting applications for payment and certifying upon authorisation.
- Monitor the submission of valuations and final accounts to ensure they are completed in a timely manner and followed up by relevant certification.
- Prepare cost value reports for cash flow and margin performance on projects as required.
- Be responsible for the monitoring of expenditure against forecasted budgets and provide analysis and support on value maximisation - including investigating areas of high cost, inefficiencies and poor performance. Make any necessary recommendations for change to working practices to ensure efficient delivery of work.
- Prepare accurate and timely quotations, ensuring Value for Money whilst also considering future-proofing works by considering new and innovative methods of delivery and use of resources.
- Chair and interview sub-contractor meetings and discussions to ensure Value for Money and Group Values and policies are adopted to ensure successful working partnerships.
- Assist with the preparation of JCT contracts.
- Ensure compliance with all aspects of health & safety management, identifying and escalating failures; also ensuring compliance with all aspects of our business’s Quality Management systems.
- Undertake contract administration duties, including preparation of specification documents, liaison with specialists, scheduling, variations and invoice review.
- Escalate issues / concerns as appropriate in a timely manner to the Head of Commercial
- Complete any other tasks as commensurate with the level and nature of the post as delegated by the role’s line manager.
Key measures of success
- Effective commercial management of all allocated projects.
- Competitive tendering and cost assessments for projects allocated completed in line with agreed terms.
- Management of project sub-contractor accounts and procurement.
- Income and expenditure for assigned projects and work accurately profiled, ensuring appropriate financial planning for delivery and client teams.
- Non-compliance escalated to relevant managers in a timely manner.
- Ensure procurement is in line with Group financial regulations.
- Identification of areas for financial improvement for allocated projects.
- Accurate, timely and realistic financial forecasts are provided for allocated projects and expected levels of income maintained.
Livving our values
Livv’s a place with opportunities to grow. We believe in empowering you to make a positive impact in your own unique way. Our values embody what matters to us and show what it means to be Livv, together:
Making a difference daily
We invest in our people, our customers and in the creation of a fairer society.
Positively open
We’re open to feedback at all times, as we strive to deliver a first-class customer experience.
Forging the right way
We’re creating an inspiring road which others will want to follow.
Together as one
Our teams work on another level of cohesiveness to enable us to deliver better outcomes.
Each one of us
- listens to our customers and makes their needs a priority
- is committed to equality, diversity and inclusivity
- takes a flexible approach and works where we’re needed
- follows health and safety guidelines to keep ourselves, colleagues, and customers safe
- helps reduce risks by proactively communicating any potential issues to our line managers
- protects sensitive information by safeguarding customer, colleague and third-party data
- is guided by our policies, procedures and social aims
- is dedicated to continual learning and taking ownership of our personal and professional development.
Person Specification
E - Essential criteria / D - Desirable criteria
Education & Qualifications
Degree level education or relevant professional qualification as a Quantity Surveyor (E)
Evidence of continuous professional development (D)
Membership of a professional body, e.g., RICS (D)
Experience
Experience of Quantity Surveying and Estimating on construction and maintenance projects (E)
Implementing financial performance measures and monitoring arrangements for construction projects (E)
Monitoring project performance relative to KPIs (E)
Working in a social housing environment in a contractor or client capacity (D)
Understanding of Building Regulation requirements and refurbishment / repair contracts (D)
Evidence of working on complex projects with multiple workstreams (D)
Skills, knowledge & ability
Strong interpersonal skills, including relationship building and negotiation both within and external to our business (E)
Strong verbal and written communication skills at all levels (E)
Ability to use appropriate IT systems, including financial and other data interrogation and analysis (E)
A good understanding of the issues and challenges faced by the social housing sector (D)
Personal characteristics
Takes ownership & accountability for own role both independently and as a team member (E)
A confident communicator, with ability to make difficult decisions where required and to remain calm under pressure (E)
A methodical and consistent approach, driven by producing work of a high standard with great attention to detail (E)
Able to demonstrate organisational and planning skills and to deliver to agreed target dates (E)
Other
A flexible approach to hours worked (E)
Able to travel independently to other locations (E)
Give Get Go
As part of our commitment to the Give Get Go Programme, we will ensure that applicants who meet all essential criteria, as defined in the person specification, will be guaranteed the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at interview. Individual’s names will be confirmed with the Give Get Go Programme.
Should you wish your application to be considered under this scheme, please contact us confirming this, along with your full name and the role you have applied for when you submit your application. Please ensure that you do this before the closing date for the vacancy.
Equality and Inclusion
Please visit here to read more about Livv inclusive and our approach to equality and inclusion.
Disability Confident
The Equality Act protects disabled people from discrimination, and we welcome applications from disabled people. The Equality Act defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and adverse long-term effect, usually at least 12 months, on their ability to carry out day to day activities.
We will try to provide access, equipment, or other practical support to ensure that disabled applicants are not disadvantaged by their disabilities.
Data Protection
We fully recognise your rights under current Data Protection Laws and are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. We collect and process personal data relating to applicants to manage the recruitment process effectively, including for statistical purposes.
For full details please see our Job Applicant Privacy Policy
If you require any additional support when completing your application, please contact us