Quantity surveyors for creating green and blue community spaces

What will you be doing?

East London Waterworks Park is a volunteer-led charity that won a 2024 New London Architecture award and has raised £2m towards buying land from the Department for Education to transform the 14-acre Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney, into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces. 

We are looking for quantity surveyors to participate in our community-led working group who are co-designing the park, and other green and blue spaces with the local communities and wider public. You'll help us with cost planning and financial management as we co-design the park with the local community. You'll have the chance to apply your skills across a range of features, including brownfield remediation, wetland development, natural swimming ponds, forest school areas, and community buildings.

This is a unique opportunity to lead on cost estimation and financial planning for a large-scale community infrastructure project. You'll collaborate with volunteer architects, ecologists, community researchers, campaigners, fundraisers, and communications professionals, all coming together to create this vital green and blue space.

The Design Circle currently meets monthly on a Tuesday evening on Google Meet, and spends voluntary time outside of the meetings completing agreed tasks remotely. There is also optional monthly in-person meetings for those near North East London,

What are we looking for?

1. Cost Planning & Management:
   • Cost Estimation & Analysis: Develop and refine detailed cost estimates at various design stages.
   • Financial Governance: Advise on project budgets and expenditures to ensure financial control.
   • Value Engineering: Identify opportunities to achieve the project's goals more cost-effectively without compromising quality.
2. Project Collaboration & Leadership:
   • Interdisciplinary Communication: Work with diverse professionals (architects, ecologists, and engineers) to translate design concepts into accurate costings.
   • Strategic Planning: Contribute to long-term project viability by providing financial forecasts and strategic advice.
   • Volunteer Coordination: Support the wider team by clearly communicating financial information and contributing to a collaborative environment.
3. Analytical & Technical Skills:
   • Data Analysis: Use data to research and analyse the costs of materials, labour, and construction.
   • Risk Management: Identify potential financial risks and develop mitigation strategies.
   • Contract Knowledge: Understand procurement processes and advise on financial aspects of contracts.
4. Passion & Commitment:
   • Community Passion: A genuine passion for community development and creating a public asset for local people.
   • Environmental Stewardship: A commitment to the sustainable and ethical development of a new biodiverse park.
   • Resilience: The ability to navigate project challenges and adapt to the needs of a volunteer-led initiative.

What difference will you make?

You will have a significant impact on the creation of new, community-owned, biodiverse parks and gardens. By providing expert cost analysis and financial guidance, you'll help ensure the projects including brownfield remediation, wetland development, natural swimming ponds, forest school areas, and community buildings are feasible and sustainable. Your input will be vital in bringing together diverse professionals—such as architects, ecologists, and social researchers—to collaborate on community infrastructure that truly reflects the needs and desires of the local community.

Your work will help us craft experiences and spaces that inspire, educate, and engage our service users, stakeholders, funders, and the general public, ultimately driving support for green and blue spaces mission and securing long-term financial viability.