White Collar Construction Recruitment
White collar construction recruitment requires genuine sector knowledge. The difference between a Quantity Surveyor with residential experience and one with a commercial fit-out background is significant in practice, and a recruiter who does not understand that will send you the wrong people. RFT recruits across the full range of professional and commercial roles within construction and infrastructure: from junior QS and assistant site management through to Project Directors and Heads of Commercial.
About This Sector
Construction Recruitment With Real Sector Depth
We cover the breadth of the sector including main contractors, specialist subcontractors, developers, consultancies and public sector frameworks. Manchester and the North West has one of the most active construction markets outside London, and RFT has built its construction practice within that market. We understand the differences between NEC and JCT contract environments, how commercial roles differ across M&E and civils versus main contracting, and what a contractor expects from a senior commercial hire on a major infrastructure project.
That knowledge is not incidental to what we do - it is what allows us to make introductions that stand up in practice. A QS who has spent their career on residential housebuilding is not the same as one from a civil engineering background, even if the job title is identical. We assess the detail, brief our clients honestly and do not put candidates in front of employers where the fit is not there. That approach takes more time at the front end and saves everyone considerably more time further down the process.
Roles We Place
Construction Roles We Recruit
From graduate QS to commercial director, we recruit across the full white collar construction function.
Quantity Surveyor
Cost management, valuations, variations and final account settlement across construction projects. RICS accreditation and specific project-type experience (residential, commercial, civils) significantly affect placement suitability.
Senior Quantity Surveyor
Independent cost management across larger or multiple projects. Candidates at this level are expected to manage junior QS staff and take ownership of the commercial function on a project with limited oversight.
Commercial Manager
Full commercial leadership across a project, framework or regional business unit. Manages QS teams, holds contract risk and interfaces directly with clients and subcontractors at senior level.
Project Manager
Programme management, subcontractor coordination and stakeholder delivery on construction projects. APM or PRINCE2 combined with site delivery experience is common at this level across both main contracting and consultancy.
Site Manager
Day-to-day site delivery management including programme, quality, safety and subcontractor supervision. SMSTS and First Aid certification are typically mandatory requirements across all contractor environments.
Contracts Manager
Multi-site or portfolio contract oversight. Typically reports at Director level and manages a team of Site or Project Managers across a region or business unit.
Estimator
Tender pricing, take-offs and bid preparation. Sector and project-type experience matters significantly here - an M&E estimator is rarely interchangeable with a civils estimator and clients know the difference.
Bid Manager
Coordinating and writing tender submissions, typically working across a business development or commercial team. Strong writing ability combined with commercial awareness is essential for success.
Design Manager
Managing the design process, consultant appointments and information release schedules within a contractor environment. Most common in design-and-build contracting where the contractor holds design responsibility.
Planning Engineer
Programme development, progress monitoring and delay analysis using Primavera P6 or Asta Powerproject. Infrastructure and major projects experience is the most common requirement from our construction clients.
MEP Coordinator
Managing the mechanical, electrical and plumbing coordination process within a main contractor environment, often working closely with specialist subcontractors on complex commercial or mixed-use schemes.
Head of Commercial / Commercial Director
Senior commercial leadership with P&L accountability across a region, business unit or the whole contracting business. Strategic appointments that require deep sector credibility and board-level confidence.
For Employers
Why Employers Choose RFT
Sector knowledge that goes beyond the job title, an active candidate network and the pace that construction timelines demand.
We Understand the Sector, Not Just the Job Title
A QS with a civils background is not the same as one from a main contracting environment. RFT's construction consultants have the sector knowledge to assess the difference and brief clients accurately. You receive candidates whose experience genuinely matches the project or role requirements.
Active Candidate Network
Senior commercial and project management professionals in construction are rarely on job boards. We reach them through direct contact, sector networks and ongoing relationship management rather than reactive responses to posted vacancies. The best people are not usually available in public.
Fast Response on Urgent Requirements
Construction projects do not wait for slow recruitment processes. When a vacancy arises mid-project or a key commercial hire is required to mobilise a new contract, RFT responds with pace while maintaining quality. We understand what is at stake when a commercial role sits vacant on a live scheme.
For Candidates
Why Candidates Work With RFT
Introductions matched to your project type, honest market intelligence and genuine sector advocacy.
Introductions Matched to Your Project Type
We do not put a civils QS in front of a fit-out contractor. We take the time to understand the type of projects you have worked on, the contract types you know and the environments where you have performed well before making any introduction on your behalf.
Honest Market Intelligence
We can tell you which contractors are growing, which major frameworks are coming to market and where the realistic opportunities are for your level and experience. That information helps you make a well-informed career decision rather than chasing a role that is not the right fit.
Sector Credibility on Your Behalf
When we introduce you to a client, we brief them properly on your project history, your commercial track record and why this is a genuine fit. You are not just another CV in a stack - you are introduced with context and commercial evidence that positions you well from the start.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions we hear most from employers and candidates in the white collar construction sector.
Need a White Collar Construction Specialist?
Tell us about your vacancy or your career and a construction recruitment consultant with genuine sector knowledge will be in touch the same day.