Construction Disputes
Maxim Recruitment work with the experienced experts that companies turn to when a project has gone wrong, and a disagreement has arisen at whichever stage of a dispute. UK Expert Witness and Claims & Disputes consultancies have an unrivalled reputation not only on UK based construction disputes, but also major international construction disputes. UK based Experts acquire a large amount of their work from overseas, as their reputation and technical abilities often exceed many competitors based in the overseas locations where the dispute has actually occurred.
It is because of this that particular companies in the UK are rapidly growing in staff numbers, and will always look at a quality candidate from us if we are speaking to one. Maxim Recruitment are experts at sourcing staff for both Quantum and Delay jobs, from Consultant up to Director level. We work with Claims and Expert Witness consultancies who pay competitive salaries and lucrative bonuses, who are able to provide exposure to an exciting variety of construction disputes.
Our clients have the knowledge and expertise to train experienced Quantity Surveyors, Planners, and Engineers who want to specialise in their sector, as well as the market knowledge and assessment skills to bring in a senior hire to add to their existing management structure. If you have a solid grounding in any of these disciplines, we want to hear from you.
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Why You Should Consider Disputes
1 .Variety
You will get exposure to a large variety of constructions sectors. Many Quantity Surveyors and Planners become pigeon holed in a particular type of project sector (i.e. buildings, rail, civil engineering etc), and find it hard to break out of this in the current market. If you specialise in disputes, you will work on disputes in various sectors, even if your prior Quantity Surveying or Planning / Engineering experience is specific to one sector.
It is also the case that you will get international project exposure with certain businesses. This is because UK based businesses will work on disputes not only in the UK, but also on major issues on construction projects in various international locations.
2. Reputation of businesses
You will be working for companies in the UK whose reputations are un-paralleled in national and / or international construction disputes. It’s a great opportunity to join a renowned consultancy that is on your doorstep in the UK.
3. Responsibility
You will be joining a sector in which the work you do will be judged at an Expert level, and a sector in which there are no cutting corners no matter what level of seniority you are performing at. The work you do will have a direct impact on your firm’s reputation, and will be scrutinised at the highest level. If you perform at a high level on a consistent basis, you will have unrivalled progression opportunities within companies and be given more senior job titles, higher salaries, fantastic bonuses, and management responsibility arguably much quicker than you could attain whilst working with a Main Contractor or Cost Consultancy. Just like anything though, responsibility has to be earned – but what you put in is definitely what you’ll get out in this field.
4. Become an expert, not just a number
Joining the world of Construction Disputes is an opportunity to stand out from the crowd, and not be lost within it. There are less people working in this specialist area, and at the senior level, everyone seems to know everyone, and the reputation that follows them. The quality of your work will not only be known by those within your company, but also by Experts outside of your company, especially once you approach the more senior, client facing levels of operation.
5. Remuneration
Remuneration in this sector can be lucrative. Bonuses are exceptional should you perform well, and salaries are adjusted significantly once you approach the Associate Director level and beyond.
For a Consultant or Senior Consultant joining the sector, a side-step in salary is to be expected, and on some occasions if you are currently paid particularly well in a live project type role, a slight drop in salary depending on your situation. But this WILL be worth it, as your salary will have the potential to increase at a much faster rate and to a much higher “end level” in this field. It is more than likely that you will earn any initial drop in salary back (and more!) within the first year, given the likely bonus % given.
Skills You Need
Transferring to the construction disputes sector is very do-able should you have solid Quantity Surveying or Planning / Engineering skills. Claims and Expert Witness sector consultancies seek staff at the entry level who have a solid background in Quantity Surveying, Planning, or Engineering, along with good report writing skills. These skills enable these staff members to undergo extensive, detailed analysis on disputes and put their findings into a claim or expert report. Senior staff members within these businesses all began their careers as a Quantity Surveyor or Engineer / Planner, and are now renowned experts in their chosen sector.
Some initial requirements are in place for those entering the sector. For Quantum applicants qualifications are important, and for Expert Witness sector consultancies in particular being a Member of the RICS or certainly on route to becoming so, is highly sought after. Further qualifications in Construction Law are also beneficial, though these courses will be paid for by any specialist employer in this field. As an Engineer, solid on site experience is highly sought after and this is more important than being a Chartered Engineer in some organisations. 2nd language skills are also a bonus due to the international nature of some major disputes.