Job overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Clerk of Works to join our Estates Development Team, playing a key role in delivering high-quality, safe, and compliant healthcare environments across the Trust.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled construction professional to act as the Trust’s on-site representative across a diverse portfolio of capital and revenue projects. You will be responsible for independently inspecting and monitoring construction works, ensuring that all activities meet design specifications, statutory regulations, health and safety standards, and contractual requirements.

Working across multiple live healthcare sites, you will undertake a hands-on, site-based role involving regular inspections, quality assurance, and compliance monitoring. You will identify defects, challenge poor workmanship, and work collaboratively with contractors, project managers, and in-house teams to ensure that projects are delivered to the highest standards, with minimal disruption to patient services.

The role requires strong professional judgement, excellent communication skills, and the confidence to manage sensitive or challenging situations on site. You will be expected to provide clear, evidence-based reporting, support governance processes, and contribute to maintaining a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors.

Main duties of the job

The Clerk of Works will join the Development Team, reporting to the Pre-Construction and Compliance Manager. The post holder will work with a high degree of autonomy, acting as the Trust’s technical authority on-site for capital and revenue projects, ensuring works are delivered in accordance with design specifications, statutory requirements, health and safety standards, and contractual obligations.

The Clerk of Works is an independent inspection and quality assurance professional. The role involves frequent site-based activity, including accessing construction areas, plant spaces, and working at height in accordance with safety procedures. The role involves regular and systematic inspection of workmanship and materials, identification and reporting of defects and non-compliances, and proactive engagement with contractors, the in-house Minor Works Team, and project teams to safeguard quality, compliance, and value for money throughout the delivery of capital works. 

Working closely with Compliance Engineers, Authorised Persons (APs), Project Managers, external contractors, and the in-house Minor Works Team, the Clerk of Works will undertake NEC3 Supervisor duties, monitor quality, ensure compliance, manage permit-to-work procedures, and maintain comprehensive site records. 

Working for our organisation

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?