Estimator, Construction, Civil Engineering

Are you an experienced Estimator with a strong background in civil engineering, highways, earthworks, drainage or building projects? Do you have experience producing detailed first-principles estimates within a competitive tendering environment? Are you looking for a permanent opportunity with a successful infrastructure contractor offering flexible working, varied projects and long-term career development?

Location:

Chorley or Carlisle + 1 day working from home per week

Salary: £50,000 to £60,000 per annum for an Estimator, with potential flexibility up to £70,000 for an experienced Senior Estimator

• £6,335 car allowance or company car
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase an additional five days of annual leave
• 4.5% employer pension contribution
• £150 health cash plan
• One day working from home each week
• Flexible working with core hours of 9:30am to 4:00pm
• 40-hour working week
• Award-winning training and professional development opportunities
• Two paid volunteering days each year

My client is looking to appoint an experienced Estimator or Senior Estimator to join its pre-construction and work-winning team, based from either Chorley or Carlisle. The position will involve preparing high-quality, commercially viable tenders across a varied portfolio of infrastructure and construction projects. Work may include highways, earthworks, drainage, reinforced concrete, buildings, water, power and general civil engineering schemes. This is not a role focused solely on negotiated frameworks.

The successful candidate must have experience working within competitive tendering environments and be comfortable building detailed estimates from first principles, including labour, plant, materials, subcontractors, preliminaries and production outputs. You will manage tenders from initial allocation through to submission and contract award, working closely with operational, commercial, procurement and delivery teams to develop robust construction methodologies and competitive pricing strategies.

The successful candidate will join a small and collaborative estimating team and will have the opportunity to bring additional sector knowledge, construction experience and new ideas into the business. Rail experience would be beneficial but is not essential, as the business is particularly interested in candidates with broader civil engineering, highways, building or water experience. The role would ideally suit someone from a main contractor background, although candidates with multidisciplinary subcontractor experience will also be considered.

Applicants coming from consultancy or client-side environments should have previous contractor experience and a strong understanding of practical construction delivery.

• Manage multiple tenders from initial enquiry and allocation through to submission, negotiation and contract award
• Produce detailed first-principles estimates covering labour, plant, materials, subcontractors and preliminaries
• Review drawings, specifications, bills of quantities, contract documents and tender information
• Assess construction methodologies, resource requirements, temporary works and production outputs
• Interrogate and challenge resource levels, cost models, assumptions and pricing strategies
• Apply relevant methods of measurement, including MCHW, CESMM and similar industry standards
• Identify and evaluate tender risks, opportunities, exclusions and commercial considerations
• Obtain, review and negotiate competitive quotations from subcontractors and suppliers
• Develop value engineering proposals, efficiencies and alternative delivery solutions
• Lead tender meetings and coordinate input from operational, commercial and technical teams
• Maintain clear communication with clients, suppliers, subcontractors and internal stakeholders
• Prepare accurate tender submissions that are commercially competitive and technically robust
• Support post-tender negotiations and respond to client clarifications
• Prepare detailed project handovers, clearly communicating allowances, assumptions, risks and opportunities
• Support lessons learned and continuous improvement across estimating and…