Head of Estimating

About the role

Head of Estimating – Balfour Beatty (@one Alliance)

Location: Peterborough (Hybrid working available)

Balfour Beatty play a key role as part of the { (6) Anglian Water's @one Alliance:
Overview | Linked In } @Anglian Water’s one Alliance. The Alliance is a ground-breaking collaboration between Anglian Water and eight industry-leading partners:
Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, MMB, MWH Treatment, Skanska and SWECO. And together, we deliver around 40% of Anglian Water’s capital investment programme.

As we progress through AMP8 – our most ambitious asset management period to date – we’re delivering nature-based and sustainable infrastructure, from wetlands to urban drainage schemes, setting new benchmarks for environmental performance.

To help drive this programme, we are looking for an exceptional Head of Estimating to lead our estimating function across the Alliance.

This is a high-impact strategic leadership role, responsible for shaping estimating strategy, driving commercial excellence and supporting the successful delivery of our capital programme. You and your team will play a critical role in determining project value, performance and risk, ensuring the right commercial outcomes for the business, our customers and the environment.

• Lead and evolve the estimating strategy in line with our goals for affordability, carbon reduction and environmental performance.
• Take overall accountability for all estimating activities across the @one Alliance.
• Build, lead and develop a high-performing estimating team.
• Own and maintain the Alliance cost base, ensuring accuracy, consistency and relevance.
• Champion a culture of commercial excellence, transparency and continuous improvement.

• Oversee estimates across key project delivery milestones.
• Lead affordability assessments and early-stage cost assurance activities.
• Support optioneering through high-level budget estimating.
• Oversee outline and detailed design estimates using both top-down and bottom-up methodologies.
• Ensure consistency, robustness and quality across all estimating outputs.

• Work closely with Design, Commercial, Project Management, Construction, Planning and Procurement teams.
• Develop strong relationships with supply chain partners and cost intelligence teams.
• Maintain the integrity of the estimating process whilst balancing stakeholder requirements.

• Lead all cost capture activities to enhance and strengthen the Alliance cost database.
• Collaborate with commercial and procurement teams to capture accurate project cost information.
• Use cost intelligence and insights to improve estimating accuracy and support future regulatory submissions.

• Drive improvements in estimating systems, tools and ways of working.
• Champion standardisation and challenge inefficient processes.
• Support innovation initiatives through cost modelling, forecasting and analysis.

• Develop, coach and inspire a high-performing team.
• Promote diversity, inclusion and an environment where everyone can contribute.
• Support employee wellbeing, engagement and continuous development.

• Promote a positive safety culture with a goal of zero harm.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety and wellbeing requirements, audits and reporting.
• Lead by example through safe working practices and visible leadership.

What You’ll Bring:

• Degree qualified in a relevant discipline.
• Significant experience leading estimating teams within major infrastructure or construction programmes.
• Strong commercial, financial and estimating expertise, with experience of NEC contracts (particularly NEC Option
  
  C).
• Proven ability to influence strategic business decisions and drive commercial outcomes.
• Professional qualification (RICS, ICES or CIOB) desirable.

• Strategic leader with strong people management and team development capabilities.
• Confident influencing and challenging senior stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex financial…