Civils Estimator

Costain Group; Lewes; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned infrastructure solutions company is seeking a Civil Estimator to join their estimating department for the Southern Water Framework. This hybrid role involves preparing bids and estimates for water supply and wastewater treatment projects. Candidates should have a background in civil engineering, experience in civil construction, and proficiency in MS Excel. The role offers a competitive package and the chance to work on significant projects throughout the UK.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of groundworks, retaining structures, and pipework.
• Ability to produce bottom-up estimates.
• Hold a current relevant CSCS Card.

Responsibilities

• Prepare pricing for tenders and bids.
• Review civil designs and specifications.
• Attend site visits across the south-east as needed.

Skills

Civil construction knowledge

Experience with MS Excel

Ability to manage tight deadlines

Experience in water/utilities sector

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline

Job description

Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom (Hybrid)

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Job Info

• Job Identification 101604
• Job Category Commercial
• Posting Date 10/28/2025, 03:54 PM
• Locations BN1 9PY (Hybrid)
• Contract Type Permanent
• Driving Required Yes
• Security Clearance Required No

Job Description

At CMDP+ we believe that people matter. We know that to build successful, creative teams we need a diverse workforce that can deliver new innovative ways of thinking. We provide an environment where you will have the freedom to develop and grow to your full potential.

CMDP+ is looking to strengthen their estimating department with a Civil Estimator for our Southern Water Framework. MWH Treatment and Costain Group are part of the CMDP+ joint venture that will deliver a range of construction schemes to maintain and improve Southern Water’s water supply and wastewater treatment works within the South and Southeast regions.

The Joint Venture has been set up specifically to execute the 5-year (2025 – 2030) AMP8 capital delivery framework within the Water sector. We will be delivering a programme of works up to £1bn. Individual projects within the programme range in value from £2M up to £150M, providing improvements to drinking water and wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations.

The Civil Estimator is responsible for the support and preparation of pricing for tenders/bids and other opportunities identified by the business, from receipt of documents through to presentation at tender review and final completion of submission documents.

The estimating department are seeking an experienced civils estimator or a civil engineer who is good with numbers and would like a secondment into estimating to help with their professional development.

This is a hybrid role and will be based in Falmer (Brighton) 3 days per week.

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Responsibilities

Working predominantly on the civil elements of a tender, you will helping generate budget estimates during the optioneering stage or assist with setting the target price of the preferred design option. There will be a requirement to work on multiple projects concurrently within a multi-disciplinary team.

• You will need to appraise the civil design, reviewing specifications and drawings to ensure we offer a compliant tender that meets the project brief.
• Produce detailed activity schedules or BOQ's covering all aspects of the civil related activities and in accordance with the Client’s cost capture system.
• Consider site safety, health and environmental issues and identify and include mitigation costs within the estimates.
• Attend site visits across the south-east if required.
• Work with the M&E Estimators to include any temporary treatment processes that enable our works to be undertaken whilst maintaining compliance to the site’s operating permits.
• Obtain accurate prices and quotations for all civil aspects including subcontracts, materials, plant, and labour. Technically and commercially assess quotations to ensure compliance against scope and specifications, feeding back queries as part of the review and negotiation phase.
• Estimate all or parts of the works either via our bespoke unit rate library and using supply chain
• Production of project related costs (indirect costs) such as site establishment, welfare and staffing in accordance with the Client’s cost capture system.
• To record areas of potential risk or opportunity identified during the preparation of the estimates.
• Support the Estimating Manager during internal governance prior to submission to the client.
• Attendance to settlement meetings to discuss and explain the estimate and attend post-tender commercial meetings with the client.
• Contribute into the continuous improvement plans to help drive efficiency.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Knowledge and understanding of civil construction (typically groundworks, R.C bases, retaining structures, tanks/chambers, R.C. roads, pipework, and ductwork) and associated civils temporary works
• Qualified in a civil engineering discipline
• Ability to manage and prioritise a high volume of work that requires completion within tight timeframes to meet the demands of the contract and the timely completion of multiple concurrent tenders with a fast turnaround in a Framework Environment
• High level of competence with MS Excel
• Experience of water and / or utilities sector, although training can be given.
• Previous experience working as an Estimator for a major contractor
• Experience of working within a multi-discipline engineering environment
• Knowledge and appreciation of sewage treatment processes, water treatment processes and pumping systems
• Hold a current relevant CSCS Card
• Hold a valid driving licence
• Experience producing bottom-up estimates, although training can be given.

Qualifications

• Degree level qualified or equivalent in a Civil Engineering or Building related discipline.
• Working towards being chartered

About Us

Costain helps to improve people’s lives with integrated, leading edge, smart infrastructure solutions across the UK’s energy, water, transportation and defence markets. We help our clients improve their business performance by increasing capacity, improving customer service, safeguarding security, enhancing resilience, decarbonising and delivering increased efficiency. Our vision is to be the UK’s leading smart infrastructure solutions company. We will achieve this by focusing on blue chip clients whose major spending plans are underpinned by strategic national needs, regulatory commitments, legislation or essential performance requirements. We offer our clients leading edge solutions that are digitally optimised through the following five services which cover the whole lifecycle of their assets: future‑shaping strategic consultancy; consultancy and advisory; digital technology solutions; asset optimisation and complex programme delivery. Our culture and values underpin everything we do. Costain appreciate the time and effort taken when applying for one of our positions but, due to the high volume of responses, we are unable to provide individual feedback on candidates at application phase. We do share individual feedback following an interview.

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that disclose they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer.

It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high‑volume, seasonal and high‑peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non‑disabled people.

For more details please go to the Disability Confident website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign

CMDP is a joint venture between Costain and MWHT and delivers a range of schemes to maintain and improve Southern Water’s water supply and wastewater treatment works in the eastern half of its region (Kent & Sussex).