Design Estimator

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water utility provider is looking for a motivated Design Estimator to deliver exceptional customer service and accurate designs for water connections. This hybrid role, based in Reading, requires strong communication and problem-solving skills. The ideal candidate will be customer-focused and organized, with a degree in engineering or similar. The role offers a salary starting at £30,000 and comprehensive benefits designed to support employee well-being.

Benefits

24 days holiday plus bank holidays

Performance-related pay plan

Health and well-being benefits

Qualifications

• Great attention to detail ensuring compliance with company policies.
• Ability to handle customer complaints confidently.
• Knowledge of internal systems and processes required.

Responsibilities

• Produce accurate designs and quotations for new water connections.
• Respond to customer enquiries and collaborate with teams.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders to enhance customer experience.
• Ensure compliance with regulations and company standards.
• Identify improvements in processes to enhance customer journey.

Skills

Outstanding customer service and communication skills

Strong relationship builder

Highly organised with great attention to detail

Quick to learn and adaptable

Problem-solver and team player

Education

Educated to diploma/degree level in engineering or a STEM discipline

Job description

Overview

Job title Design Estimator Ref 42185 Division Retail Location Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Hours 36 hours Salary A competitive salary of £30,000 per annum Job grade A Closing date 13/11/2025

This role is ideal for a motivated and customer-focused individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment. You’ll be responsible for supporting the delivery of new water connections, ensuring an exceptional customer experience from enquiry to completion.

What you’ll be doing as a Design Estimator

Working closely with internal teams and external stakeholders, you’ll manage enquiries, resolve issues, and ensure compliance with company processes and regulatory standards. With strong communication, organisation, and problem-solving skills, you’ll play a key role in driving service excellence and continuous improvement across the team.

Responsibilities

• Produce accurate designs and quotations for new water connections as required, ensuring timely and efficient delivery.
• Respond to customer enquiries and collaborate with internal teams to deliver new connections while safeguarding Thames Water assets.
• Build strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure an outstanding customer experience.
• Deliver high-quality, compliant work that aligns with company processes, regulatory standards, and performance targets.
• Identify and drive improvements in processes to enhance the overall customer journey.
• Ensure full compliance with CDM regulations and all relevant Health & Safety legislation.

Base Location: Hybrid – Based in Reading.

Office days are Monday and Tuesday.

Hours: 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday

What you should bring to the role

To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need are:

• Outstanding customer service and communication skills, with the flexibility to adapt to changing customer and business needs and confidently handle both written and verbal complaints.
• Strong relationship builder, able to collaborate effectively across teams to deliver exceptional service and resolve issues efficiently.
• Highly organised with great attention to detail, ensuring all work is accurate, compliant, and aligned with company policies and procedures.
• Quick to learn and adaptable, with the ability to build knowledge of internal systems, processes, and operational requirements.
• Problem-solver and team player, comfortable working under pressure and meeting demanding deadlines and performance targets.
• Educated to diploma/degree level (or equivalent) in engineering or a STEM discipline, with desirable knowledge of water networks, CDM, and HSE in construction.

What’s in it for you?

• We’re offering a salary starting from £30,000 per annum.
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets
• 24 days of holiday per year, increasing to 28 with the length of service (plus bank holidays)
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of your and your family’s health and well-being, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.