Director Estimating & Benchmarking

GSK; Chippenham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A global pharmaceutical company is seeking a Director of Estimating & Benchmarking, located in the United Kingdom. This senior leadership position involves developing robust cost estimates and benchmarking strategies across the company's global capital portfolio. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in cost estimating, strong analytical skills, and proficiency in estimating software. Leadership and collaboration with project teams are key to success in this role, which also emphasizes compliance and team development.

Qualifications

• Extensive years of experience in cost estimating and benchmarking within capital project environments.
• Strong understanding of project controls disciplines including cost, schedule, and risk.
• Proficiency in estimating software.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of detailed cost estimates for all phases of capital projects.
• Establish and maintain standardized estimating methodologies.
• Collaborate with engineering and procurement teams for validation of scope.

Skills

Cost estimating

Benchmarking

Project controls

Team leadership

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or related field

Tools

Cleopatra

AspenTech

CostX

Job description

Director Estimating & Benchmarking

Business Introduction

We manufacture and supply reliable, high-quality medicines and vaccines to meet patients’ needs and drive our performance. Our network of 37 medicines and vaccines manufacturing sites delivered 1.7 billion packs of medicines and 409 million vaccine doses in 2024 to help make a positive impact on the health of millions of people. Our supply chain is not just core to our operations; it’s vital to bringing our innovations to patients as quickly, efficiently and effectively as possible. Technology is transforming how we manufacture medicines and vaccines, enabling us to increase the speed, quality and scale of product supply. We need the very best minds and capability to help us on our journey to make more complex products, harnessing the power of smart manufacturing technologies including robotics, digital solutions and artificial intelligence to deliver for patients.

Position Summary

The Director of Estimating and Benchmarking is a senior leadership role within the Project Controls function, responsible for overseeing the development of robust cost estimates and benchmarking strategies across GSK’s global capital portfolio. This role ensures consistency, accuracy, and strategic insight in estimating practices, enabling informed decision-making and effective cost control throughout the project lifecycle.

This role will directly report to the Head of Project Controls (PC) and will be part of Global project controls leadership, which manages both project-based PC deliveries and functional responsibilities for key processes within GCP.

Responsibilities

Estimating Leadership

• Lead the development of detailed cost estimates for all phases of capital projects, from concept through execution.
• Establish and maintain standardized estimating methodologies, tools, and templates aligned with industry best practices.
• Collaborate with engineering, procurement, and construction teams to validate scope and pricing assumptions.
• Review and approve high-value estimates and provide strategic input to investment decisions.
• Support risk-adjusted estimating and contingency planning.

Benchmarking & Analytics

• Develop and maintain a global benchmarking database using historical project data and external market intelligence.
• Analyze cost trends, productivity metrics, and performance indicators to inform future estimates and project strategies.
• Provide comparative analysis across projects, regions, and delivery models to identify cost optimization opportunities.
• Present benchmarking insights to senior leadership and contribute to portfolio-level planning.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure all estimating activities comply with GSK’s Project Management Framework (PMF) and financial governance standards.
• Lead internal audits and reviews of estimating practices and outcomes.
• Support external assurance and regulatory reporting requirements as needed.

Team Leadership & Development

• Build and lead a high-performing team of estimators and analysts across global locations.
• Provide coaching, training, and career development opportunities to enhance internal capabilities.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in estimating and benchmarking.

Qualifications/Skills

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, or related field.
• Extensive years of experience in cost estimating and benchmarking within capital project environments.
• Strong understanding of project controls disciplines including cost, schedule, and risk.
• Proficiency in estimating software (e.g., Cleopatra, AspenTech, CostX, or similar).
• Experience with pharmaceutical or regulated industries preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• MSc or PhD or other Chartered / Professional Qualification in a relevant discipline
• Excellent management, communication and interpersonal skills, with comfort cooperating with individuals internally and externally at all organisational levels.
• Understanding of how different functions interface on GSK projects.
• Solid knowledge of GSK project process, User requirement management, quality and compliance requirement, site project completion and pre-start processes, and how these impact engineering and design, construction, commissioning, and qualification contracts
• Familiar with the GCP Project Management Framework (PMF), relevant engineering standards and compliance requirement as well as Quality Management Systems
• PMP (Project Management Professional) or CCP (Certified Cost Professional) or PMI-SP (Scheduling Professional) or Lean Six Sigma or similar process improvement credentials

Work Location

This role is based in the United