Estimating Director

Russam Gms; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK construction and engineering contractor is seeking an experienced Estimating Director to lead and develop its estimating function. This role involves providing strategic cost insight, collaborating closely with senior leaders across various functions, and evolving the estimating practices towards best-practice, data-led methodologies. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in construction estimating, strong capabilities in cost benchmarking, and a leadership style that fosters innovation and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in construction estimating or pre-construction leadership.
• Strong capability in cost benchmarking, market analysis and commercial insight.
• Experience working collaboratively with bidding, procurement and planning teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the estimating function, setting clear strategic direction.
• Support bidding teams in producing competitive, commercially robust proposals.
• Use cost data, benchmarking and market intelligence to inform pricing strategy.
• Work closely with procurement, planning and delivery teams to ensure realistic and aligned estimates.
• Provide commercial insight to clients and senior stakeholders during bid stages.
• Mentor and develop the estimating team, promoting collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Mentor and develop the estimating team, promoting collaboration and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Cost benchmarking

Market analysis

Collaboration

Analytical thinking

Job description

The Organisations

A leading UK construction and engineering contractor with a strong reputation for delivering complex, high-profile projects is seeking an experienced Estimating Director to lead and develop its estimating function. This role sits at the heart of the company’s work-winning strategy, working closely with senior leaders across bidding, commercial, planning and supply chain functions to provide strategic cost insight and data-driven pricing leadership. The successful candidate will combine technical expertise with leadership and commercial insight, translating cost data into meaningful strategic guidance for bid teams and clients. You will help evolve the estimating function toward best-practice, data-led estimating, ensuring the organisation benefits from strong benchmarking, market intelligence and integrated pre-construction processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the estimating function, setting clear strategic direction.
• Support bidding teams in producing competitive, commercially robust proposals.
• Use cost data, benchmarking and market intelligence to inform pricing strategy.
• Work closely with procurement, planning and delivery teams to ensure realistic and aligned estimates.
• Maintain cost databases and benchmarking tools to improve consistency and accuracy.
• Provide commercial insight to clients and senior stakeholders during bid stages.
• Mentor and develop the estimating team, promoting collaboration and continuous improvement.

Modern Estimating in Practice

The organisation is seeking a leader who understands and champions modern estimating best practice, including:

• Data-driven cost benchmarking and market intelligence
• Integration of estimating with procurement and supply chain insight
• Use of digital tools and model-based estimating approaches
• Collaborative pre-construction working with planners, designers and commercial teams
• Strategic cost analysis that informs bid strategy and client engagement

The Candidate:

• Extensive experience in construction estimating or pre-construction leadership
• Strong capability in cost benchmarking, market analysis and commercial insight
• Experience working collaboratively with bidding, procurement and planning teams
• A leadership style that promotes collaboration, innovation and analytical thinking