Estimating Manager

Gleeds; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

Networking opportunities

Generous holiday allowance

Competitive salary

Employee Assistance Programme

Global travel scholarship

Flexible working arrangements

Volunteering opportunities

Job summary

Gleeds in the Midlands is recruiting an Executive Estimator to lead the estimating function for a major infrastructure programme. You will establish strategy, governance and robust cost bases across multiple projects, with delivery teams in Derby and Birmingham, and a mix of home, office and client site.

The role requires substantial cost-management experience, leadership of an estimator team, and strong communication with senior stakeholders to drive cost certainty and value for money.

Qualifications

• Substantial estimating or cost-management experience on complex programmes (engineering, infrastructure, nuclear, defence, manufacturing or regulated)
• Experience of leading an estimating team or function, managing competing priorities and assuring estimates across multiple projects or work packages
• Advanced first-principles estimating and cost assurance with understanding of classification, maturity, uncertainty, quantitative risk, escalation, benchmarking and cost intelligence
• Judgement to challenge inputs and communicate cost matters to senior decision-makers
• Strong leadership, stakeholder-management and communication skills across multidisciplinary teams
• A degree or equivalent professional experience in cost management, QS, engineering, construction law or related discipline
• Chartered status or advanced professional membership (RICS/ACostE/APM/CIOB/CICES or similar) desirable; able to satisfy onboarding, identity, security, and site-access requirements
• Ability to secure and maintain the appropriate security clearances

Responsibilities

• Lead the estimating function for a large infrastructure programme in Derby, establishing the estimating strategy, priorities, delivery plan and resource requirements
• Manage, coordinate and assure the preparation of estimates across the portfolio, ensuring approach is appropriate per project scope and maturity
• Own estimating governance, standards, templates and approval routes with clear bases, assumptions, exclusions, risk allowances, escalation and evidence
• Provide independent challenge and cost assurance of project estimates, supplier submissions and changes, presenting findings to senior stakeholders
• Work with project managers, engineering, planning, risk, commercial and finance to align scope, schedule, risk and cost information
• Lead estimate reviews, assurance panels and governance submissions, communicating uncertainty and cost drivers
• Manage estimating demand, workload, performance; allocate work, coach team members and support development
• Develop benchmarking, cost intelligence and estimating capability using historic data and lessons learned
• Support programme controls, change control, business cases and commercial strategies with timely estimating advice
• Maintain client relationships on Derby site and ensure information-management and security requirements are met

Skills

Estimating leadership

Cost management

Leading estimating team

First-principles estimating

Cost assurance

Risk & uncertainty

Stakeholder management

Security clearance

Education

Degree or professional experience in cost management / QS / engineering

Job description

Managing Estimating

• Nottingham, Birmingham with a mixture of home, office and client site
• Permanent
• Full time - with flexible working and core hours

Gleeds is a leading global property and construction consultancy. Independent since 1875, we are proud to deliver award-winning projects around the world. We are a Great Place to Work certified employer, with our people at the heart of everything we do.

Climate change and Sustainability is at the top of our agenda, we have been established within the energy sector for the past 40 years and have achieved significant growth in the past years as we contribute to a sector that will have trillions of pounds of investment over the next decade. Our teams are at the forefront of the change, managing life changing projects in Solar, Hydrogen, Nuclear, Renewables and Defence, and we want you to be part of that too.

The Estimating team at Gleeds is expanding to support the delivery of a large infrastructure programme in the Midlands. We are seeking an experienced Executive Estimator to fulfil the programme role of Estimating Manager within an integrated client team. The role will lead estimating and cost assurance across a portfolio of complex programmes, set consistent estimating standards, manage team delivery and provide authoritative cost advice to programme leadership and project stakeholders.

Your day-to-day might look like

• Lead the estimating function for a large infrastructure programme in Derby, establishing the estimating strategy, priorities, delivery plan and resource requirements.
• Manage, coordinate and assure the preparation of estimates across the portfolio, ensuring an appropriate approach is applied for each project’s scope, maturity, complexity and decision point.
• Own estimating governance, standards, templates and approval routes, ensuring estimates have clear bases, assumptions, exclusions, risk allowances, escalation and supporting evidence.
• Provide independent challenge and cost assurance of project estimates, supplier submissions and changes, presenting findings and recommendations to senior programme and project stakeholders.
• Work closely with client project managers, engineering, planning, risk, commercial and finance leads to align scope, schedule, risk and cost information and maintain credible cost baselines and forecasts.
• Lead estimate reviews, assurance panels and governance submissions, clearly communicating uncertainty, confidence ranges, key cost drivers and matters requiring management action.
• Manage estimating demand, workload and performance; allocate work, coach team members, review outputs and support professional development and succession planning.
• Develop benchmarking, cost intelligence and estimating capability, using historic data, market evidence and lessons learned to improve estimate quality and consistency.
• Support programme controls, change control, investment decisions, business cases and commercial strategies by providing timely, evidence-based estimating advice.
• Maintain effective client relationships on the Derby site and ensure programme information is managed in accordance with applicable security, confidentiality and information-management requirements.

No two days are the same; we are a flexible team that supports each other's projects while contributing to wider business activities. At this grade, you will also help shape the growth, capability and reputation of our estimating services.

Who we’re looking for

• Substantial estimating or cost-management experience on complex engineering, infrastructure, nuclear, defence, manufacturing or other regulated programmes.
• Demonstrable experience of leading an estimating team or function, managing competing priorities and assuring estimates across multiple projects or work packages.
• Advanced first-principles estimating and cost assurance capability, with a strong understanding of estimate classification, maturity, uncertainty, quantitative risk, escalation, benchmarking and cost intelligence.
• The judgement and confidence to challenge incomplete or inconsistent inputs, make proportionate recommendations and communicate complex cost matters to senior decision-makers.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder-management and communication skills, with the ability to build trust across multidisciplinary client and delivery teams.
• A degree or equivalent professional experience in cost management, quantity surveying, engineering, construction law or another relevant discipline.
• Chartered status or advanced professional membership of RICS, ACostE, APM, CIOB, CICES or another relevant body is desirable. The successful candidate must be able to satisfy applicable client onboarding, identity, security and site-access requirements.
• Ability to secure and maintain the appropriate security clearances.

What We Can Offer You In Return

• Clear opportunities to develop and grow your career through training and further qualifications
• Fantastic networking opportunities to grow your personal brand and expand your understanding of the industry
• Generous holiday allowance plus the option to purchase additional days through the holiday purchase scheme.
• Highly competitive salary and the opportunity to increase this through continuous reviews
• Employee Assistance Programme to ensure your health and personal well-being comes first
• Our global travel scholarship programme gives you the unique opportunity to gain global experience
• Flexible working arrangements to ensure you have a healthy work-life balance
• Volunteering opportunities to engage with your local community or charitable organisations
• Unparalleled support from central teams and a company that is recognised as a Great Place to Work certified employer

About us

Gleeds is a global property and construction consultancy with over 150 years of expertise, operating in 28 countries worldwide. From iconic landmarks to critical infrastructure, we drive innovation, sustainability and value, delivering transformative projects that shape communities and redefine the built environment.

Gleeds is committed to an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected and valued. We uphold the principles of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) and embrace the diversity of our teams. As an equal opportunities employer, we provide support, flexibility and accessibility for all. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact our Talent Team at [email protected]