Estimator

DCS Recruitment; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

DCS Recruitment is seeking an experienced Demolition Estimator to join its pre-construction team. You will price a diverse portfolio of demolition, decommissioning, enabling and associated works across the UK, supporting early contractor engagement and tender submissions.

The role offers exposure to Defence, Nuclear, Regeneration and other complex environments, with opportunities for career progression in a growing contractor.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Demolition Estimator or in a closely related estimating role.
• Strong understanding of demolition, deconstruction and enabling works.
• Ability to interpret tender documentation, drawings and specifications.
• Experience preparing detailed cost estimates and tender submissions.
• Understanding of demolition methodologies, sequencing and risks.
• Experience developing project programmes and resource requirements.
• Experience with subcontractor and supplier pricing.
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to work with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed cost estimates for demolition and enabling works.
• Review tender documentation and develop pricing strategies.
• Produce bills of quantities, cost plans and tender submissions.
• Assess methodologies, sequencing, and construction risks.
• Collaborate with clients, consultants and suppliers to develop tenders.
• Maintain estimating records and tender documentation to a high standard.
• Support post-tender negotiations and value engineering.
• Stay updated on market costs and trends.

Skills

Commercial judgement

Technical knowledge

Analytical ability

Attention to detail

Communication

Teamwork

Organisation

Problem solving

Commercial awareness

Education

Construction qualification

Job description

Demolition Estimator

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Demolition Estimator to join an established Pre-Construction team within a growing and diversifying demolition and enabling works contractor.

This is more than a traditional estimating position. The successful candidate will play a key role in pricing a diverse portfolio of demolition, decommissioning, enabling and associated works across the UK.

You will be involved throughout the pre-construction process, from early contractor engagement and initial cost planning through to the preparation and submission of detailed tenders.

As the business continues to expand into a range of specialist and technically demanding sectors, this role offers the opportunity to contribute to significant projects across Defence, Nuclear, Regeneration, Infrastructure, Heavy Industrial and other complex environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed and accurate cost estimates for demolition, decommissioning, enabling and associated works.
• Review and interpret complex tender documentation, specifications, drawings, schedules and associated information.
• Develop robust and commercially viable pricing strategies.
• Produce detailed bills of quantities, cost plans, resource requirements and tender submissions.
• Assess project methodologies, sequencing, programmes and associated construction risks.
• Liaise with operational, engineering, commercial and pre-construction teams to develop competitive and deliverable tenders.
• Obtain, review and assess subcontractor and supplier quotations.
• Identify project risks, opportunities, exclusions, assumptions and commercial considerations.
• Undertake site visits and pre-tender assessments where required.
• Contribute to the development of project programmes and preliminary costings.
• Ensure estimates are comprehensive, competitive and aligned with the proposed delivery methodology.
• Support the preparation of tender presentations and client clarification responses.
• Maintain accurate estimating records and ensure all tender documentation is completed to a high standard.
• Assist with post-tender negotiations, value engineering and commercial reviews where required.
• Build strong working relationships with clients, consultants, subcontractors and internal stakeholders.
• Keep up to date with market conditions, labour, plant, material and subcontractor costs.

Candidate Requirements

Essential

• Proven experience working as a Demolition Estimator or within a closely related estimating role.
• Strong technical understanding of demolition, deconstruction, dismantling and enabling works.
• Excellent commercial awareness.
• Experience preparing detailed cost estimates and tender submissions.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, scopes of work and complex tender documentation.
• Understanding of demolition methodologies, sequencing, temporary works and associated risks.
• Experience developing project programmes and resource requirements.
• Strong understanding of subcontractor and supply-chain pricing.
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with operational, engineering and commercial teams.
• Highly organised, proactive and detail-focused approach.
• Ability to manage multiple tenders and competing deadlines.

Desirable

• Experience within Defence, Nuclear, Infrastructure, Regeneration or Heavy Industrial sectors.
• Experience working on complex or technically challenging demolition projects.
• Relevant construction, engineering or commercial qualification.
• Membership of a relevant professional body.
• Experience with estimating, quantity surveying or commercial software.
• Understanding of CDM, health and safety and environmental requirements within demolition projects.

Skills and Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Commercial judgement - understanding project costs, risks, margins and opportunities.
• Technical expertise - strong knowledge of demolition and enabling methodologies.
• Analytical ability - confidence working with detailed technical and commercial information.
• Attention to detail - ensuring estimates and tender submissions are accurate and comprehensive.
• Communication - able to clearly present pricing, assumptions and methodology to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Teamwork - comfortable working closely with operations, engineering, procurement and commercial teams.
• Organisation - capable of managing several tenders simultaneously while maintaining quality and deadlines.
• Problem solving - able to identify challenges and develop practical, commercially viable solutions.
• Commercial awareness - understanding market conditions, supply-chain trends and project-specific risks.

What the Role Offers

• The opportunity to work on some of the UK's most complex and prestigious demolition and enabling projects.
• A key position within a growing and diversifying business.
• Exposure to a wide range of specialist sectors and project types.
• A supportive, collaborative and professional working environment.
• Recognition for technical and commercial expertise.
• Opportunities for career progression and professional development.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• The opportunity to play a significant role in the continued growth and development of the business.

The Ideal Candidate

This position would suit an experienced Demolition Estimator who is looking for a fresh challenge and wants to work on increasingly complex and high-profile projects.

You will be commercially astute, technically knowledgeable and confident in taking ownership of tenders from initial review through to submission. You should be comfortable working in a fast-paced pre-construction environment and be able to build effective relationships across operational, engineering, commercial and supply-chain teams.

Most importantly, you will be someone who wants to contribute to the continued growth of a specialist contractor and play a genuine role in securing and delivering the next generation of major demolition, decommissioning and regeneration projects.

All applications will be treated confidentially.

DCS Recruitment and all associated companies are committed to creating a working environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly, regardless of gender, gender identity, disability, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or transgender status, age, or nationality