Estimator

Dragados UK & Ireland; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Dragados UK & Ireland is seeking an experienced Estimator to develop detailed price estimates for direct costs and preliminaries for major projects in London. You will coordinate with design and construction teams to reflect build methodology, sequence, and cost impacts in the commercial submission.

Key duties include preparing bids, collaborating with the tender team, gathering subcontractor quotes, and updating budgets as designs evolve.

Qualifications

• Experience in project estimating with main or tier 2 contractors.
• Relevant degree in surveying or construction.
• RICS or equivalent chartered status.

Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed price estimates for direct costs and preliminaries.
• Coordinate with planning and construction teams for input on cost.
• Develop commercial workbooks and activity schedules.
• Gather quotes from subcontractors and suppliers; validate rates.
• Support bid submissions and tender team with cost input.
• Contribute to risk assessment and budget updates.

Skills

Estimating methods

Costing

Data analysis

Tender preparation

BIM cost modelling

Education

Degree in surveying or construction

RICS chartered

Tools

QRA

BIM

Job description

Job Summary

The Estimator develops and is responsible for the elaboration of a detailed price estimate for the different work packages (direct cost) and preliminaries bill (indirect cost) of the project, including the preparation of the relevant commercial workbooks and activity schedules within the commercial submission. The estimator liaises with the construction and design team to coordinate the required input ensuring that the estimate fully reflects the specific constraints and challenges of the project, the build sequence and methodology and its impact on cost.

Key Responsibilities

• As part of business development department, and reporting to the Chief Estimator, helping with bids for new contracts, preparing and submitting quotations for work.
• Close collaboration with technical team and other members of the tender team to undertake a cost estimate of the different work packages (cost direct) and associated preliminaries
• Work with the planning and construction teams for the required sections providing cost input during the development of the construction methodology, temporary works requirements, preliminaries, staff costs and the like and ensure this is integrated into the overall estimate
• Liaise and facilitate coordination with other estimators as required
• Researching materials, equipment and labour costs.
• Getting in contact with, and gathering quotes from, sub-contractors and suppliers. Validate unit rates and construction methodology with key sub-contractors and ensure this is built into budget
• Contribution to Project risk assessment, estimating cost associated to all risk items and indicating the levels of risk associated to each work packages arising from the cost estimate exercise
• Continuously review and cost check the developing design and update the budget as necessary.
• Provide input into the evaluation of changes to the project
• Between tenders, maintain regular contact with company’s supply chain, analyze company data and build and update database of production rates, exchange rates and prices, and monitor projects delivery to ensure alignment between database and actual project delivery results

Technical Skills And Competencies

• Very strong understanding of estimating and construction methodology
• Ability to develop and estimate top down and bottom up. Either based on quotations or First Principles
• Ability to apply IT systems relevant to estimating
• Strong numerical and data analysis skills.
• Ability to use QRA and other sensitivity modelling software
• Ability to use BIM modelling to create cost estimate models

Qualifications, Certifications And Experience

• Experience of project estimating ideally with a main or tier 2 contractor
• Relevant experience working on major projects
• In-depth understanding of construction techniques and their implications on cost
• Relevant degree in surveying or construction
• RICS or similar chartered status.

Dragados Values

• Excellence: Promoting innovation, development, training and continuous improvement to achieve the highest quality of project delivery.
• Integrity: Acting ethically and transparently. Demanding the best standards of integrity from its employees, suppliers and other stakeholders.
• Trust: Nurturing positive relationships at all levels of the organisation, with our clients and supply chain by developing strong and long term relationships based on mutual trust.
• Sustainability: Commitment to sustainable development to make an efficient and ethically responsible contribution to society and the environment.
• Profitability: Ensuring our profitability as well as contributing value to the communities in which we operate as part of our sustainability agenda.

Dragados is committed to act based on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion principles. Equal opportunities, non-discrimination and respect for human rights are basic principles contained in the Dragados Code of Conduct ( https://www.dragados.co.uk/html/compliance.html) that apply to all Dragados employees.

Contract type

Permanent

Salary

Competitive