Estimator

O’Neill & Brennan; Greater London; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

O’Neill & Brennan is seeking a D&B Estimator for its Central/South West London office to price luxury residential and leisure projects. The role requires experience from first principles, tendering, and working on Design & Build contracts with a high-end client base.

The successful candidate will join a team delivering projects in the £10m–£30m range, with strong progression prospects and a robust pipeline. Competitive daily and annual package are available, with an ASAP start.

Qualifications

• Around four or more years' experience in estimating for a main or principal contractor.
• Experience pricing Design & Build projects, with understanding of JCT Design & Build contracts.
• Ability to take off quantities from drawings and interpret architectural/structural/M&E info.
• Experience building up prices from first principles and analysing quotations for gaps.
• Strong commercial awareness with organised pricing and tender documentation.
• Good Excel skills and ability to maintain cost databases, trackers and tender records.
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to work independently and meet deadlines.
• Experience with Bluebeam, zzTakeoff, cost databases or SharePoint is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed estimates from first principles using drawings and specs.
• Build up tender prices using cost databases and subcontractor quotes.
• Manage subcontractor enquiries and compare quotations for exclusions and scope gaps.
• Price preliminaries considering programmes, site logistics and long-lead items.
• Identify tender risks, allowances and exclusions and ensure information gaps are accounted for.
• Support tender reviews and handovers to delivery teams for successful projects.
• Assist tender administration, bid trackers and subcontractor documentation.
• Utilise digital tools and AI-assisted processes to streamline estimating and tender admin.

Skills

Excel skills

Cost databases

SharePoint

zzTakeoff

Bluebeam

Tools

Bluebeam

Takeoff

Cost databases

SharePoint

Job description

D\&B Estimator – Leisure and bespoke residential– Central/South West London

Salary/Rate: £400 per day Outside IR35 or 80,000 + package

O’Neill and Brennan are currently working with a rapidly growing main contractor who specialise in luxury residential and leisure Design & Builds who are seeking to take on a mid-level Estimator to join them in their luxurious southwest/central London office. They are seeking someone with experience of pricing up from first principles and who has worked on Design & Build projects ideally on the higher specification side of the residential and leisure sectors.

The business has an excellent pipeline of work and continue to diversify their portfolio picking up bigger and more technically challenging jobs and can therefore offer extremely strong progression and job security.

Role Overview:

• Title: Design & Build Estimator
• Projects: Luxury residential and Leisure projects
• Location: Central Southwest London
• Project Values: Approximately £10m – £30m
• Salary/ Rate: £80,000 + Package or £400 per day Outside IR35
• Type: Contract/ Contract-to-Perm / Perm
• Start: ASAP but can wait for the right person

Responsibilities:

• Prepare detailed estimates from first principles, taking off quantities from architectural, structural and M&E drawings and specifications.
• Build up tender prices using established cost databases, subcontractor quotations and independently assessed rates.
• Manage subcontractor enquiries, analysing and comparing quotations to identify exclusions, scope gaps, design responsibilities and programme assumptions.
• Price preliminaries, considering project programmes, site logistics, access constraints and long-lead items.
• Identify and manage tender risks, allowances, assumptions and exclusions, ensuring any gaps in the information are appropriately accounted for.
• Support tender reviews and bid decisions, maintaining accurate cost information and providing clear handovers to the delivery team on successful projects.
• Assist with tender administration, including maintaining bid trackers, managing enquiries and clarifications, and coordinating subcontractor documentation.
• Make use of digital tools and AI-supported processes to streamline estimating and tender administration, ensuring all outputs are checked for accuracy.

Requirements:

• Around four or more years' experience in estimating for a main or principal contractor, ideally across high-end residential, leisure, hotel or refurbishment projects.
• Experience pricing Design & Build projects, with an understanding of JCT Design & Build contracts and associated commercial risks.
• Confident taking off quantities from drawings and specifications, with the ability to interpret architectural, structural and M&E information.
• Experience building up prices from first principles and analysing subcontractor quotations to identify exclusions, discrepancies and scope gaps.
• Strong commercial awareness, with an organised and methodical approach to pricing, risk management and tender documentation.
• Good Excel skills and the ability to maintain accurate cost databases, trackers and tender records.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work independently and manage competing tender deadlines.
• Previous experience with Bluebeam, zzTakeoff, cost databases or SharePoint would be advantageous, although familiarity with similar systems is also relevant.
• Right to work in the UK.

O’Neill and Brennan values diversity and promotes equality, All individuals will be treated in a fair and equal manner and in accordance with the law regardless of gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation