Estimator

Walker & Sloan Ltd | Certified B Corp; St Albans; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

6% matched pension

Annual bonus

Private healthcare

25 days annual leave

Job summary

Walker & Sloan Ltd, a certified B Corp, seeks an Estimator in St Albans to lead tenders from enquiry through submission. You will price projects accurately, analyse commercial risks, and work with the pre-construction and operations teams to ensure robust bids.

With 2+ years in estimating, you will engage suppliers, interrogate quotations, and apply market intelligence to reflect current costs. A degree in QS/Construction/Engineering is preferred, along with strong IT and Excel skills.

Qualifications

• Two years' estimating experience or progression from Junior Estimator.
• Commercial awareness and decision making throughout tender prep.
• Degree or equivalent in Quantity Surveying, Construction, Engineering or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of tenders from enquiry to final submission.
• Develop accurate project pricing and identify commercial risks and opportunities.
• Engage with the supply chain to obtain quotations and assess framework rates.
• Collaborate across pre-construction, commercial and operations teams.
• Challenge information to add value and improve bid competitiveness and security.

Skills

Tendering experience

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying or related

Tools

Microsoft Excel

MS Office

Job description

Estimator

Location: St Albans

Sector: Main Contracting / Construction

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Estimator to join the pre-construction team of a growing main contractor delivering high-profile construction projects across the UK.

You'll become part of an experienced estimating team where you'll be given the opportunity to take ownership of tenders whilst continuing to develop your technical and commercial expertise. The focus is ultimately on producing profitable, de-risked and competitive bids, ensuring projects are accurately priced and commercially robust before being handed across to the delivery team.

This could be an excellent next move if you're currently working as a Junior Estimator or Estimator within a main contracting environment and want greater exposure to the complete tender process, larger projects and increased responsibility.

Role Overview

As Estimator, you'll take an active role in managing tenders from initial enquiry through to final submission, working closely with the wider pre-construction, commercial and operational teams.

You'll be responsible for developing accurate project pricing, interrogating tender information and identifying both commercial risks and opportunities throughout the process. You'll take ownership of relevant tenders, ensuring progress is carefully monitored and that the wider team has clear visibility over pricing, programme and outstanding information.

A major part of your role will involve engaging with the supply chain. You'll lead the enquiry process, obtain and assess current quotations and use framework rates and wider market intelligence to ensure your estimates accurately reflect current construction costs.

You'll also work collaboratively with colleagues across the wider business, bringing different disciplines together during the tender process and ensuring successful projects are handed over to the delivery team with a clear and detailed understanding of the commercial position.

Rather than simply measuring drawings and producing a price, you'll be encouraged to challenge information, identify opportunities to add value and consider alternative solutions that can improve both the competitiveness and commercial security of each bid.

About You

You'll ideally have already gained at least two years' experience within estimating, potentially having developed through a Junior Estimator position or another relevant construction discipline.

You are commercially aware, analytical and naturally methodical in the way you approach a tender. You'll have excellent attention to detail but also understand the wider construction process and how decisions made during pre-construction can influence the successful delivery and profitability of a project.

You'll be comfortable creating and following structured processes, working to deadlines and maintaining accuracy when tender periods become busy. You're also a strong communicator who enjoys working collaboratively with colleagues, subcontractors and suppliers rather than operating independently from the wider project team. These behaviours closely reflect the competencies set out within the original role profile.

Ideally, you'll hold a degree or equivalent qualification in Quantity Surveying, Construction, Engineering or another relevant discipline, alongside strong IT skills and confidence using Microsoft Excel and the wider Microsoft Office suite.

Company Profile

You'll be joining a growing main contractor delivering high-quality construction projects across the UK.

The business places a strong emphasis on collaboration between estimating, commercial and operational teams, allowing projects to be properly considered during pre-construction before progressing into delivery.

• You’ll become part of an environment where commercial awareness, teamwork and continuous development are valued, with the opportunity to learn from experienced construction professionals while progressively taking greater ownership of the estimating process.

Salary - Negotiable but very competitive

Car allowance

6% matched pension

Annual bonus

Private healthcare

25 days annual leave, increasing after 3 years' service