Head of Construction

Saffron Vantage Ltd; Stansted Mountfitchet; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading refurbishment company in the United Kingdom is seeking a Head of Pre-Construction to take ownership of their work-winning function. The role involves managing the estimating function, leading bid planning, and ensuring value-driven tenders. Candidates should have experience in public sector refurbishment and be strong communicators. This position offers the chance to contribute significantly to the company's growth and success in delivering complex projects.

Qualifications

• Experience estimating, pre-construction, or work-winning within public sector refurbishment.
• Able to lead estimating, bid writing and early design coordination.
• Commercially strong, with an understanding of margin, risk and prelims.
• Strong communicator, confident in front of clients and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage and support the estimating function, ensuring accurate pricing and risk management.
• Challenge pricing, prelims, supplier quotes, and logic.
• Lead the bid planning process and the strategy to win each project.
• Oversee bid writing, quality submissions and supporting graphics.
• Ensure tenders clearly demonstrate value, methodology and delivery confidence.
• Lead and oversee tender review stages: initial strategy, mid-tender review, final sign-off.

Skills

Estimating

Bid writing

Risk management

Strong communication

Job description

About Us

Delivers refurbishment projects across the Health, Education, Local Authority and Leisure sectors across East Anglia.

With a 43‑year history, we are experts in this field.

We hold places on the leading UK frameworks, including Procure Partnerships, Pagabo and SBS.

Annual revenue is circa £15m.

We are at an exciting stage in our growth, being extremely well positioned in the market. Projects and opportunities are becoming larger and more varied. Our aspiration is to reach £50m+ revenue and beyond.

Role Summary

To support this next stage of growth, we are looking for a Head of Pre‑Construction to take ownership of our entire work‑winning function.

Responsibilities

• Manage and support the estimating function, ensuring accurate pricing and risk management.
• Challenge pricing, prelims, supplier quotes, and logic.
• Lead the bid planning process and the strategy to win each project.
• Oversee bid writing, quality submissions and supporting graphics.
• Ensure tenders clearly demonstrate value, methodology and delivery confidence.
• Lead and oversee tender review stages: initial strategy, mid‑tender review, final sign‑off.

Qualifications

• Experience estimating, pre‑construction, or work‑winning within public sector refurbishment.
• Able to lead estimating, bid writing and early design coordination.
• Commercially strong, with an understanding of margin, risk and prelims.
• Strong communicator, confident in front of clients and stakeholders.