Lead Estimator - Piping and Structural

NRL; Grimsby; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

NRL in Grimsby seeks an experienced Lead Estimator for its fabrication team. The role includes leading the estimating department, preparing accurate estimates for structural steelwork and pipework projects, and ensuring timely bid submissions.

The ideal candidate will possess strong commercial awareness, the ability to interpret technical drawings, and excellent leadership skills. This contract role offers the opportunity to collaborate closely with operations and clients.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or mentoring estimating personnel.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of fabrication project delivery.
• Ability to interpret fabrication isometrics and GA drawings.
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills, particularly in Excel and Word.
• Strong time management skills and ability to multi-task.

Responsibilities

• Lead the estimating function and assign bid packages.
• Mentor and support the estimating team for accurate bids.
• Review tender documentation and identify risks.
• Coordinate with other departments for estimate reviews.
• Prepare detailed indirect cost estimates.

Skills

Leading estimating personnel

Commercial awareness

Communication and stakeholder management

Detail-oriented and self-motivated

Microsoft Office skills

Job description

Lead Estimator – Piping and Structural

Location: Grimsby

Overview

Estimating Lead – Fabrication (Structural steelwork & pipework). Seeking an experienced Estimating Lead to join the fabrication team in Grimsby on a contract basis. The successful candidate will lead a small estimating department responsible for preparing competitive and accurate estimates for structural steelwork and pipework fabrication projects, combining strong technical estimating capability with leadership, commercial awareness and close collaboration with operations and clients.

Responsibilities

• The Lead Estimator is responsible for leading the estimating function, assigning bid packages, prioritising workload and reporting progress to management.
• Lead, mentor and support the estimating team to ensure consistency, accuracy and timely submission of bids.
• Review tender documentation to identify commercial risks, exclusions and opportunities.
• Support pricing strategy and bid adjudication with senior management.
• Ensure estimates align with operational capability, execution approach and commercial objectives.
• Work with subcontractors to prepare and issue RFQ packages for work not performed internally, including defining scope, providing drawings/specifications and required documentation.
• Develop detailed indirect cost estimates for on‑site and off‑site support activities.
• Complete detailed cost calculations including indirects, direct labour, materials, rentals, subcontracts and equipment.
• Determine bid response strategies including schedule approach, execution plan and subcontractor requirements.
• Gather, analyse and input and compile information for negotiated work and submit required inputs to Operations.
• Compile work packages upon award for shop and site works so that delivery teams can be handed off efficiently.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with clients, subcontractors and suppliers.
• The Estimator is responsible for developing and managing estimate plans across plating as the primary discipline, with support to piping estimates as required.
• Contribute to and oversee the detailed development of the estimates.
• Coordinate with other departments and/or offices as required and conduct estimate reviews with senior management.
• Prepare and manage estimate/bid packages, ensuring all required documentation is included.
• Prepare discipline‑by‑discipline quantity take‑offs (plating/structural fabrication and installation as primary; piping materials and installation as secondary).
• Attend site walk‑arounds with the client to fully understand the proposed scope of work.
• Work with subcontractors to prepare and distribute subcontractor RFQ packages for work within project scope but not performed internally, including defining scope, providing drawings, specifications and required documentation.
• Develop detailed indirect estimates, both on‑site and off‑site support.
• Support piping estimating activities as a secondary skill set, including review of isometrics, piping specifications and MTOs to build labour and material pricing.
• Determine specific strategies in response to bids including scheduling, execution plan and subcontractor requirements.
• Compile work packages upon successful award for shop and site works.
• Run weekly estimating meetings to define outstanding actions, new estimates and discuss current bids and work in partnership with the fabrication workshop and projects team to discuss upcoming workload.
• Report into the Customer Solutions Manager, producing proposal documentation to develop a winning bid for Field Services.
• Be responsible for monthly reporting for estimating.

Qualifications

• Essential Requirements:
  • Experience leading or mentoring estimating personnel, including allocating packages, prioritising workload and reporting progress.
  • Strong commercial awareness and understanding of fabrication project delivery (shop fabrication and site installation).
  • Ability to interpret fabrication isometrics, GA drawings and specifications and translate them into accurate cost estimates.
  • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including supporting bid adjudications with senior management and interfacing with clients.
  • Detailed understanding and experience in plating fabrication activities (primary discipline).
  • Excellent Microsoft Office software skills, particularly in Excel and Word.
  • Working knowledge of piping scope and estimating principles (secondary skill set), including interpreting isometrics/piping drawings, specifications and MTOs.
  • Experience in reading drawings and specifications and translating them into cost estimates.
  • Detail‑oriented, self‑motivated, and resourceful, with strong interpersonal skills.
  • Strong time management skills and able to multi‑task working on a number of bids.
• Desirable:
  • Experience in computerized estimating systems.
  • Understanding of project execution planning and critical path scheduling.
  • Mechanical and structural knowledge is beneficial, including piping experience where available.

We welcome applications from every walk of life and are committed to diversity within the industries we support, as a certified Inclusive Recruiter and Armed Forces friendly employer.