Lead Estimator Rail

Carrington West; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Benefits

Job summary

Carrington West is recruiting a Lead Estimator to head the UK estimating function for rail infrastructure. You will lead an established team of around 10 estimators, ensuring quality, consistency and technical direction across pre-contract activities.

The role targets senior leadership with strong Network Rail knowledge, offering ownership, influence and long-term scope within a hybrid London setting.

Qualifications

• Significant rail infrastructure estimating experience (≈10+ years).
• Substantial Network Rail exposure through consultancy or contractor roles.
• Experience in a consultancy environment.
• Established leadership and line management of an estimating team.
• Strong pre-contract work: cost planning, estimating, tendering, bidding, client sign-off.
• Excellent technical estimating knowledge: rate build-ups, methodologies, QA.
• Experience with NEC contracts or Network Rail contracts.
• Familiarity with CostX and related estimating software.
• Strong client-facing and stakeholder management to influence senior stakeholders.
• Ability to own and develop an established estimating function.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of ~10 estimators, providing technical oversight and direction.
• Ensure quality, accuracy, and consistency of estimating outputs.
• Support bids and tenders and maintain client relationships.
• Understand Network Rail processes, commercial environment, and expectations.
• Drive improvements in performance, quality and consistency of outputs.

Skills

Rail estimating

Pre-contract estimating

Leadership

Line management

Client/stakeholder management

NEC contracts

Cost planning

CostX

Bid support

Education

MRICS (desirable)

Tools

CostX

Job description

Are you an experienced Estimating Manager or Lead Estimator with strong experience working on Network Rail projects?

Do you have line management experience and feel ready to take ownership of an established estimating function?

Salary: £80,000 - £90,000 + car allowance and benefits
Location: London, hybrid

I am recruiting for a Lead Estimator to head up the UK estimating function for my client, an established consultancy operating across the infrastructure sector.

This is a senior leadership opportunity, ideally suited to an experienced Lead Estimator, Estimating Manager, or Associate Director with cost planning experience, who has built their career in rail and is looking for greater ownership and influence.

You will lead an established team of approximately 10 estimators, providing technical oversight, assurance, and direction across pre-contract activities. Rather than focusing on producing cost plans yourself, you will be responsible for ensuring the quality, accuracy, and consistency of estimating outputs, supporting bids and tenders, and maintaining strong client relationships.

My client is particularly interested in someone who understands Network Rail's processes, commercial environment, and expectations, and can confidently lead an estimating team delivering work across the rail sector.

Essential Requirements

• Significant estimating experience within the rail infrastructure sector, ideally with around 10 years or more of relevant experience.
• A strong track record of working with or for Network Rail, whether directly, through a consultancy or within a contractor organisation. This must be substantial experience across multiple projects, with a clear understanding of Network Rail's processes, expectations and ways of working.
• Previous experience working within a consultancy environment.
• Established leadership and line management experience, including direct responsibility for managing and developing an estimating team.
• Strong pre-contract experience, including cost planning, estimating, tendering, bidding, and supporting projects through to client sign-off.
• Excellent technical estimating knowledge, including a detailed understanding of rates, cost build-ups, estimating methodologies, and quality assurance.
• Experience working with NEC contracts or an understanding of Network Rail's contractual environment.
• Familiarity with CostX and other relevant estimating software.
• Strong client-facing and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to challenge estimates, provide technical direction and influence senior stakeholders.
• Ability to take ownership of an established function and drive improvements in performance, quality and consistency.

Desirable Experience

• Chartered status, such as MRICS or equivalent, although significant relevant experience is equally valued.
• Experience leading larger estimating teams or managing estimating resources across multiple projects.
• Additional experience in sectors such as data centres or healthcare, alongside a strong rail background.
• A background in quantity surveying or cost management, provided the majority of experience is focused on pre-contract estimating and cost planning.

This is an opportunity to step into an established senior position with genuine responsibility for the UK estimating function.

My client is looking for someone who can bring technical credibility, strong leadership, and a practical understanding of Network Rail projects, while making a tangible impact on the performance and development of the team.

The role would particularly suit an experienced rail estimating professional who has already managed a team and is looking for a position with greater influence, accountability, and long-term scope.

My client is keen to appoint and can accommodate either an immediate start or a start in the new year, depending on availability.