Managing Estimator

Balfour Beatty plc; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart working

25 days annual leave

Pension and benefits

Share incentive plan

Job summary

Balfour Beatty Regional Civils seeks a Managing Estimator to lead estimating across the Central and South East region from pre-construction through Gate 4. Based in Derby, Birmingham or London, you will drive governance, capability, and robust estimates for a varied civil portfolio.

You will mentor the estimating team, coordinate with operations, commercial, and planning, and deliver competitive bids that balance customer needs with profitability.

Qualifications

• Senior estimating leadership experience in civil engineering or major construction.
• Proven ability to produce competitive, robust estimates for complex projects.
• Experience leading estimating teams and mentoring junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all estimating activities across the regional unit.
• Oversee governance, procedures and continuous improvement of estimating processes.
• Develop winning bid strategies with cross-functional teams.
• Provide pre- and post-contract estimating support to maximise profitability.
• Mentor estimators and build a high-performance estimating culture.

Skills

Leadership

Estimating leadership

Governance

Bid strategy

Education

Quantity Surveying or Civil Engineering degree

Professional institution membership

Tools

Industry estimating software

Digital estimating tools

Job description

About The Role

Balfour Beatty Regional Civils is seeking an experienced Managing Estimator to join our team based in either Derby, Birmingham or London, supporting a diverse portfolio of civil engineering and infrastructure projects across the Central and South East region. This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role within our pre‑construction function, influencing project success from the earliest stages and helping secure work that will shape communities for years to come.

As Managing Estimator, you will lead and develop the estimating team, providing strategic oversight of all estimating activities across the business unit. Responsible for governance, continuous improvement, and the development of estimating capability, you will ensure the delivery of competitive, robust, and thoroughly researched estimates throughout the project lifecycle up to Gate 4. Working closely with senior leaders, clients, and project teams, you will provide an influential pre and post‑contract estimating service, balancing customer needs with commercial objectives while driving quality, consistency, and profitability across a varied portfolio of Regional Civils projects. Your leadership and expertise will be instrumental in maintaining high standards, developing future talent, and positioning Balfour Beatty for continued success in an increasingly competitive market.

What you'll be doing

• Lead and manage all estimating activities across the business unit, ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, competitive, and commercially robust estimates.
• Oversee the estimating function across a diverse portfolio of civil engineering and infrastructure projects throughout the Central and South East region.
• Provide strategic leadership to the estimating team, developing capability, skills, and best practice across the function.
• Ensure estimating governance, procedures, and processes are maintained and continuously improved to meet business requirements.
• Drive excellence throughout the pre‑construction process, overseeing opportunities from initial engagement through to Gate 4 approval.
• Lead the preparation, review, and submission of detailed, well‑researched estimates that accurately reflect project scope, risks, opportunities, and customer requirements.
• Work collaboratively with operational, commercial, engineering, planning, and business development teams to develop winning bid strategies.
• Provide influential pre‑contract and post‑contract estimating support to maximise profitability, quality, and service performance.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, partners, and key stakeholders, ensuring a clear understanding of customer needs and project objectives.
• Review tender documentation, identify risks and opportunities, and develop effective commercial solutions that strengthen Balfour Beatty's competitive position.
• Ensure estimating records, benchmarking data, and lessons learned are accurately maintained and captured to support future bidding activities.
• Support business planning and work‑winning objectives by contributing expertise, market insight, and commercial judgement to strategic bid decisions.
• Mentor and develop estimators within the team, fostering a high‑performance culture focused on collaboration, continuous improvement, and successful project delivery.
• Champion consistency, accuracy, and innovation within the estimating function to support the continued growth and success of the Regional Civils business.

Who we're looking for

• Proven experience in a senior estimating leadership role within civil engineering, infrastructure, or major construction projects.
• A strong track record of producing and overseeing competitive, accurate, and commercially robust estimates for complex projects and frameworks.
• Experience leading and developing high‑performing estimating teams, providing mentorship, guidance, and technical support.
• In‑depth knowledge of pre‑construction, tendering, and estimating processes throughout the project lifecycle.
• Strong understanding of estimating governance, controls, procedures, and continuous improvement practices.
• Experience managing multiple bids and tenders across a diverse portfolio of projects within a regional business.
• The ability to identify, assess, and manage commercial risks and opportunities during the estimating process.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with clients, supply chain partners, and internal project teams.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to contribute to business strategy, work‑winning activities, and profitability objectives.
• Experience reviewing tender documentation and developing innovative, value‑driven solutions that enhance bid competitiveness.
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively alongside commercial, operational, engineering, and planning teams.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with excellent attention to detail and a focus on delivering high‑quality outputs.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of influencing decision‑making at all levels of the business.
• A commitment to developing capability, sharing best practice, and driving a culture of continuous improvement.
• Flexibility to work across a varied portfolio of projects throughout the Central and South East region, supporting the continued growth of Balfour Beatty's Regional Civils business.

Desirable

• A degree or equivalent qualification in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Membership of a relevant professional institution.
• Experience working on highways, structures, public realm, utilities, flood defence, rail, or other major civil engineering projects.
• Knowledge of industry‑standard estimating software and digital estimating tools.

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

Benefits

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About Us

With a strong track record of delivery, our civils teams connect communities through infrastructure projects in the highways, public realm, rail, flood and coastal defence, and industrial sectors across England and Wales.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty, we want everyone to be able to thrive and achieve their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. We’re making great progress through our Value Everyone DEI Action Plan, but we know we’ve got more to do. Find out more about our values and DEI initiatives.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this role will be offered an interview.

We are committed to our processes being barrier‑free and will support adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Please let the recruiter for this role know if you require any adjustments.

We’re looking to continually improve our recruitment process, so if you have any feedback, please share this with us via [e-mail]