Managing Estimator

Involve Recruitment Ltd.; Thatcham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Involve Recruitment Ltd. is assisting a Tier 1 national contractor to appoint a Managing Estimator for highways maintenance tenders. The role combines leadership of an estimating team with hands-on bid development and pricing in a hybrid working setup, demanding collaboration with Commercial, Operations, Design and Procurement teams.

You will oversee detailed cost estimates, pricing models and tender submissions, ensuring accuracy, compliance and competitive advantage across multiple bids.

Qualifications

• Significant estimating experience within highways maintenance, term contracts or infrastructure.
• Proven track record of contributing to successful bids and framework submissions.
• Experience leading and developing estimating teams.
• Strong understanding of construction methodologies, temporary works and resource planning.
• Strong commercial awareness and experience of NEC and target cost contracts.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Estimators delivering major highways maintenance tenders and frameworks.
• Develop detailed cost estimates, pricing models and tender submissions.
• Review tender documentation, identifying key risks, opportunities, assumptions and delivery requirements.
• Coordinate estimating inputs from Commercial, Operations, Design and Procurement teams.
• Ensure estimates are accurate, compliant, competitive and aligned with delivery methodologies.
• Support bid strategy, win themes and commercial positioning.
• Lead risk and opportunity assessments and develop appropriate pricing allowances.
• Engage with supply chain partners to secure competitive quotations and market intelligence.
• Maintain estimating databases, benchmarking information and cost models.
• Support pricing governance, bid reviews and approvals.
• Mentor and develop Estimators and Assistant Estimators.
• Provide estimating expertise through pre-contract and contract award stages.

Skills

Highways estimating

Team leadership

Bid/tender preparation

NEC contracts

Target cost contracts

Risk & opportunity assessment

Supply chain coordination

Cost modelling

Governance & bid reviews

Stakeholder management

Job description

Our client is a leading Tier 1 national contractor with a strong presence across the UK highways and infrastructure sector. They are seeking an experienced Managing Estimator to lead estimating activities across major highways maintenance tenders. The role will lead a team of Estimators and take responsibility for delivering accurate, competitive and commercially robust estimates from bid strategy through to tender submission and contract award. The position offers a hybrid working arrangement, with an expectancy to attend head office meeting and coordinate with wider team at least one day per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Estimators delivering major highways maintenance tenders and frameworks.
• Develop detailed cost estimates, pricing models and tender submissions.
• Review tender documentation, identifying key risks, opportunities, assumptions and delivery requirements.
• Coordinate estimating inputs from Commercial, Operations, Design and Procurement teams.
• Ensure estimates are accurate, compliant, competitive and aligned with delivery methodologies.
• Support bid strategy, win themes and commercial positioning.
• Lead risk and opportunity assessments and develop appropriate pricing allowances.
• Engage with supply chain partners to secure competitive quotations and market intelligence.
• Maintain estimating databases, benchmarking information and cost models.
• Support pricing governance, bid reviews and approvals.
• Mentor and develop Estimators and Assistant Estimators.
• Provide estimating expertise through pre-contract and contract award stages.

Candidate Profile

• Significant estimating experience within highways maintenance, term contracts or infrastructure.
• Proven track record of contributing to successful bids and framework submissions.
• Experience leading and developing estimating teams.
• Strong understanding of construction methodologies, temporary works and resource planning.
• Strong commercial awareness and experience of NEC and target cost contracts.
• Ability to manage multiple tenders while maintaining accuracy, quality and governance.
• Strong communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Ideally experienced within a Tier 1 contractor or major infrastructure organisation