Managing Estimator – Highways & Infrastructure

Tarrant Howl; Beaconsfield; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car

Private healthcare

Pension

Life assurance

25 days' annual leave + bank holidays

Job summary

Tarrant Howl, an established UK infrastructure contractor, seeks a Managing Estimator to lead the Work Winning team from Beaconsfield. The role covers estimating strategy, pricing of major highways and infrastructure tenders, and leadership of an experienced team.

Flexible hybrid working typically two days in the office and three days at home. The successful candidate will influence bidding strategy, drive commercial decisions, and develop the estimating function to win major contracts.

Qualifications

• Experience in highways or infrastructure tenders is essential.
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to price from first principles.
• Knowledge of NEC contracts and tender procedures.
• Experience leading estimating teams on multidisciplinary bids.

Responsibilities

• Lead preparation and development of major highways tenders.
• Develop pricing strategies balancing competitiveness and profitability.
• Prepare and review estimates for labour, plant, materials, and overheads.
• Lead estimating resources and bid teams across projects.
• Mentor estimating team members and drive process improvements.

Skills

Estimating leadership

Pricing strategy

Risk management

Advanced Excel

Candy estimating software

Education

Degree in a relevant discipline

Tools

Candy or similar estimating software

Job description

We're working with a leading UK infrastructure contractor delivering major highways maintenance, infrastructure improvement and street-lighting projects across the country. With an established reputation in the sector and a strong pipeline of opportunities, the business is looking to appoint an experienced Managing Estimator to play a key leadership role within its Work Winning team. This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished estimating professional to take responsibility for the commercial development and pricing of major highways and infrastructure tenders, whilst leading and developing an experienced estimating team. The role offers considerable exposure to senior management and the opportunity to influence bidding strategy, commercial decisions and future contract awards. Based out of the company's Beaconsfield office, the position offers a flexible hybrid working arrangement, typically involving two days in the office and three days working from home.

The Role

As Managing Estimator, you'll take the lead on the estimating and pricing of strategic highways, street-lighting and term maintenance contracts, ensuring tender submissions are competitive, commercially robust and aligned with the business's growth objectives. Working closely with senior operational, commercial, procurement and business development colleagues, you'll oversee the estimating process from initial tender review through to final submission and commercial adjudication. You'll also play an important role in developing the estimating team, improving processes and driving best practice across the business.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the preparation and commercial development of major highways and infrastructure tenders
• Developing pricing strategies that balance competitiveness, commercial risk and profitability
• Preparing and reviewing detailed estimates covering labour, plant, materials, subcontractors, preliminaries and overheads
• Leading and coordinating estimating resources and multidisciplinary bid teams
• Managing supply chain enquiries, subcontractor quotations and tender adjudications
• Identifying and evaluating commercial risks, opportunities and value engineering options
• Presenting pricing recommendations and tender strategies to senior management
• Supporting client negotiations, tender clarifications and commercial discussions
• Mentoring and developing estimating team members, helping to improve capability and technical standards
• Driving continuous improvement in estimating processes, systems and best practice

About You

• Significant estimating experience gained within highways maintenance, civil engineering, infrastructure services or term maintenance contracts
• A proven track record of successfully pricing and securing major infrastructure contracts
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to develop detailed estimates from first principles
• Good working knowledge of NEC contracts, commercial risk management and tendering procedures
• Experience leading estimating teams and coordinating complex, multidisciplinary bids
• Strong analytical, numerical and problem-solving skills
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and contribute to strategic commercial decisions
• Experience using Candy or similar estimating software, together with advanced Excel skills
• Degree qualified in a relevant discipline or able to demonstrate equivalent industry experience
• Professional membership of RICS, CIOB or ACostE would be advantageous

Why This Role?

This is a senior appointment within a strategically important part of the business, offering the opportunity to influence major contract awards and play a leading role in developing the estimating function. You'll be working on substantial highways and infrastructure opportunities, collaborating directly with senior decision-makers and helping shape the commercial strategy behind major tenders. For an ambitious estimating professional, the position also offers a potential route towards more senior leadership roles, including Chief Estimator, Head of Estimating or Work Winning Director. In addition to a competitive salary of £80,000–£95,000, the company offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a company car, discretionary bonus, private healthcare, pension, life assurance and 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays. With a hybrid working arrangement offering three days at home each week, this is an attractive opportunity for an experienced Managing Estimator seeking greater strategic responsibility within a major UK infrastructure business.