Pre Construction Manager

Lancer Scott Ltd.; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancer Scott Ltd. in the Bristol area is seeking an experienced Lead Estimator to drive pre-construction, estimating and tendering activities.

You will assess opportunities, price competitively, and provide strategic advice on risk, cost, programme and procurement. You will coordinate with design teams, consultants, subcontractors and suppliers; produce cost plans, bills of quantities and pricing schedules; manage tender governance, deadlines and handover to delivery teams.

Qualifications

• Substantial estimating and pre-construction experience within a main contracting environment.
• Strong contractual and commercial awareness with tender risk and exclusions.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications and programmes into compliant tenders.

Responsibilities

• Lead preparation, coordination and timely submission of compliant tenders.
• Review opportunities, advise on strategic fit, risks, resources and approach.
• Develop cost plans, bills of quantities and pricing schedules.
• Coordinate enquiries with design consultants, subcontractors and suppliers.
• Lead tender programmes, methodology, logistics and resource requirements.
• Collaborate with design, commercial, operations and SHEQ functions.
• Attend client meetings; maintain stakeholder relationships and governance.
• Maintain tender cost information, benchmark rates and market intelligence.
• Manage estimating workload and tender governance; handover on award.
• Lead and mentor Estimators and pre-construction staff.

Skills

Estimating

Pre-construction

Tendering

Leadership

Analysis

Cost planning

Education

Relevant construction qualifications

Tools

Excel

Conquest

Asta Powerproject

Job description

Why work for us?

Established in 1998 Lancer Scott offers renowned high-quality construction projects and facilities management services, often competing and winning work from our much larger competitors. We are based in the heart of Bristol in a modern open plan office with great facilities.

To ensure our business remains fully supported we are investing into our people strategy and infrastructure to give our employees the tools to perform to the best of their ability. If you would like to join a rapidly expanding business that can offer up good opportunities for career development and professional personal growth.

What is the purpose of the role and expectations?

To lead, control and report on the Company's pre-construction, estimating and tendering activities, ensuring opportunities are properly assessed, competitively priced, contractually compliant and submitted to the required standard and timescale. The role will provide the Managing Director with clear advice on tender strategy, risk, cost, programme, procurement and work-winning opportunities.

What will be my core responsibilities?

• Lead the preparation, coordination and timely submission of compliant, competitive tenders responding fully to the Employer's Requirements.
• Review opportunities at enquiry stage and advise the Managing Director on strategic fit, key risks, resources and tender approach.
• Develop analytical estimates, cost plans, bills of quantities and pricing schedules, including appropriate resource, subcontract, material, plant, preliminaries, legislative, SHEQ, programme and project-risk allowances.
• Coordinate enquiries to design consultants, subcontractors and suppliers; assess compliance, prepare tender comparisons, challenge quotations and maintain commercially effective supply-chain relationships.
• Coordinate tender programmes, methodology, logistics and resource requirements against financial allowances, identifying value-engineering opportunities and alternative solutions
• Work collaboratively with design, commercial, operational and SHEQ functions so that buildability, procurement, programme, risk and compliance are reflected within the tender
• Attend site visits, tender interviews and client/design/supply-chain meetings; maintain effective stakeholder relationships and support the Company's work-winning strategy.
• Maintain tender and historical cost information, benchmark rates and market intelligence, and provide management reports and forecasts.
• Manage estimating workload, priorities and deadlines; chair tender launch/review meetings and ensure disciplined tender governance and approvals.
• On award, lead a structured handover to operational and commercial teams covering assumptions, allowances, programme, procurement, design status, SHEQ, staffing, risks, exclusions and qualifications.
• Lead, mentor and develop Estimators, Trainee Estimators and other pre-construction personnel, promoting accountability, collaboration and best practice.

What skills and experience do I need to be successful in this role?

• Substantial estimating and pre-construction experience within a main contracting environment, including leadership of complex medium to large-scale tenders.
• Highly developed contractual and commercial awareness, including review of tender conditions, Employer's Requirements, amendments, risk allocation, qualifications and exclusions, with appropriate escalation before submission
• Strong analytical estimating, cost planning, subcontractor, supplier enquiry and comparison skills, with the ability to interpret drawings, specifications, programmes and contractual information into a compliant tender.
• In depth understanding of construction methodology, sequencing, resource planning, procurement, commercial risk and tender handover
• Experience across refurbishment, fitout, façade cladding remediation and complex occupied-building projects.
• Proven ability to manage competing deadlines and coordinate internal teams, designers, consultants and the supply chain
• Leadership capability to manage, mentor and develop estimating and pre-construction personnel, with strong client-facing, negotiation, presentation and written communication skills
• Competence in maintaining tender records, historical cost information and management reporting.

• Strong competence in Microsoft 365 applications, particularly Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams
• Experience of Conquest or comparable estimating software and working knowledge of Asta Powerproject or similar programming software would be advantageous but are not essential.
• Relevant construction-related qualifications and professional accreditation would be advantageous but are not essential.
• Sound commercial judgement, balancing immediate tender requirements with the longer-term interests of the business
• Clear communicator who builds effective relationships, challenges constructively, identifies solutions and demonstrates integrity, accountability and a collaborative approach.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.